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Cincinnati Ballet’s Collegiate Intensive is an intimate training program produced in partnership with the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music to serve the unique needs of serious dancers in pursuit of higher education. For 6 weeks, students train with world-renowned guest faculty as well as Cincinnati Ballet’s artistic leadership and CCM’s Undergraduate Dance Department faculty. With a foundational focus on ballet technique and performance, students also develop versatility in contemporary and modern. One-on-one mentoring and coaching are hallmarks of the program as students focus on careers or graduate programs upon college graduation. Cincinnati Ballet’s Collegiate Intensive program takes place on campus at the University of Cincinnati.
Open to students ages 18 and up. Acceptance by audition.
Students have the option to join our full six-week program or one of the three-week sessions noted below.
*These two sessions begin on Tuesday, June 20, and feature classes on Saturday, June 24. All other weeks run Monday – Friday.
Cincinnati Ballet’s Collegiate Intensive focuses on the sophisticated needs and vocational focus of the collegiate dancer. Students engage in full-day training to refine technique and artistry at professional level standards while exploring disciplines and career pathways in other dance-related fields. Guest faculty and lecturers not only teach within the program but also provide mentorship and experienced perspectives from careers on stage, behind the scenes and in the studio.
Collegiate Intensive serves as a vital entry point into the Otto M. Budig Academy’s Professional Training Division and year-round programs.
Collegiate Intensive participants engage with the Otto M. Budig Academy’s year-round faculty, Cincinnati Ballet’s artistic leadership, select Company dancers, CCM’s Undergraduate Dance Department faculty, and prestigious guest artists. Previous guests include Kathryn Morgan, Daniel Durrett, Lauren Fadeley Veyette, Amy Seiwert, Paul Boos, among others.
Scholarships are available to select students and are awarded during the audition process.
Cincinnati Ballet’s Collegiate Intensive does not feature a formal residence program. However, the following housing resources are available for students traveling from outside the greater Cincinnati area.
Acceptance into Cincinnati Ballet’s Collegiate Intensive is by audition only. Program registration is made available to accepted candidates following their audition. Students must be 18 years of age by program start to be eligible. This season, students have several ways in which to audition. Please see the webpage below for additional information.
Cincinnati Ballet is committed to providing Collegiate Intensive students with a rich and vibrant in-person program experience that offers access to the full breadth of our curriculum and repertoire. At this time, COVID-19 vaccinations are recommended but not required for participants. Cincinnati Ballet’s health and safety policies, including masking and testing, are subject to change based on community risk levels.
Collegiate Intensive students dance Monday through Friday between the hours of 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. A typical day may include:
10:00 am – 12:00 pm: Ballet Technique
12:15 – 1:30 pm: Pointe, Variations or Jumps & Turns Class
1:30 – 2:45 pm: Lunch Break
2:45 – 4:15 pm: Modern, Contemporary or Street Dance
4:45 – 6:00 pm: Choreography, Conditioning, World Dance, or Career Workshop
One of the major benefits of the Collegiate Intensive program is its size. The program is typically limited to classes of 20-25 students each giving participants a significant degree of individual access to and personal attention from faculty and guest artists.
Cincinnati Ballet’s Collegiate Intensive is focused intently on building professional aptitude in dancers. The program is strongly ballet-based and focused on developing the versatility and individual artistry required for success in today’s professional dance world. The Academy’s resident faculty teach in the aesthetic of Cincinnati Ballet’s professional Company, which blends a multitude of technical styles, making for adaptable artists capable of the full breadth of ballet’s vast repertoire. With the added support of our world-class summer guest faculty, students are further exposed to a wide range of technical and artistic influences. Students may take classes in the following:
Ballet
Pointe
Jumps & Turns
Variations & Repertoire
Partnering
Modern
Contemporary
Street Dance
Musical Theater
Choreography
World Dance
Stretch, Conditioning & Pilates
Seminars & Career Workshops
While both programs focus intently on building professional aptitude in dancers, the Collegiate Intensive also prepares students for careers beyond the stage within a community of academically minded peers. Through choreographic exploration and professional workshops in everything ranging from artistic direction and production to education and arts administration, participants have opportunities to explore secondary passions in dance. The program’s intimate size also provides unparalleled access to faculty, as well as individual mentorship from both Cincinnati Ballet and University of Cincinnati faculty. Stewarded by the Collegiate Intensive Director, students have opportunity to shape parts of the program’s focus through their own areas of interest.
No. Cincinnati Ballet does not permit late arrivals or early departures.
Yes! During each three-week session, our resident faculty evaluate and recruit students who are interested in joining our year-round training programs. Collegiate Intensive serves as a vital entry point to Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy and Professional Training Division.
Summer training is essential for professionally aspiring young dancers in maintaining strength and skill and growing as an artist. With that in mind, we encourage students to dance as much as they can over the summer. We hope students join us for the full six weeks so they can take advantage of the full breadth of the program as well as the diverse faculty involved. Three-week sessions are also offered to allow for flexibility as dancers plan their summers.
Yes! Students in the six-week and second three-week sessions join our Summer Intensive students in a culminating performance workshop.
Cincinnati Ballet offers a limited number of merit scholarships to select students during the summer audition process. All scholarship offers are indicated in student acceptance letters.
