We’re thrilled you’re interested in joining Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy. Our Academy staff and faculty consider it a distinct privilege to share our love of dance with students and families throughout the greater Cincinnati area. We hope to have opportunity to serve you and can’t wait to welcome you to the Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance. We know in any new endeavor the hardest part can be figuring out how to get started. While there’s a lot to consider when enrolling in classes, we offer the resources below to make it as simple as possible. Need additional support? We’re happy to help. Our team is standing by to answer any questions you may have. You can find our contact information at the bottom of this webpage.
Class selection and level placement varies based on each student’s age and level of experience.
Below is some helpful guidance broken down by student age.
For dancers ages 2 – 7, class placement is typically determined by age:
Ages 2 – 3: Petite Pas de Deux
Ages 3 – 7: Creative Dance
Ages 6 – 7: Pre Ballet
Students ages 6 – 7 have the option to continue in Creative Dance or begin Pre Ballet.
New students ages 8 and up typically need to take a placement class in order to determine the class level that’s best for them. Please see the Placement Class section below for further information.
Dancers ages 10 – 17 interested in Community Division classes do not need a formal placement assessment and may register directly for their preferred class(es). Experienced dancers interested in the Preparatory, Young Dancer and Advanced Division training programs should engage in a placement class as outlined below.
Cincinnati Ballet’s CB Moves program engages children and young adults with specific needs in dance classes designed in partnership with Cincinnati Children’s. New CB Moves students should complete the questionnaire below so we can guide you to the best class options for you.
Cincinnati Ballet’s Adult Dance & Fitness classes are open to students ages 16 and up. Classes operate on a drop-in basis which means there’s no registration commitment required. All levels are welcome, and participants are encouraged to assess their own experience and comfort level for classes with designated levels (basic/intermediate).
Young dancers ages 8 and up with at least one year of formal ballet training are invited to participate in an in-person placement class which provide students the opportunity to get to know our faculty and try a class.
New students may also be placed by video audition. Video auditions are accepted on an ongoing basis and require a $50 video audition fee.
Video auditions should be performed in leotard and tights for ladies and tight-fitting dancewear for gentlemen. Videos require no introduction or fancy editing and should not exceed 15 minutes in length. They should be recorded indoors with proper lighting.
For guidance on what to include in your video audition, please review the section below.
3 – 5 minutes of barre work including pliés, battement tendu, battement degagé, adagio and grand battement (applicants may demonstrate one or both sides).
3 – 5 minutes of center work including battement tendu, pirouettes or preparation for pirouettes, and petit allegro.
Female applicants should include a relevé/échappé exercise.*
*If the applicant has been advanced to pointe, please perform this combination in pointe shoes. If recently advanced to pointe, this should be done at the barre. If the applicant has been training on pointe for 1+ years, it may be performed in the center as appropriate. If not on pointe, please still include this combination in flat shoes.
Applicants who do not have access to studios for the purpose of filming should modify combinations to be safely executed at home and be cautious of proper flooring for allegro combinations.
Need additional guidance on level placement or connecting to the class that’s right for you? We’d love to help. Please complete the inquiry form below so we can learn more about you. An Academy staff member will follow up with more specific support.
