Each year, Cincinnati Ballet auditions talented young dancers from across the country for admittance to our nationally acclaimed summer programs.
Admittance to Cincinnati Ballet’s summer intensive programs is by audition only. This season, students have several ways in which to audition: in person, virtually or by video.
PROGRAM ELIGIBILITY
Auditioning students are considered for acceptance into three programs:
Cincinnati Ballet’s Summer Intensive
Cincinnati Ballet’s Collegiate Intensive
Cincinnati Ballet’s Youth Summer Intensive
AGE ELIGIBILITY
Summer Intensive: Candidates must be 12 years old by the program start date in order to audition.
Collegiate Intensive: Candidates must be 18 years old by the program start date in order to audition.
Youth Summer Intensive: Candidates ages 12 and up will be considered through the channels below, while those under 12 have separate audition opportunities available on the Youth Summer Intensive webpage.
PROFESSIONAL TRAINING DIVISION CANDIDATES
Dancers interested in Cincinnati Ballet’s Professional Training Division should audition through the channels below and plan to attend either the Summer or Collegiate Intensive. The majority of PTD candidates are initially identified through auditions and final selections are made through the course of intensives.
Students participating in an in-person audition should pre-register for a date and time below. Pre-registration for all in-person auditions closes at 11:59 PM (EST) the Thursday prior to the audition. Walk-up registration will only be available in the event additional space remains. (Walk-up registrants under 18 should be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian during registration.)
AUDITION FEE
$35 for advance registration | $40 for walk-up registration
Audition fees are nonrefundable
| CITY | DATE | VENUE | CHECK-IN TIME | AUDITION TIME | REGISTER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlanta, GA | Saturday, January 3, 2026 | Atlanta Ballet Michael C. Carlos Dance Centre 1695 Marietta Boulevard NW Atlanta, GA 30318 | 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Bloomington, IN | Sunday, January 11, 2026 | Indiana University Musical Arts Center 101 North Eagleson Avenue Bloomington, IN 47405 | 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Boston, MA | Friday, January 30, 2026 | Boston Ballet 19 Clarendon Street Boston, MA 02116 | 6:30 PM – 7:00 PM | 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Charlotte, NC | Sunday, January 18, 2026 | Charlotte Ballet 701 North Tryon Street Charlotte, NC 28202 | 2:00 PM – 2:30 PM | 2:30 PM – 4:30 PM | Coming Soon |
| Chicago, IL | Saturday, January 3, 2026 | Joffrey Ballet Joffrey Tower 10 East Randolph Street Chicago, IL 60601 | 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Cincinnati, OH | Saturday, January 3, 2026 | Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance 1801 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45202 | 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM (Ages 11-15 as of 1/3/26) | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Ages 11-15 as of 1/3/26) | Coming Soon |
| Cincinnati, OH | Saturday, January 3, 2026 | Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance 1801 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45202 | 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (Ages 16+ as of 1/3/26) | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Ages 16+ as of 1/3/26) | Coming Soon |
| Cincinnati, OH | Saturday, January 31, 2026 | Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance 1801 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45202 | 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM (Ages 11-15 as of 1/31/26) | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM (Ages 11-15 as of 1/31/26) | Coming Soon |
| Cincinnati, OH | Saturday, January 31, 2026 | Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance 1801 Gilbert Avenue Cincinnati, OH 45202 | 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM (Ages 16+ as of 1/31/26) | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM (Ages 16+ as of 1/31/26) | Coming Soon |
| Columbia, SC | Sunday, January 25, 2026 | Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet Columbia Music Festival Association ArtSpace 914 Pulaski Street Columbia, SC 29201 | 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Dallas, TX* | Saturday, January 31, 2026 | Southern Methodist University Meadows School of the Arts 6110 Hillcrest Avenue Dallas, TX 75205 | 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Houston, TX | Sunday, February 8, 2026 | Houston Ballet 601 Preston Street Houston, TX 77002 | 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Lexington, KY | Sunday, February 15, 2026 | The Lexington Theatre Company 2323 Alexandria Drive Lexington, KY 40504 | 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Los Angeles, CA | Saturday, January 17, 2026 | Colburn School Grand Rehearsal Hall 200 South Grand Avenue Los Angeles, CA 90012 | 5:30 PM – 6:00 PM | 6:00 PM – 8:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| New York, NY | Sunday, January 18, 2026 | The Ailey Studios The Joan Weill Center for Dance 405 West 55th Street at 9th Avenue New York, NY 10019 | 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Orange County, CA | TBD | TBD | TBD | TBD | Coming Soon |
| Orlando, FL | Saturday, January 17, 2026 | Orlando Ballet Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre 600 North Lake Formosa Drive Orlando, FL 32803 | 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Philadelphia, PA | Sunday, February 1, 2026 | Philadelphia Ballet The Louise Reed Center for Dance 323 North Broad Street Philadelphia, PA 19107 | 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Pittsburgh, PA | Saturday, January 10, 2026 | Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre 2900 Liberty Avenue Pittsburgh, PA 15201 | 4:00 PM – 4:30 PM | 4:30 PM – 6:30 PM | Coming Soon |
| Portland, OR | Saturday, February 7, 2026 | Oregon Ballet Theatre 720 South Bancroft Street Portland, OR 97239 | 4:30 PM – 5:00 PM | 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| Seattle, WA | Sunday, February 8, 2026 | Pacific Northwest Ballet Phelps Center 301 Mercer Street Seattle, WA 98109 | 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Coming Soon |
| St. Louis, MO | Saturday, January 17, 2026 Sunday, January 18, 2026 | Center of Creative Arts (COCA) 6880 Washington Avenue St. Louis, MO 63130 | Dates and times vary by student age. | Please reference COCA’s website. | Coming Soon |
| Washington, DC | Saturday, January 17, 2026 | Maryland Youth Ballet 926 Ellsworth Drive Silver Spring, MD 20910 | 3:30 PM – 4:00 PM | 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM | Coming Soon |
Auditioning students should submit the following photos:
1) A headshot
2) A photo in first arabesque
(on pointe for dancers working on pointe)
Photos may be in color or black and white and may be any size. Photos should be taken indoors in a well-lit space.
Dancers should be in a leotard and tights or tight-fitting dance attire.
All in-person audition participants should refrain from attending if they exhibit any symptoms of a contagious illness.
Additional protocols vary by venue.
Students participating in virtual auditions should pre-register for a date and time from the menu below.
Registration for all virtual auditions closes approximately 48 hours prior to the audition.
Virtual audition registration will not be available the day of the audition.
VIRTUAL AUDITION FEE:
$35 (nonrefundable)
| DATE | TIME | REGISTER |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, January 18, 2026 | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM (EST) | Coming Soon |
| Saturday, February 14, 2026 | 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM (EST) | Coming Soon |
Auditioning students should submit the following photos:
1) A headshot
2) A photo in first arabesque
(on pointe for dancers working on pointe)
Photos may be in color or black and white and may be any size. Photos should be taken indoors in a well-lit space.
Dancers should be in a leotard and tights or tight-fitting dance attire.
Students auditioning by video should register via the link below. Video applications will not be reviewed until online registration is received.
Video auditions are accepted on a rolling basis with a final deadline of March 1, 2026. Early submission is strongly encouraged as the program has the potential to fill prior to March 1.
VIDEO AUDITION FEE:
$50 (nonrefundable)
Registration Coming Soon
| VIDEO AUDITION GUIDE |
| Video auditions should be performed in leotard and tights or tight-fitting dancewear. Videos require no introduction or fancy editing, should be recorded after September 1, 2025, and should not exceed 15 minutes in length. They should be shot indoors with proper lighting. Applicants should include the following elements: • 3 – 5 minutes of barre work including pliés, battement tendu, fondu, frappés, adagio and grand battement (applicants may demonstrate one or both sides) • 3 – 5 minutes of center work including adagio, pirouettes, petit allegro and grand allegro • Dancers working on pointe may dance center work on pointe OR should include separately an échappé/passé combination and a turning combination danced in the center on pointe (dancers who have been recently advanced to pointe should only include an échappé/passé combination at the barre) • Dancers should also include à la second turns and tours en l’air if applicable to their training Additional Notes/Requirements: • Applicants auditioning for the Otto M. Budig Academy’s Professional Training Division should also include a classical and contemporary variation or rep selection • 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 Digital media may be submitted to the Academy Administrative Office at cbacademy@cballet.org. |
The National Summer Intensive Audition Tour (NSIA) is a collective of professional ballet schools created to give young dancers the opportunity to audition for multiple summer programs through a single audition class. Each participating school offers an in-person audition at their facility which is viewed virtually by faculty from each school in the collective.
2026 NSIA audition participants will be considered for candidacy for the following summer intensive programs: Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Arizona, BalletMet, Cincinnati Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater, and Tulsa Ballet.
| CINCINNATI NSIA TOUR AUDITIONS Students participating in the NSIA Cincinnati audition should pre-register via the relevant link below. Pre-registration closes at 11:59 PM (EST) the Thursday prior to the audition. Capacity is limited. REGISTRATION OPENS DECEMBER 1 AT 9:00 AM (EST) Saturday, January 10, 2026 Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance NSIA Audition Fee: $150 (nonrefundable) Ages 12 – 14 Check In: 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM Audition: 12:00 – 2:00 PM Ages 15 – 16 Check In: 1:30 – 2:00 PM Audition: 2:00 – 4:00 PM Ages 17 and up Check In: 4:00 – 4:30 PM Audition: 4:30 – 6:30 PM |
Auditioning students should submit the following photos:
1) A headshot
2) A photo in first arabesque
(on pointe for dancers working on pointe)
Photos may be in color or black and white and may be any size. Photos should be taken indoors in a well-lit space.
Dancers should be in a leotard and tights or tight-fitting dance attire.
NSIA Cincinnati audition participants should refrain from attending and contact the Academy if they exhibit any symptoms of a contagious illness.
Students should wear one of the two options below:
Leotard and tights: Leotard, pink or skin-tone tights, and pink or skin-tone ballet slippers. Cincinnati Ballet does not require students to wear a specific color leotard (colored leotards are encouraged to help faculty spot individual dancers).
Shirt and tights: Black tights, a white fitted t-shirt, black or white socks and black or white ballet shoes. Gray tights are also acceptable.
Dancers working on pointe should also have pointe shoes with them for the last 30 minutes of the audition.
The audition is a ballet technique master class with a member of Cincinnati Ballet’s lead faculty. Students will go through barre, center and across-the-floor combinations. Dancers on pointe will be asked to wear pointe shoes for the final portion of the audition.
In-person auditions may be subject to health and safetey protocols which will be communicated in advance of the audition. Adherence to these protocols is mandatory for participation. In the event of weather delays or cancellations, please check our audition webpage for updates. Pre-registered applicants will be notified via email.
Each virtual audition will last two hours. The first 30 minutes will include check in, introductions and instructions. The audition class will last 90 minutes. Auditioning students must be available the full two hours. Students should be sure to have a private dancing space with clear lighting and a video setup that shows your full body while dancing.
The virtual audition is a ballet technique master class with a member of Cincinnati Ballet’s lead faculty. Students will go through barre and center combinations. Dancers on pointe will be asked to wear pointe shoes for the final portion of the audition.
Audition results are sent via email within 7 to 10 business days of your audition. Should you require audition results sooner due to summer acceptance deadlines, please contact the Academy Administrative Office at 513-562-1111 or cbacademy@cballet.org.
Accepted students should register as soon as possible, as the number of accepted applicants surpasses the number of places in our programs. Acceptance does not guarantee your place, and registration is strictly on a first-come, first-served basis. Students receiving scholarship offers have a limited window in which to register before their scholarship offer is withdrawn.
Unfortunately, due to the number of students who audition, Cincinnati Ballet is not able to provide specific training feedback from audition classes. We do, however, encourage students to continue in their training and audition again in future years. For many dancers, even a single year of focused training can significantly improve technique and opportunities for future acceptance.
Yes. Students interested in joining Cincinnati Ballet’s Professional Training Division are strongly encouraged to audition for and attend the Summer or Collegiate Intensive. The 2025-2026 PTD class includes 30 students, many of whom were selected from the Summer and Collegiate Intensives. Students pursuing candidacy for the PTD program should communicate their interest during the registration process or by emailing the Academy Administrative Office at cbacademy@cballet.org in advance of their audition.
On occasion, select students may receive offers to join the PTD program directly from their summer program audition.
