Cincinnati Ballet’s Summer Intensive partners with professionally aspiring students through an immersive dance experience designed to cultivate their individual potential. For six weeks, students step into a professional company environment where they benefit from full days of dance, the support of world-class faculty and a community of like-minded peers. Through intensive ballet curriculum, students hone their technical capacity supplemented by classes in diverse dance disciplines and topics to support the versatility required in today’s dance world. Cincinnati Ballet’s Summer Intensive also focuses intently on the development of students as dance artists through engagement in challenging repertoire and coaching by internationally renowned guest faculty, in addition to Cincinnati Ballet’s artistic leadership.
Open to students ages 12 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.
Cincinnati Ballet’s Summer Intensive couples challenging training with an engaging and supportive environment in order to ensure dancers maximize their potential, make important industry connections and develop their personal artistry. Our training standards set students up for success in today’s professional dance world and expose them to Cincinnati Ballet’s diverse artistic aesthetic.
Summer Intensive serves as a vital entry point into the Otto M. Budig Academy’s Professional Training Division and year-round programs.
Summer Intensive participants engage with the Otto M. Budig Academy’s year-round faculty, Cincinnati Ballet’s artistic leadership, select Company dancers and prestigious guest artists.
“By far my best summer intensive ever. I grew not only as a dancer but as a person as well!”
“The faculty was outstanding. Every teacher gave personal attention and made all the classes challenging.”
“She grew in confidence and left with even more passion for dancing. Cincinnati Ballet’s Summer Intensive created a life changing experience for my daughter.”
“I had the time of my life! My technique improved and I had the experience of working with great people. It was an unforgettable experience!”
“Thank you! My son had an incredible summer. I have never seen him so happy, motivated and connected to great friends.”
Scholarships are available to select students and are awarded during the audition process.
Summer Intensive students from outside the greater Cincinnati area have a summer home away from home through participation in Cincinnati Ballet’s Summer Resident Program in partnership with a local university.
Acceptance into Cincinnati Ballet’s Summer Intensive is by audition only. Program registration is made available to accepted candidates following their audition. Students must be 12 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 Summer 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.
Summer Intensive students dance Monday through Friday between the hours of 9:30 am and 5:00 pm. A typical day may include:
9:30 – 11:30 am: Ballet Technique
11:45 am – 1:00 pm: Pointe or Allegro and Turns Class
1:00 – 2:00 pm: Lunch Break
2:00 – 3:15 pm: Partnering, Variations or Conditioning
3:45 – 5:00 pm: Contemporary, Modern, Musical Theater, Street Dance or Guest Artist Workshop
All levels take pointe classes.
We believe intimate class sizes are important for a student’s growth and personal development. Classes are typically limited to 22 – 30 dancers depending on level.
Cincinnati Ballet’s Summer 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
Allegro and Turns
Variations and Repertoire
Partnering
Contemporary
Modern
Street Dance
Musical Theater
World Dance
Stretch, Conditioning and Pilates
Seminars and Workshops
All Summer Intensive participants take a placement class on the first day of their session and receive their level placement prior to their second day of classes. Level placement is subject to change throughout the course of Summer Intensive.
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. Summer 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 participate 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.
