Cincinnati Ballet’s Youth Summer Intensive provides young, aspiring dancers with an entrée into intensive summer training through programming designed to both challenge and inspire. With three divisions for students in developing phases of their training, Youth Summer Intensive provides individual attention and custom instruction appropriate for each level’s unique needs. The program features daily classes in ballet technique (including pointe work in Division III), instruction in other dance disciplines, and specialty workshops and experiences that foster a more comprehensive appreciation for each participant’s development as both dancer and artist. Led by Cincinnati Ballet’s experienced faculty, limited class sizes offer an intimate and nurturing environment to maximize student progress.
Open to students ages 9 – 14. Acceptance by audition.
Students have the option to join our full four-week program or one of the two-week sessions noted below.
4-WEEK SESSION: JULY 7 – AUGUST 1, 2025
2-WEEK SESSION 1: JULY 7 – 18, 2025
2-WEEK SESSION 2: JULY 21 – AUGUST 1, 2025
Classes run Monday – Friday from 9:30 am to 3:00 pm.
Cincinnati Ballet’s Youth Summer Intensive takes place at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. SCPA is located in the heart of Cincinnati’s downtown arts district just over a mile from the Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance.
Eligibility: Division I is designed for students with at least two years of formal ballet training who have not yet advanced to pointe work.
About YSI Division I: Division I’s program supports passionate young dancers by taking a deeper dive into their dance training through focused instruction, exposure to new dance disciplines and specialty classes to enhance their knowledge and artistry. Students will engage in daily ballet classes to strengthen their technique while building versatility and skill in other dance disciplines such as modern, jazz or musical theater. Dancers will have opportunity to develop their sense of creative artistry while expanding their knowledge and appreciation for dance through workshops in dance-related topics.
Eligibility: Division II is designed for students with several years of formal dance training who are nearing the transition to pointe work.
About YSI Division II: Division II is structured to encourage and inspire the development of each young dancer’s strength, versatility, and technique. Throughout the program, students will progress in their training through daily ballet classes, complemented by instruction in other dance disciplines to enhance their range of movement and physical expression. The introduction of repertoire engages dancers in a deeper understanding of style and artistry as they learn select choreography. Unique to Division II is a focus on building fundamental strength for future advancement to pointe work and some of the essential elements for pointe readiness. Students also engage in a variety of dance-related workshops aimed at exploring related fields in dance.
Eligibility: Division III is designed for students with several years of formal dance training who have been on pointe for at least one year.
About YSI Division III: Division III is a serious step toward Summer Intensive-level training for young dancers eager to improve and develop their technique and artistic expression. Throughout the program, students receive focused instruction in a supportive environment designed to challenge their technical capacity and aptitude for advancement. Students engage in daily technique and pointe classes while also developing their versatility through classes in diverse dance disciplines and exploration of select repertoire. Dance-related educational workshops build their intellectual and artistic understanding of their art form as they explore related fields in dance. This immersive training experience is designed to accelerate proficiency and promote student potential.
4-WEEK PROGRAM: $1,980
2-WEEK PROGRAM: $1,120
REGISTRATION FEE: $50
Cincinnati Ballet’s Youth Summer Intensive does not feature a formal residence program. However, the following housing resources are available for students traveling from outside the greater Cincinnati area.
2025 Audition Information Coming Soon
