Cincinnati Ballet’s Youth Summer Intensive provides young, aspiring dancers with an entrée into intensive summer training at a pace designed specifically for their unique stage of technical development. Through fun and challenging curriculum, students enhance their ballet technique while exploring new dance disciplines and educational workshops. 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 and pointe (when applicable), instruction in other dance disciplines, as well as dance-related activities for students to delve deeper into all aspects of their dance training. 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: JUNE 17 – 28 and JULY 8 – 19, 2024
2-WEEK SESSION 1: JUNE 17 – 28, 2024
2-WEEK SESSION 2: JULY 8 – 19, 2024
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 being considered for advancement to pointe work or have recently been advanced 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 and pre-pointe or pointe work (by recommendation), complemented by instruction in other dance disciplines. Division II’s curriculum guides students recommended for starting pointe work through a successful transition while also supporting those continuing to work towards this goal. During the first week of the program, students will learn the fundamentals of pointe readiness, including where to sew ribbons and elastic, how to properly tie ribbons, how to break in new pointe shoes as well as how to strengthen the body and feet to reduce the risk of injury. Students also engage in a variety of dance-related workshops aimed at exploring related fields in dance and expanding their knowledge.
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. 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: $1,870
2-WEEK PROGRAM: $1,040
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.
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.
AUDITION FEE
$35 for advance registration | $40 for walk-up registration
Audition fees are nonrefundable
| CITY | DATE | VENUE | CHECK-IN TIME | AUDITION TIME | REGISTER |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati, OH | Saturday, February 3, 2024 | Cincinnati Ballet 1801 Gilbert Ave Cincinnati, OH 45202 | 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM | |
| Dayton, OH | Sunday, February 4, 2024 | South Dayton School of Dance 101 E Alex Bell Road, Suite 130 Centerville, OH 45459 | 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM | 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM | |
| Cincinnati, OH | Saturday, March 2, 2024 | Cincinnati Ballet 1801 Gilbert Ave Cincinnati, OH 45202 | 1:30 PM – 2:00 PM | 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM |
All in-person audition participants should refrain from attending if they exhibit any symptoms of a contagious illness.
Capacities are limited.
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 June 1, 2024.
VIDEO AUDITION FEE:
$50 (nonrefundable)
| 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, 2023, 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, 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 • A relevé/échappé combination* *If student 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 student 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. Additional Notes/Requirements: • 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. Need additional help? Use this easy-to-follow video audition class from Youth Programs Coordinator, Kara Louis. |
