Pre-Professional Division

Colorado Ballet’s Pre-Professional Division provides a necessary base to ease the transition from student to professional dancer in a focused, nurturing environment. In small and personal settings of up to 15 dancers per class, students participate in a minimum of 26 hours of class time per week. The audition-only program is geared toward developing ballet artists ready to take on the challenges of dance in the the 21st century. Our participants from around the globe are exposed to cultural life in Denver through organized trips to museums, films and the symphony. Students take daily classes in ballet technique, pointe work, pas de deux, variations, modern dance, jazz and company repertoire. We provide vital conditioning in Pilates and Gyrokenisis onsite in addition to classes in nutrition, injury prevention, anatomy, acting, character and music appreciation.  

Performance opportunities are a priority at this level of training and are provided on a monthly basis at First Friday Art Walks in our own Black Box Theater, during Saturday Soirees and with the Colorado Ballet Company (repertory permitting). Students accepted into this Division must be between the ages of 14-21 and have either graduated high school, be enrolled in an online academic program or participate in a limited class schedule in a traditional school. Out of town and foreign students who wish to board have the option of apartment shares or with a host family.

At the end of the nine month training season, Pre-Professional Division students are given first priority for openings in the Colorado Ballet Studio Company as well as admittance to the following year's program. Housing and billeting options are available on request. Studio Company members work directly with the Company throughout its season and perform with the corps de ballet as well as community sponsored performances.

Click here for Frequently Asked Questions about the Pre-professional Division.

Pointe Magazine has featured Colorado Ballet's Pre-Professional Division in the June/July 2017 and August/September 2015 issues.

Cost and Audition Information

The cost for the Pre-Professional Division is $7,500 for the year. A 5% discount is given when paying in full for the year. Auditions are accepted online via ACCEPTD.COM. An application (downloadable on the site) and arabesque are also required and should be uploaded to ACCEPTD along with your video. Details regarding the requirements of the video are available on ACCEPTD.COM.

For more information or to schedule an audition, please contact Academy Director Erica Fischbach at erica.fischbach@coloradoballet.org. Click here to download an audition form.

Stage Experience

Colorado Ballet Academy offers the unique opportunity to gain stage experience at a young age with our acclaimed professional ballet company as well as through student showcase performances and outreach programs. Students learn through coaching and observation the discipline imperative to preparing for performance, stage etiquette, confidence, and decorum which are inherent in performance environments. Performance opportunities include the Fall Feature and Spring Performances, First Fridays in Denver's Art District on Santa Fe, Saturday Soirees, Colorado Ballet's The Nutcracker, and other Colorado Ballet productions. During 2016/2017, Pre-Professional students danced roles in Swan Lake, Colorado Ballet's The Nutcracker, and Ballet MasterWorks. In the upcoming season, Pre-Professional students will have the opportunity to learn roles in Colorado Ballet's The Nutcracker.

Saturday Soirees provide Choreographic Expression at Colorado Ballet Academy

Our Pre-Professional Division students will have the opportunity to perform in our Black Box Theater during the Saturday Soirees. Our Saturday Soirees support the creation by new choreographers who will rotate New Works on a monthly basis. This allows our students to experience different styles of work, choreographic personalities and the process expected of dancers as new choreography is developed. Saturday Soiress are a vehicle for Colorado-based choreographers to share their work utilizing our talented young dancers with an audience in an informal showing on Saturday afternoons. 

First Fridays Featuring open Black Box performances for our Youth Company and Senior Division 

Opening the doors to the neighborhood here in Denver's Art District on Santa Fe is what First Fridays are all about. It’s a chance for our students to share their artistry with the community in short bursts of performance in the Black Box as the audience comes and goes. 

2017/2018 Schedule