Colorado Ballet Academy Pre-Professional Division is a daytime training program for career track students ages 13-20. CBA’s PPD provides the necessary training to transition students from the classroom to professional dancers and is geared toward developing ballet artists ready to take on the challenges of dance in the 21st century.
Acceptance into this program is by audition.
Pre-Professional Division I
An afternoon program offered for students aged 13-16 with a schedule that allows for morning academic studies
Pre-Professional Divisions II & III
Daytime programs offered for students aged 14-20 who are enrolled in an online academic program or have graduated high school
All Pre-Professional Division students are given the opportunity to work with Colorado Ballet’s artistic leaders, and qualified students are given first priority to openings in Colorado Ballet Studio Company. Studio Company members dance with Colorado Ballet as well as their own performances for organizations in the region.
Eligible current Pre-Professional Division students are assessed each year by Colorado Ballet Artistic Director Gil Boggs for the opportunity to become a Trainee with Colorado Ballet for the following season. Trainees are Pre-Professional students who receive scholarships to train and work closely with Colorado Ballet and receive shoe allotments when performing with the Company. Depending on repertoire, Trainees may be required to take Company classes, as well as rehearse and perform with the Company in addition to training in the PPD. Trainees are given priority for Colorado Ballet Studio Company contracts.
Students accepted into PPD1 can expect to train approximately 20 hours per week with increased rehearsal hours for productions. In an intimate studio setting, 12 students receive focused attention in classical ballet training supplemented with jazz, modern, character and contemporary as well as vital conditioning classes. Choreography blocks with monthly performances prepare students for life as a professional.
Schedule is subject to change due to rehearsals and performances. Students receive detailed schedule upon registration.
In focused settings with an average of 18 dancers per class, students participate in a minimum of 25 hours of specialized classical ballet training, necessary life skills and vital conditioning classes, with additional time provided for schoolwork. Training hours increase during the second semester in preparation for the full-length production.
Schedule is subject to change due to rehearsals and performances. Students receive detailed schedule with Life Skills classes and outings upon registration.
The Pre-Professional Division training schedule mimics the professional dance experience as students work with a series of rotating choreographers. Each series
culminates in a Saturday Soirée performance in Colorado Ballet’s Black Box Theater at the Armstrong Center for Dance.
PPD students also participate in the classical Fall Feature production in Colorado Ballet’s Black Box Theater and the Academy full-length classical production
at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House each spring.
Select PPD students are chosen to perform in Colorado Ballet’s The Nutcracker as well as additional productions during the Company season such as
The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, The Wizard of Oz, Alice and others, repertory permitting. Students chosen to perform in Company
productions will be required to attend Company rehearsals as specified.
Students experience cultural life in Denver through organized excursions including performances at Denver Center for the Performing Arts, museums, films and attractions unique to Colorado
Colorado Ballet Academy is located in the heart of the Santa Fe Arts District near downtown Denver with many housing options, grocery stores and entertainment within walking distance. Students who wish to board have the option of apartment shares or staying with a host family.
Tuition:
Program Fees (these apply to all three levels):
Colorado Ballet Academy provides the opportunity to audition through either a live virtual audition or by submitting an audition video. Live virtual auditions will be combined with our Summer Intensive Virtual Regional Auditions. There will be one Pre-Professional only virtual audition on Sunday, March 21, 2021.
January 10, 2021 - Northeast:
(ME, NH, VT, MA, NY, RH, CT, NJ, DE, MD, PA)
January 24, 2021 - Northwest:
(WA, OR, ID, MT, WY, ND, SD, NE, AK, MN)
January 31, 2021 - Midwest:
(WV, OH, IN, KY, MI, IA, MO, IL, WI, PA)
February 7, 2021 - Southwest:
(OK, TX, NM, AZ, CA, NV, UT, CO, KS, HI)
February 14, 2021 - Southeast:
(TN, VA, NC, SC, GA, AL, FL, MS, LA, AR)
Pre-Professional Only Audition
March 21, 2021 - 10:00-11:30am
Video Auditions will be accepted through March 21, 2021. The audition video should be between 5-10 minutes in length. The video should be created in a space this is easily accessible and safe during this time. Renting studio space outside of your home is not required. Please adapt the following exercises to fit your space safely and include in your video.
Advanced gentlemen and ladies should include a variation from the classical repertoire.
Videos will be reviewed upon receipt and results will be communicated within four (4) weeks. Due to the number of auditions, we are unable to provide individual feedback.
Barre
One side only with one, short combination per category
Center floor work
adagio
pirouette combination
petit allegro
grand allegro
Pointe work
echappe
releve in arabesque
pirouettes en pointe
diagonal turning combination
Gentlemen
tour en l’aire
petit allegro with batterie
men’s grand allegro
grand pirouettes
1. Complete online registration.
2. Upon registration you will receive a receipt containing a link to complete your audition form. You will provide the link to your video on this form as well as uploading the required photos:
(1) Digital – high resolution photo in first arabesque (on pointe)
(1) Digital – high resolution photo ballet headshot
Photos do not need to be professional quality but must clearly portray student.
This form must be completed immediately upon receiving receipt in order to participate in the audition. Receipt will be generated from Colorado Ballet Ticketing and sent to the email address provided during the registration process.