The JBS x UBC Midwest Pre-Professional Ballet Summer Intensive is thrilled to launch an extraordinary new partnership between the Joffrey Ballet School and Universal Ballet Competition (UBC), uniting two internationally recognized organizations dedicated to excellence in dance training, mentorship, artistic development, and opportunity. Click to read official press release

Directed by renowned educators and artistic leaders Lissette and David Lucas, this immersive two-week ballet intensive will take place July 19–31, 2027 in Iowa City, Iowa, welcoming dedicated dancers ages 10–19 from around the world. Designed for serious young artists eager to grow, challenge themselves, and elevate both their technical and artistic abilities, the program offers a dynamic curriculum rooted in versatility, discipline, creativity, and performance excellence.

With distinguished faculty from both Joffrey Ballet School and UBC, dancers will experience exceptional training in ballet technique, pointe, variations, contemporary, contemporary pointe, improvisation, and repertoire. The intensive is designed to foster artistic individuality while encouraging dancers to grow within a positive, supportive, and inspiring environment.

More than a summer intensive, the JBS x UBC Midwest Pre-Professional Ballet Summer Intensive is a celebration of artistry, passion, discipline, and dreams. Through world-class instruction, meaningful mentorship, and a strong sense of community, every class, rehearsal, and shared experience is designed to encourage confidence, creativity, and excellence both in and out of the studio.

At the heart of the JBS x UBC Midwest Pre-Professional Ballet Summer Intensive is a commitment to nurturing the next generation of artists. Dancers will be encouraged to deepen their confidence, build lasting friendships, embrace their individuality, and pursue their goals with courage and determination in an environment where artistry and personal growth go hand in hand.