The Ballet Trainee Program of the Joffrey Ballet School is a four year program that is both competitive and intensive. From September through May, this program trains dancers in the classical ballet technique and artistry required for an active career in a professional company. The program demands a deep commitment on the part of the students and is recommended only to those students who are dedicated to working diligently and exclusively towards a professional career in dance.

At the Joffrey Ballet School, you will be exposed to all facets of the dance world, from choreography and music, to staging and costuming. You will see firsthand how all these aspects come together at the school, through the faculty who demand work of a professional grade, as well as the guest teachers and visiting artists with respected dance companies. The Joffrey Ballet School’s Ballet Trainee Program approaches training at a professional level comparable to a professional company environment, yet maintains the nurturing, personalized instruction of a school setting. As one trainee puts it, “You have a lot of people to impress.”

The Ballet Program is designed to develop pre-professional students with a classical ballet and contemporary background, balancing consistency and versatility in both classical and contemporary ballet and dance. Courses include: Ballet technique; Pointe and Variations; Ballet Repertory; Pas de deux; Character; Horton Technique; Cunningham Technique; Limon Technique; Contemporary Dance; Jazz; Performance Studies; Choreographic Workshops, Kinetic Studies (Body Conditioning); Ballet Methodology; Career Planning; Critical Analysis; Music; Anatomy; Dance History; Health and Nutrition.

Students will be given performance opportunities throughout the year. They will be coached in established repertoire and will also have choreography set upon them. There will be smaller, intimate performances during the year culminating in a large Concert at the end of the school year.

This Jazz & Contemporary division at the Joffrey Ballet School is geared toward those dancers who want to focus their training on Jazz and Contemporary styles of movement, while incorporating a wider knowledge of Classical Ballet training and Modern dance.

Students are exposed to a diverse range of styles from both past and present. The student’s attention will be focused on body awareness and creativity to prepare them for careers in education, performance, and choreography in Jazz and Contemporary styles of dance.

Students will be encouraged to embrace and explore a broad range of material that will help each of them develop his or her individual voice as an artist in this evolving art form. The curriculum will consist of both technical and academic/creative classes designed to fully prepare students for careers in dance, dance education, and choreography. Classes will be offered in various styles of Jazz, Contemporary Jazz, Classical Modern, Contemporary Modern, Modern Partnering, Choreography, and Improvisation.

Students will be given performance opportunities throughout the year. They will be coached in established repertoire and will also have choreography set upon them. There will be smaller, intimate performances during the year culminating in a large Concert at the end of the school year.

New York
Fall: September 8 – December 19
Spring: February 1 – May 14

New York Calendar
NYC Ballet Trainee Calendar
NYC Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Calendar

The Joffrey Ballet School prides itself on providing our students with several opportunities to perform. Being a part of a production provides the critical real-world experience necessary to begin a professional dance career. Students perform to sold-out venues in New York City.

Rehearsals are intense and will drive you to your own personal level of perfection. Performing is a key element in any dancer’s experience, knowledge, and pre-professional training.

The casting is determined by the Artistic Director who bases his decision on talent, experience, and the level of training achieved, but everyone will be given a role and/or an opportunity for an understudy position.

NYC Ballet Program

Students will have an abundance of opportunities to perform. These opportunities will include an In-Studio performance of class work (October), The Nutcracker (December), and the Spring Performance (May). Students may also be involved in lecture demonstrations in and around our community. Students of the Joffrey Ballet School are coached in and perform the works of our founders Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, George Balanchine, Twyla Tharp, William Forsythe, and the Petipa repertoire, among many others.

Our annual Spring performance offers a mixed bill that covers a wide selection of dance styles and eras. From the works of Petipa, to Robert Joffrey, to current NYC Dance Artists, the concert is meant to display the versatility in training and artistry for which Joffrey Ballet School is known. The Spring performance is a culmination of a year’s worth of hard work and dedication.

Ballet Trainees are required to participate in our annual Spring performance. Rehearsals begin in the second term, immediately following the Student Choreography Workshop.

NYC Jazz & Contemporary Program

Students will have an abundance of opportunities to perform. These opportunities will include various Student Choreography Shows, and the Spring/Winter Performance (May). Students may also be involved in lecture demonstrations in and around our community.

Student Choreography Workshop: This workshop is an opportunity open to all year-round Trainees to learn about the intricacies and challenges of producing choreography. Students are mentored by both faculty and choreographers who help to develop, refine, and rehearse their work. Students are provided with the opportunity to further explore and develop choreographic and performing talents, as well as elements of production. Students are responsible for creating their own work, casting dancers, rehearsing, and costuming. Students may choose to choreograph their own piece or assist another student in developing his or her work. This is an invaluable experience for every dancer.

As a continuation of their classroom technical study, students participating in this workshop will deepen their artistic voice as they experiment with a variety of stimuli to create dance. In addition, they will refine their understanding of the elements and skills of both technique and composition. The Student Choreography Workshop provides a stable foundation from which the student is encouraged to take risks in order to gain knowledge of themselves and others as multi-leveled individuals and artists. They are encouraged to awaken all the senses through a thorough awareness of the body, in communication with the mind. Students are mentored by the Artistic Staff, working one-on-one with our faculty each week leading up to an in-house studio performance.

This is the accordion body content. It is typically best to keep this area short and to the point so it isn't too overwhelming.

Dancers first audition for the Joffrey Ballet School. It is a fun and easy process with your three audition options below.

Due to COVID-19 some of our in person audition options are unavailable, see below about attending a LIVE Zoom Audition Class.

• Audition in NYC
• Audition in Texas
• Audition by Video
• Audition at one of Joffrey’s Summer Intensive audition locations.

Dancers are encouraged to submit video footage with their application if accepted via summer program auditions for merit scholarships

COVID-19 Live Audtions via Zoom

During this time we are providing our live auditions via zoom, if you would like to attend a LIVE audition class, email Nancy Cole at ncole@joffreyballetschool.com

Registration For Accepted Dancers:
Once you have earned your acceptance. Complete the Online Application. This application includes an application for Merit Scholarships.

NYC Click here to Register
TX Click here to Register

Apply For Financial Aid (Available to US Citizens)

Dancers will have graduated from High School by 9/1/20. Dancers must complete the FAFSA application.

FAFSA Click here to Register

For more information and application response times, please refer to the quick sheets below.

NYC Registration Quick Sheet 
Texas Registration Quick Sheet

Merit scholarships are awarded solely by the discretion of the artistic staff. New students are evaluated through their audition material and are encouraged to visit the school for further evaluation. Returning students are always being considered for merit scholarships by the artistic staff. Merit scholarships are re-evaluated every year of attendance and there is no guarantee they will carry over if the student hasn’t maintained a high standard during the year. Summer merit scholarships do not carry over to the fall. The merit application must be submitted every year in order to qualify.

Dancers are encouraged to submit video footage with their application if accepted via summer program auditions for merit scholarships.

Financial Aid & Merit Scholarship Handbook

Financial Aid

Joffrey financial aid is determined solely by the student’s financial situation. Applications must be fully completed and submitted for evaluation prior to the beginning of the school year. The Joffrey Ballet School is able to award institutional financial aid to all students. Title IV funding is available to US Citizens graduated high school prior to September 1st.

For students eligible for Title IV funding we offer a Net Price Calculator to help determine costs.

Net Price Calculator - Click here

Financial Aid & Merit Scholarship Handbook

Cares Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund

The Joffrey Ballet School received funds through the Cares Act: Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund. For information on how these funds were distributed please click here.

Speak with Tia Feather – High School Academic Liason

All students are required to have either completed their high school diploma or be working towards their diploma to be enrolled in the program. We encourage students to participate in online education. Students can study through the KeyStone program provided at the school (tuition is additional) or investigate other online learning opportunities

Keystone Overview

The Joffrey Ballet School and The Keystone School have formed a partnership to provide a second-to-none academic offering with our Keystone at JBS Blended Program. Together we have created a flexible academic model structured for students to physically and academically perform at an elite level. The Keystone School is a fully accredited, teacher supported, diploma granting private school of K12 Inc., a leader in the growing field of online and blended learning – using the web, hands-on materials, and support to provide individual attention and academic support. Keystone students at Joffrey Ballet School are awarded additional high school credit for their JBS dancing and coursework, allowing Keystone academic transcripts to reflect the rigorous JBS training.

For more information on the Keystone Blended Program, please contact our on-site Learning Coordinator, Tia Feather, directly at tfeather@keystonehighschool.com or 844-651-5155 ext. 407

For more information on the Independent Program, please contact Keystone Student Services at info@keystoneschoolonline.com Phone: 800-255-4937 Fax: 570-784-2129

In the 3rd and 4th years of the Ballet Trainee Program, in addition to their dance classes, students are exposed to and trained in Pedagogy. The purpose is not only to promote greater insight into training but also to provide them with the necessary skills and gain practical experience teaching in the classroom. The Joffrey Ballet School recognizes that professional dancers often make the transition from performing to teaching later in their career or support themselves with teaching during their dance career.

Please note that students are not receiving a certificate in teaching. The pedagogy classes are complementary to their professional dance training. If the student realizes they would prefer to move from professional dancing to teaching due to their exposure to pedagogy principals in this program, the faculty will be available to guide them as to how they can best pursue their new interest.

Teachers evaluate the students both throughout the year (the Progressive Assessment), and at the end of each Term (the Final Assessment), using a system consisting of a graded letter A to F.

The Progressive Assessment throughout the year is based on a range of criteria including attendance and participation, group discussions and involvement, work ethic, and general standard and progress.

The Final Assessment is based on a written essay, a written or oral test, and a classroom presentation, and the students have to achieve various course objectives. Some courses require the student to be assessed in front of a panel of instructors.

The Progressive Assessment and the Final Assessment marks are mixed in the ratio of 60% to the Progressive Mark, and 40% to the Final Assessment Mark. The grades are assessed as follows:

Students at risk of failing are identified early, and are counseled. Students are encouraged to seek a progress report from their classroom teacher at any time through the Term. Each student receives a list of the expected competencies which they need to gain at the end of the course, and a clear expectation of results is articulated. Students who do not achieve a grade D or higher do not pass.

The Joffrey Ballet School faculty meets regularly to discuss students’ needs and progress, and each student will receive career counseling. In addition, students are provided with evaluations and one-on-one meetings with the Artistic Director during each term.

Evaluations will include assessments of technical progress, focus, comprehension of concepts, application, and retention of corrections, work ethic, performance quality, and attendance.

We recognize the need to be mentored and guided beyond corrections and conversations with faculty. When training at the Joffrey Ballet School, you are assigned a mentor to assist you in your numerous career decisions, as well as to guide you through your day-to-day life.

The mentors are dancers themselves with over fifteen years of professional dance experience. You will be assigned a mentor within the first few weeks of attending the program.