The entry point into formal ballet training, where students strengthen their love of dance while laying a strong foundation. The classes build on previous introductory experience and gradually increase in frequency and commitment level. Increasingly challenging exercises begin to include turning and jumping, with an emphasis on building the foundation of strength and flexibility required for pointe work and more complex movements.

Dancers refine foundational alignment and gain stamina and strength while cultivating artistry and musicality. Pointe work and men’s technique are emphasized alongside expressive port de bras, pirouettes, and batterie. At the highest level, dancers focus on both technical precision and the expressive, individual artistry that brings ballet to life.

Dancers that are committed to pursuing a professional career in ballet, and who are identified as ready by the Principal and Artistic Executive Director, will be selected for this program which includes a hybrid morning and evening option to begin preparing them for the more intensive experience of being a full-time Trainee.

A reduced schedule option for dancers seeking strong ballet training with more flexibility. FLEX students still engage with character and contemporary classes, cultivating versatility and expressivity. (Please note: FLEX students are not eligible for Ensemble, Pas de Deux, or Scholarships.)

An immersive company experience program with a focus on individual rigorous technical training. Admission is by audition at our Company Rep Workshop or by invitation from the Artistic Executive Director. Trainees commit to a limited number of School classes while fully immersing themselves in the company schedule. The trainee program offers mentorship, industry specific workshops, audition preparation, and professional performance opportunities.

• Primary A (Levels 1–3): Designed for first-year students beginning their primary education. These classes focus on building foundational skills appropriate to each level.

• Primary B (Levels 1–3): For students who have completed Primary A or have already developed foundational skills at this level. These classes offer a more advanced pace and deeper training opportunities.

Placement: Students are placed in Primary A or Primary B based on the results of a placement class and the Principal’s recommendation, ensuring the class aligns with their current abilities and learning needs.

Young students with previous introductory experience continue their study of ballet fundamentals with an emphasis on stretching, posture, primary positions of arms and feet, memorization and musicality. Classes are 90 minutes long (1.5 hours), twice a week.

Students enhance their training by integrating more traditional class structure with barre, center and across the floor exercises focusing on engendering proper alignment, stretching, articulation of the feet and building coordination and musicality. Students will work their way to completing a full series of barre exercises, while integrating more complicated footwork and port de bras, focusing on proper use of head and épaulement, strength of turnout and core engagement, strength and flexibility of feet and ankles and balances on demi-pointe in multiple positions.

Students will complete a full barre with the introduction of more intermediate level vocabulary while maintaining a focus on relevé and balances in all positions. Center work will focus on more complex and dynamic combinations, with an emphasis on pirouettes from fifth and fourth and an expansion of petite, medium and grand allegro. This level includes the introduction of Pre-Pointe. Primary 3 will take all forms of Character and Jazz.

With a focus on footwork, strength, turning and balance, students practice the skills traditionally designed for female dancers in pointe shoes.

Students learn and receive personal coaching on solos from ballet repertoire to enhance their coordination, strength, musicality and performing skills.

With a focus on allegro and turning, students practice the skills traditionally designed for male-identifying dancers.

Students learn and receive personal coaching on solos from ballet repertoire to enhance their coordination, strength, musicality and performing skills.

Students learn technical skills like floor work, counter-balance, spiraling, grounded center, improvisation through contemporary choreography and combinations.

Students learn traditional Ukrainian and European Folk dances found in classical ballets such as czardas, polka, mazurka, polonaise, and tarantella.

Led by an experienced Chinese dancer, students learn traditional Chinese dances that incorporate fans, ribbon streamers and parasols.

Students experience the rhythms, hand gestures and fast movements of traditional Indian style dancing with a focus on Bollywood.

Students learn various styles of jazz found today. With an emphasis on coordination, rhythm, and personality, students learn to dance to showtunes and incorporate their acting skills into their dancing.

With a focus on footwork, strength, turning and balance, students practice the skills traditionally designed for female dancers in pointe shoes.

Students learn and receive personal coaching on solos from ballet repertoire to enhance their coordination, strength, musicality and performing skills.

With a focus on allegro and turning, students practice the skills traditionally designed for male-identifying dancers.

Students learn and receive personal coaching on solos from ballet repertoire to enhance their coordination, strength, musicality and performing skills.

Pas de Deux class is designed to help students learn the art and skill of partnering. This class teaches essential partnering techniques and skills for all students who register for the CORE Program.

Students learn technical skills like floor work, counter-balance, spiraling, grounded center, improvisation through contemporary choreography and combinations.

Students learn traditional Ukrainian and European Folk dances found in classical ballets such as czardas, polka, mazurka, polonaise, and tarantella.

Led by an experienced Chinese dancer, students learn traditional Chinese dances that incorporate fans, ribbon streamers and parasols.

Students experience the rhythms, hand gestures and fast movements of traditional Indian style dancing with a focus on Bollywood.

Students learn various styles of jazz found today. With an emphasis on coordination, rhythm, and personality, students learn to dance to showtunes and incorporate their acting skills into their dancing.

Ballet RI’s trainee program offers an encouraging, supportive environment that will develop young artists into the professional dancers of tomorrow. Aspiring dancers who are at or almost at professional level are accepted into the Trainee Program through an audition process offered during our Company Rep Workshop (CRW). The program offers devoted technique and extra curricular classes to bridge the gap between student and professional, offering real world professional experience working along side Ballet RI’s resident company when repertoire opportunities arise. Additionally, Trainees will have the opportunity to explore other arts management and administrative roles within the organization to develop future career paths and experience beyond their dancing. Audition preparation classes and mentorship is also provided for the trainees, helping them move into the professional world at the end of the trainee program, whether that be with Ballet RI or another organization. The program is designed to be a guiding hand into the professional world. Trainees will share many of the same responsibilities as company dancers, and will be held to the same level of professionalism, while being supported and encouraged through additional dedicated training and development. The program will be capped at 20 dancers to maintain the intensity and focus of training, and will be highly selective to ensure the continuation of high-level individualized growth. Housing will not be provided, and pointe shoes will not be supplied through the company.

Trainees will be required to take the noted trainee technique class every day. Professionalism within the classes, including timeliness, preparation, and focus is expected of all trainees within the program. Additional required classes will be offered after the technique class, including but not limited to pointe, variations, conditioning, contemporary. Additional professional development classes will include, mental strength training, wellness workshops, and living seminars that will touch on topics from taxes to the importance of reading and understanding contracts. Mentoring utilizing the experience of Ballet RI’s resident company dancers will also be offered to trainees. All classes are required unless trainees are requested for company rehearsals. There is no guarantee trainees will be cast in company rehearsals, and it will be repertoire dependent throughout the course of the season.

Multiple performance opportunities will be available to the trainees throughout the course of the year. Performance opportunities with the company will depend on repertoire, and trainees are not guaranteed performance opportunities alongside the company. There will be performance opportunities available to the trainees through our community engagement programs and School of Ballet RI Culmination which will serve as the completion of the trainee program for the Academic Year.

Trainees will have a multitude of responsibilities within the organization to help prepare them for professional life. Beyond being present and engaged in all rehearsals they are called to, and learning all parts and roles assigned to them whether or not they are cast to perform the role, trainees are expected to explore opportunities within the administrative and education sides of the organization. Trainees will connect with staff early to determine areas of interest, and where specific skills could be best utilized within the organization. Having an understanding of the functionality of an arts organization, through the lens of an administrator or an instructor can open doors to other interests and possible career paths so that dance may remain a part of each young artists life beyond their performance career. Additionally, trainees not performing in repertoire shows will be required to assist the Box Office Manager as ushers and production staff. Trainees on full scholarship will be required to fulfill volunteer hours through social media, administrative, event, health and development, and performance support.

While some of these responsibilities will fall under volunteer hours required of all trainees, there are opportunities for paid positions. Instructor and assistant positions within our community engagement programs are paid per hour. Additional teaching and administrative opportunities may become available.

Tuition for Ballet RI’s Trainee Program is $7,200.00 for the year. Merit scholarships are offered at the discretion of the Director.