Trainee Program Details

The Cleveland Ballet Trainee Program provides participants the unique opportunity to work alongside professional ballet companies. Cleveland Ballet not only wants to immerse their trainees in company operations but also highlight and incorporate them into performance roles whenever possible. Additionally, Cleveland Ballet also recognizes the importance of directly contacting trainees with other professional dancers for both guidance and community building. In order to facilitate this goal, Cleveland Ballet makes sure that trainees are frequently present in rehearsal studios as well company class. The value of information gained from personal collaboration with professional company dancers allows our trainees to soar to new levels of skills and understanding of company life — the goal of any quality trainee program.

Experiences Provided

Involvement with Cleveland Ballet company productions
Weekly company classes
Advance technical training
Assistance with audition material and resume building
Participation in community outreach and performances
Performances with the Academy of Cleveland Ballet
Advising by college professionals, including online coursework opportunities
Exposure to different styles of dance and strength training
Private lessons with the Trainee Program Director to accelerate personal progress
Automatic consideration for a company position with Cleveland Ballet

SKILLS WORKSHOPS

Skills Workshops provide a systematic and intensive focus on a single topic to enhance the speed of progress for a specific skill. This concept isolation enhances understanding and allows trainees to develop high proficiency and/or target concepts that cannot be easily addressed within the context of a traditional class. Workshops utilize an individualized-tutoring approach providing one-on-one interaction between trainees and their instructor. Skills that will be focused on can include:

Pirouettes
Jumps
Steps Isolation
Partnering

Hair & Makeup
Resume Building
Acting
Filming Techniques

PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES

The ability to perform on stage is the end-goal for dancers. Performances provide students the chance to demonstrate their skills, knowledge, artistry, and growing confidence. Since the trainee program is directly affiliated with the Cleveland Ballet Company, trainees have the unique opportunity work and perform right alongside professional ballet dancers and faculty, giving them invaluable knowledge that only comes from such experiences. In addition, the Academy of Cleveland Ballet also provides performances in a variety of venues, giving trainees the opportunity to both perform and assume lead roles that may not be available in company productions.

Performances Typically Provided:

Cleveland Ballet Company, The Nutcracker (company-run production)
Winter Showcase: Skill Demonstration (Academy-run production)
Cleveland Ballet Company Spring Ballet/Title Varies (company-run production)
Spring Showcase: Storybook Ballet Series (Academy-run production)
Misc. Performances at a Variety of Venues (Academy-run/changes annually)

Audition