Dance Academy Bundles

PRE-PROFESSIONAL DIVISION

Dancers wishing to enter the program are generally 8 years old by the beginning of the fall semester and have taken at least one full year of recreational classes with the Academy of Dance.

ADMISSION INTO THE PROGRAM

In the spring, prospective dancers are invited to audition in front of the Program Director, Ballet Mistress, Academy Director, and Dance Conditioning instructor and will be evaluated based on dancer readiness. Readiness is defined as the mental attentiveness, focus, and proper participation in class as well as physical readiness for the rigor of the four classes a week that Pre-Professional dancers participate in. Additional spaces may be granted to incoming dancers upon audition or the discretion of the Director.

Dancers wishing to enter the program above Level 1 or midway through the academic season must have a placement evaluation to determine their level in both ballet and modern. Placement evaluations are scheduled through the Pre-Professional Division Director, Shurrell Wiebe and Ballet Mistress, Thereza Bryce-Cotes.

PROGRAM ADVANCEMENT

Placement and advancement throughout the Pre-Professional Division is based on many factors, including a student’s strength, physical development, commitment, mastery of material, maturity, attendance record and artistic development as assessed by their teachers, choreographers and Director(s). In each case, a dancer’s ability to safely execute the class material is the paramount consideration, even above a dancer’s age. Due to this, it is not uncommon for dancers to repeat levels more than once, or to progress at rates different from others in their age group.