Elementary School Auditions
Each year, Ballet Tech auditions approximately 30,000 children at 200 public elementary schools across NYC for its Introduction to Ballet Program. No prior dance training is required to audition. At the audition, children are led through a simple series of movements such as bending their knees, seated forward bends, and skipping. While evaluating each child’s aptitude for classical dance, Ballet Tech’s audition staff looks for an innate joy for movement as well as flexibility, musicality, and coordination.
Public Elementary School Principals and Administrators: Are you interested in BT visiting your school? An audition is easy to set up—you choose the day and the space, we take care of everything else. It’s not time-consuming for you, your staff, or the students, and it’s a wonderful opportunity for a lot of children who might not otherwise get the chance to explore dance. Register your school for an audition by calling us at 212-777-7710.
Parents: your child’s elementary school’s participation in Ballet Tech’s auditions and Introduction to Ballet Program is at the discretion of your principal – so please speak with them if you would like your school to participate. If your elementary school does not participate, then your child can audition directly for Ballet Tech at one of our Open Auditions.
Introduction to Ballet Program
Each school year, Ballet Tech visits public elementary schools across NYC and holds auditions for The Introduction to Ballet Program. In a typical school year, Ballet Tech visits approximately 200 schools and auditions 30,000 students. No prior dance training is required to audition — children are led through a simple series of movements that evaluates each child’s aptitude for classical dance, including flexibility, musicality, coordination, and an innate joy for movement.
Approximately 500 of the 30,000 children who audition each year then participate in The Introduction to Ballet Program. Students travel from their elementary schools one morning a week for five weeks to Ballet Tech’s studios at 890 Broadway in Manhattan as part of an ongoing field trip. Children showing the greatest aptitude may be invited to continue training at Ballet Tech.
The Introduction to Ballet classes introduce students to the fundamentals of ballet, including basic steps, ballet vocabulary, class structure, discipline, and appropriate dance attire (which Ballet Tech provides).
Open Auditions 2022-23
Ballet Tech holds open auditions throughout the school year for students whose elementary schools do not participate in BT’s auditions and Introduction to Ballet Program.
Previous dance experience is not required for students who are applying to Ballet Tech’s Elementary School. Students must be residents of New York City in order to attend Ballet Tech.
Please review the audition dates below:
Saturday, March 18, 2023 @ 12pm
For students currently enrolled in 3rd or 4th grade
Click HERE to register for the MARCH audition.
Thursday, April 27, 2023 @ 4:30pm
For students currently enrolled in 2nd, 3rd, or 4th grade
Click HERE to register for the APRIL audition.
Audition Location
Ballet Tech
890 Broadway, 8th Floor
New York, NY
Time
We recommend that you arrive 15-30 minutes prior to the start of your audition. Please be on time — latecomers will not be admitted. Each audition lasts approximately 45 – 60 minutes.
Attire
If your child has dancewear (leotard, tights, and ballet slippers) they should wear it to the audition. Otherwise, please have your child wear form-fitting clothing (tank tops, leggings, shorts etc). Hair should be secured up and away from the face.
The Audition
The audition will be in the form of a beginner ballet class. Students do not need to prepare anything for the audition.
HOW TO REGISTER
Please click on the link accompanying the audition dates listed above. We are requiring that each child be accompanied by only ONE ADULT.
If you have any questions please email us at info@ballettech.org.