Does your school provide academic classes, or just ballet classes?
Both – students enrolled in Ballet Tech’s full-time school (PS 442M) receive classical pre-professional dance training AND their academic classes all on-site at 890 Broadway. The school is a cooperative venture between Ballet Tech Foundation Inc. and the NYC Department of Education. The school serves students in grades 4 – 8.
How are children admitted into the full-time school?
There are two ways that students can be admitted into the full-time school:
1. THE “INTRODUCTION TO BALLET” PROGRAM: students who excel in Ballet Tech’s “Introduction to Ballet” classes are invited to apply to the full-time school.
OR:
2. OPEN AUDITIONS: students may audition directly for the school at one of our open auditions. Students who excel in the open audition are invited to take a class with the grade for which they are applying. Applicants may then be invited to participate in Ballet Tech’s Summer Session before a final decision regarding acceptance is made.
At what grade level are children admitted into the full-time school?
Ballet Tech’s full-time school starts at grade 4, which is when most of our students enter the school. There are also sometimes opportunities to audition for the school using the Department of Education’s middle school admissions process, although space tends to be limited.
What are your school’s average test scores?
Please click here to view Ballet Tech’s School Quality Snapshot, compiled by the NYC Department of Education. This resource includes information about the New York State Assessments.
What is the “Introduction to Ballet” program and how do I enroll my child in it?
The “Introduction to Ballet” program is a beginner series of ballet classes that Ballet Tech provides, free of charge, to approximately 500 3rd, 4th, and 5th graders each school year. Each year Ballet Tech auditions 30,000 children at 200 public elementary schools across NYC. Approximately 500 of the 30,000 who audition are selected to participate in the introductory classes. Students are bused from their elementary schools to Ballet Tech one morning a week for six weeks. Those who excel in the “Introduction to Ballet” program are invited to apply to our full-time school. Your school’s participation in the program is at the discretion of your principal – so please speak with them if you would like your school to participate. Please click here to learn more about the “Introduction to Ballet” program.
How do I sign my child up for an open audition?
Registering for one of the open auditions is easy and can be done online. Please click here to view our upcoming audition dates and learn more about the auditions.
How many dance classes do your students take?
Elementary students take 3 dance classes a week; Middle School students take an average of 12 – 15 dance classes a week.
Ballet Tech’s primary focus is classical ballet, but students in the middle school also take a variety of supporting classes in other dance genres.
For more detailed information about curriculum visit the Elementary School page and the Middle School page.
Do Ballet Tech students have opportunities to perform?
Yes – Ballet Tech students perform throughout the school year.
Middle School students participate in our annual KIDS DANCE performances at The Joyce Theater.
In recent years our Elementary School students have performed at the Battery’s “Playscape Performs” outdoor event series, in a collaboration with Parsons Dance called ABOUT SPROUTS, choreographed by David Parsons.
What forms of transportation are available to your students?
Ballet Tech’s students come from all over New York City.
The NYC Department of Education does not currently provide free bus service to Ballet Tech’s full-time students (though they do provide bus service for our “Introduction to Ballet” program.)
Some Ballet Tech families sign up with a private bus service. The service has a monthly fee which is partially subsidized by Ballet Tech Foundation to keep it affordable for BT families.
In addition, the NYC Department of Education provides students with full-fare student Metro Cards.
Does your school have an after school program?
Yes – ROADS TO SUCCESS provides after school services to our students every day from 2:35 pm until 6:00 pm. There is a monthly fee, but the BT Foundation partially subsidizes the program in order to keep the cost for families down. Please click here to learn more about ROADS.
Do your students go on field trips?
Yes – our faculty utilize Ballet Tech’s central location in the city to take students on educational field trips. In addition students attend various dance performances throughout the school year to complement their dance instruction.
