Pre-Professional Program

Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy offers a robust Pre-Professional Program that educates, trains and prepares students for a career in professional dance.

Intended for recent high school graduates and current high school students with alternative academic study options, the program offers daily intensive training led by senior faculty member and Head of Training for Academy and Pre-Professional Divisions Tatiana Jouravel-Malinkine.

View 23/24 Brochure

Inside Look: Pre-Professional Program

Audition & Enrollment

Students must be advanced level dancers in high school or post-high school. Ladies must have at least 4 years of intensive pointe training.

Auditions are offered to prospective, eligible students free of charge. Review the audition options for the upcoming 2023-24 Pre-Professional Program below, or email Alyx Johnson, MBSA Coordinator, with any questions.

Video Audition Submission
Submit video audition materials via the online form. The deadline for video submissions is April 28, 2023.

Video Guidelines
Video length should be 10-15 minutes with combinations shown on one side.
- Barre Work: plies, tendus, adagio, and grand battement
- Center Work: pirouettes en dehors and en dedans, adagio, small and medium allegro, and grand allegro (32-64 bars including diagonal of turning steps)
- Pointe Work: echappe, retire, double pirouettes en dehors and en dedans
- Variation of choice
Additional Materials
Please include a resume and photos (a headshot and a photo in first arabesque – en pointe, if applicable).
Experience Days: April 20 & 21

Prospective students that attend Experience Days will immerse themselves in the program. Advanced registration required. Sign up here to attend.

Thursday April 20 & Friday April 21
Attend one or both days!
Baumgartner Center for Dance
128 N Jackson St, Milwaukee

Sample Schedule*
*Subject to change. A final, detailed schedule will be shared in early April and may vary based on your selected attendance.

Thursday, April 20
8:30am Meet & Greet and Tour
9:30am Ballet Class
11:00am Pointe or Men’s Class
12:00pm Lunch (provided, optional) with Panel Q&A
12:30pm Contemporary
1:30pm Classical Repertoire
2:45pm Hip Hop

Friday, April 21
9:00am Meet & Greet and Tour
10:00am Ballet Class
11:30am Pointe or Men’s Class
12:30pm Lunch (provided, optional) with Panel Q&A
1:00pm Classical Repertoire
2:00pm African

Dress Code
Any style black leotard with pink tights and shoes or skin-tone tights and shoes; or a fitted, white T-shirt with black tights and shoes.

Optionally, students should bring a short chiffon or Georgette wrap skirt (Repertoire), knee length character skirt (African), and clean, non-marking sole sneakers (Hip Hop) based on their days’ schedule.
In Person Auditions

Saturday, March 18, 2023
Check-In 2:30-3:00pm
Audition 3:00-5:00pm

Milwaukee Ballet
Baumgartner Center for Dance
128 N Jackson St, Milwaukee

Program Highlights

Daily classes in ballet, pointe or men’s work
Weekly classes in variations
Guest teachers in various other dance styles
Outstanding international faculty
Inspiring live musical accompaniment
Small class size provides focused individual attention
Audition opportunities for Milwaukee Ballet Company productions
New, state-of-the-art studios at Baumgartner Center for Dance

Standard Schedule

*Pas de deux or Men’s class as enrollment and health and safety restrictions allow.
**Style classes include Variations, Flamenco, Hip Hop, African, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Jazz, Character, Dance History, Career Seminar, and more.

Schedule subject to change.

2023-24 Tuition

September – May | 9 monthly payments of $838 plus a one-time $25 registration fee | September tuition and the registration fee are due at the time of registration.

Includes all classes, rehearsals, all costumes, and performance participation. Students must secure their own housing, food, transportation, dance attire and shoes.

Online applications for financial assistance will be available for the 2023/24 program starting June 2023.

Milwaukee Ballet