The Trainee Program of The Washington School of Ballet (TWSB) is a prestigious training program that facilitates the transition from student to professional dancer. All Trainee Program classes take place at our NW Campus locations. Auditions are required for new students.
2025/26 School Year (September 2, 2025 – May 31, 2026)
Important Dates:
- Registration for current students opens June 16, 2025
- Registration for new students opens July 1, 2025
- Open registration closes October 1, 2025. For mid-year registration consideration, please email school@washingtonballet.org.
Junior Trainee
The Junior Trainee program is a comprehensive program for students ages 15*-18 who aspire to the next level and for students planning to continue dance in college. The Junior Trainee program is an audition/invitation-only, upper-level program with classes Monday-Friday, 3:30-7:30PM, Saturdays from 9:30-5:00. A diverse offering of supplemental dance classes, in addition to daily classical ballet training, such as Contemporary, Choreography, and Mime, augment a strong ballet foundation. Junior Trainees have two to three school performances per year and mandatory participation in The Washington Ballet production of The Nutcracker. Educational seminars are offered to help guide this pre-professional level.
*Students 14 years of age may be considered for Junior Trainee if they and their family live in the DMV area.
Tuition: $7,779.75.00 + ACTIVE fee (5% off if you register by July 5)
Locations:
Main Building Studios – 3515 Wisconsin Avenue
Cathedral Commons Studios – 3308 Wisconsin Avenue
- Monday: 4:45pm-6:15pm, Technique – Cathedral Commons
- Monday: 6:15pm-7:15pm, Pointe/Repertoire – Cathedral Commons
- Monday: 7:15pm-8:45pm, Contemporary Composition – Cathedral Commons
- Tuesday: 4:30-5:00pm, Conditioning – Cathedral Commons
- Tuesday: 5:00pm-6:30pm, Technique/Pointe – Cathedral Commons
- Tuesday: 6:30-7:30pm, Pointe/Repertoire – Cathedral Commons
- Wednesday: 4:00pm-5:30pm, Technique – Cathedral Commons
- Wednesday: 5:30pm-6:15pm, Pointe or Men’s Class – Cathedral Commons
- Wednesday: 6:15pm-7:15pm, Contemporary Repertoire – Cathedral Commons
- Thursday: 3:30pm-4:30pm, Character – Cathedral Commons
- Thursday: 4:30pm-6:00pm, Technique/Pointe – Cathedral Commons
- Thursday: 6:00pm-7:30pm, Contemporary Technique/Repertoire- Cathedral Commons
- Friday: 4:00pm-5:30pm, Technique – Cathedral Commons
- Friday: 5:30pm-6:15pm, Pas de Deux – Cathedral Commons
- Saturday: 9:30am-11:15am, Technique/Pointe – Main Building
- Saturday: 12:00pm-1:15pmpm, Character – Main Building class type updated 7/30/2025
- Saturday: 1:15pm-2:45pm, Repertoire – Main Building
Trainee 2
The Trainee 2 program is designed to prepare students ages 15*-18 for a professional career in ballet by refining the classical foundation and honing artistry. The Trainee 2 program is an audition/invitation-only, upper-level program with classes Monday-Friday, classes beginning alternately 9:30-5:00 and Saturdays 11:30-5:00. Trainee 2 students have two to three mandatory school performances and one company performance, The Nutcracker. In addition, Trainee 2 students may be considered for corps work with The Washington Ballet Company throughout the season. Educational seminars are offered to help guide this pre-professional level.
*Students 14 years of age may be considered for Trainee 2 if they and their family live in the DMV area.
Tuition: $7,524.00 + ACTIVE fee (5% off if you register by July 5)
Locations:
Main Building Studios – 3515 Wisconsin Avenue
Cathedral Commons Studios – 3308 Wisconsin Avenue
Class location & schedule subject to change depending on Company Rehearsals.
- Monday: 9:30am-11:00am – Technique
- Monday: 11:00am-12:00pm – Pointe or Men’s Technique
- Monday: 12:45pm-1:45pm – Variations
- Monday: 1:45pm-3:15pm – Contemporary Technique
- Tuesday: 9:30am-11:00am – Technique
- Tuesday: 11:45am-1:00pm – Variations (women) or Pas de Deux (men)
- Tuesday: 1:45pm-3:30pm – Repertoire
- Wednesday: 9:30am-11:00am – Technique
- Wednesday: 11:15am-12:30pm – Pas de Deux
- Wednesday: 1:00pm-2:15pm – Repertoire
- Wednesday: 2:45pm-4:00pm – Contemporary Repertoire
- Wednesday: 5:00pm-5:45pm – Men’s Technique
- Thursday: 9:30am-11:00am – Technique
- Thursday: 11:15am-12:15pm – Pointe or Men’s Variations
- Thursday: 12:30pm-2:15pm – Repertoire
- Thursday: 3:00pm-4:00pm – Character
- Friday: 9:30am-11:00am – Technique
- Friday: 11:15am-12:30pm – Variations (women) or Pas de Deux (men)
- Friday: 12:45pm-2:30pm – Repertoire
- Friday: 3:15pm-4:30pm – Contemporary Composition
- Friday: 4:45pm-5:45pm – Men attend Jr Trainee Pas de deux
- Saturday: 11:15am-12:45pm – Technique
- *Saturday: 1:00pm-2:30pm – Repertoire time updated 7/30/2025
*Class time will move to 12:45-2:15pm during the run of The Nutcracker.
Trainee 1
Dancers, ages 17-19*, with a demonstrated passion for a professional career in ballet may be invited to audition for the Trainee 1 Program by the artistic staff of The Washington Ballet. Students in Trainee 2 and summer students are considered for this level, as are dancers at international competitions where our artistic staff may judge. As there are only a few spots available each year, the artistic staff prefers to see prospective Trainee 1’s in person. Trainee 1 spots are not offered at school auditions. Trainee 1’s are expected to maintain the highest artistic standards of The Washington School of Ballet. Trainee 1’s attend classes six days a week and work with the senior faculty of the school. By working on soloist roles of the classical repertory, Trainee 1’s continue to develop their technique and artistry. All Trainee 1’s will be considered by the Artistic Director and the artistic team of The Washington Ballet for Studio Company positions.
Performance opportunities include consideration for Company productions and Studio Company performances.
Class Times, Schedules, and More*Dancers younger or older than the posted age range may be enrolled by special invite. Dancers who are interested in our Trainee 1 program should email school@washingtonballet.org for more information.
Tuition: $7,524.00 + ACTIVE fee (5% off if you register by July 5)
Locations:
Main Building Studios – 3515 Wisconsin Avenue
Cathedral Commons Studios – 3308 Wisconsin Avenue
Class location & schedule subject to change depending on Company Rehearsals.
Schedule is flexible depending on Trainee participation in TWB’s rehearsals and performances:
- Monday: 9:30am-11:00am – Technique
- Monday: 11:00am-12:00pm – Pointe or Men’s Technique
- Monday: 12:45pm-1:45pm – Variations
- Monday: 1:45pm-3:15pm – Contemporary Technique
- Tuesday: 9:30am-11:00am – Technique
- Tuesday: 11:45am-1:00pm – Pas de Deux
- Tuesday: 1:45pm-3:30pm – Repertoire
- Wednesday: 9:30am-11:00am – Technique
- Wednesday: 11:15am-12:30pm – Variations (women) or Pas de Deux (men)
- Wednesday: 1:00pm-2:15pm – Contemporary Repertoire\
- Wednesday: 2:45pm-4:00pm – Repertoire
- Wednesday: 5:00pm-5:45pm – Men’s Technique
- Thursday: 9:30am-11:00am – Technique
- Thursday: 11:15am-12:15pm – Pointe or Men’s Variations
- Thursday: 12:30pm-2:15pm – Repertoire
- Thursday: 3:00pm-4:00pm – Character
- Friday: 9:30am-11:00am – Technique
- Friday: 11:15am-12:30pm – Pas de Deux
- Friday: 12:45pm-2:30pm – Repertoire
- Friday: 3:15pm-4:30pm – Contemporary Composition
- Friday: 4:45pm-5:45pm – Men attend Jr Trainee Pas de deux
- Saturday: 11:15am-12:45pm – Technique
- *Saturday: 1:00pm-2:30pm – Repertoire time updated 7/30/2025
*Class time will move to 12:45-2:15pm during the run of The Nutcracker.
*Dancers younger or older than the posted age range may be enrolled by special invite. Those who are interested in our Trainee program should email Madeline Garland at mgarland@washingtonballet.org for more information.
Men’s Trainee Program
Curated by Artistic Director Edwaard Liang, the TWSB Men’s Trainee Program prepares young male dancers ages 15 and up for a career in classical and contemporary ballet. In addition to the regular classes of each level, male students will also train in the following: strength training, partnering skills, men’s classical repertory, jumps, and turns.
Assessment and Auditions for the Trainee Program
A student may request to be assessed for the Trainee Program during their participation in the TWSB Summer Intensive or TWB Summer Repertory Experience, or send a video audition for consideration. After video submission, a visit may be arranged during which they will be assessed in person. For questions regarding the trainee program and audition process, please email Madeline Garland at mgarland@washingtonballet.org.
Students are invited into the Trainee 1 Program after a minimum of one season during the school year or summer program (exceptions can be made for extraordinary talent).
Submit a Video AuditionThe ACTIVE registration fee is approx. 4.5% which includes credit card processing fees normally embedded in Tuition.
Photos by Sonia Bartolomeo for TWB