School Performance Opportunities
About Performance Opportunities
About Performance Opportunities
About Performance OpportunitiesThe Washington School of Ballet provides the highest level of dance training through a technique-centered curriculum carefully constructed to prepare the next generation of dancers with the technique and artistry required of a professional dancer.
Age appropriate performance opportunities are thoughtfully introduced as students move through the curriculum. Performances provide an invaluable experience, from gleaning the benefits of achieving a goal with one’s peers, to building confidence by performing in front of an audience. TWSB offers appropriate performance opportunities that balance the benefits of performance with the importance of training. These performances, and the preparations that go along with them, are designed to maintain the progression of learning, while still giving opportunities to celebrate dancer achievements in front of an audience.
Performance opportunities include class observations, showings, showcases, a cumulative end-of-year Spring Performance, Community Engagement appearances, and opportunities to participate in The Washington Ballet company productions such as The Nutcracker, held at the historic Warner Theatre.
Please note, not all performance opportunities are available for all levels. Student enrollment must be in good standing and students must maintain a minimum of 80% attendance rate in classes to participate in performances.
See scheduled school performances
School Year Productions
Creative Dance and Pre-Ballet
For our youngest dancers in Creative Dance and Pre-Ballet, TWSB holds seasonal class observations and showings. These are wonderful opportunities for parents and caretakers to celebrate their dancer’s achievements while introducing dancers to an audience in a familiar setting.
Students in Pre-Ballet 3 are invited to audition for The Washington Ballet’s company production of The Nutcracker.
Lower & Upper Division
Depending on level, performance opportunities for students in the Lower and Upper Divisions include: class observations, showcases, end-of-year Spring Performance, Community Engagement appearances, and opportunities to audition for Professional Training Division productions and The Washington Ballet company productions.
Classes in the Lower and Upper Divisions hold seasonal class observations where parents and students can celebrate progress with minimal interruptions to learning progressions.
Upper Division students at the SE Campus have the opportunity to audition for the SE Campus Performance Ensemble which gives students the opportunity to learn and rehearse choreography. Ensemble members may appear at select THEARC Resident Partner events facilitated by TWB’s Community Engagement department.
Level 7 & 8 students have the opportunity to perform in seasonal showcases held in-studio. These showcases offer advanced students an opportunity to build artistry and assimilate their technique into repertoire appropriate for their level. Showcases also offer students opportunities to present student-created compositions and choreography.
All Lower and Upper Division students are encouraged to participate in our annual end-of-year Spring Performance. Rehearsals are held from the late winter through spring and sign-up is generally announced late-January. To minimize learning disruptions, rehearsals may be held outside of regularly scheduled class time. Rehearsal time does not replace class time; students are expected to attend their regular classes in addition to rehearsals. There is a participation fee associated with Spring Performance that helps to cover the additional faculty hours for rehearsals and performances, theater rental, professional production support, and more.
All rehearsals and performances are mandatory. During the week of the Performance, there will be mandatory tech and dress rehearsals. It is imperative that all students are in attendance for these final rehearsals. Make sure to check field trip, mandatory school events and schedules in advance! Failure to attend mandatory tech and dress rehearsals will lead to the future loss of performance opportunities.
Students in the Lower and Upper Divisions are also invited to audition for The Washington Ballet’s company production of The Nutcracker. Other opportunities to audition may be available depending on seasonal programming.
Trainee Program Performances
Students enrolled in TWSB’s prestigious Trainee Program have a full and complete understanding of classical ballet technique. At this point in the curriculum, emphasis is placed on developing artistry, building repertoire, and gaining company experience as dancers are on the cusp of starting their professional careers.
All Trainee Program students participate in seasonal studio showcases. These performances feature a range of classical repertoire, alongside new works in contemporary choreography and are held in TWB’s gorgeous England white-box studio.
Trainees 1’s and select Trainee 2 and Junior Trainee students will participate in highly visible Community Engagement performances and appearances held across the District of Columbia. Dancers act as ambassadors for The Washington Ballet and as ambassadors for the artistry of ballet when they appear in these public appearances.
Trainee Program students also perform in an annual Spring Performance which is a fully-produced theatrical production. A display of classical and contemporary pieces, the Spring Performance features student excellence with the highest caliber of training, technique and artistry.
Trainee Program dancers play an integral part in The Washington Ballet’s company production of The Nutcracker. Mandatory participation in this production requires weekend rehearsals outside of class time and provides an invaluable experience of participating in a professional production.
Additional opportunities to perform with the company may be offered to Trainee 1’s throughout the season depending on company programming. These offers may also be extended to dancers in Trainee 2 and Junior Trainee programs if the company season requires it.
Ad hoc performance opportunities may present through the year and will be communicated when confirmed. These opportunities are not mandatory but highly recommended for the continued development of dancers in the Trainee Program.
SE Campus Performance Ensemble Auditions
2026 Student Auditions for the SE Campus Performance Ensemble
The SE Campus Performance Ensemble is an ensemble made up of select students auditioned from the Upper Division and Teen classes.
Performance Ensemble meets on Saturdays 3:00-5:00pm and has a tuition of $TBD for the School Year.
The SE Performance Ensemble participates in performances and Community Engagement events across the DMV such as the Children’s National Winter Walk of Lights, Black History Month performances, and Dance for All events! The Performance Ensemble will have a culminating showcase for parents in May.
Audition Information
General information
Auditions for the 2026 SE Campus Performance Ensemble are open to students in good standing* who are enrolled in 2025.26 School Year programs at our SE campus in Teen classes and Upper Division levels 4a, 4b, 5, and 6.
TWSB has the right to decide if the student has missed too many rehearsal classes; this may be cause for non-participation without refund.
*Good Standing qualifies as being up to date on all payments, and students must maintain a minimum of 80% attendance rate in classes.
Important Audition and Registration Dates
Auditions are Saturday, September TBD from 3:00-5:00pm. Advanced registration is required.
REGISTRATION OPEN IN SEPTEMBER
Audition results will be sent the week of September TBD via email.
Students who are accepted into the Performance Ensemble will be required to register via the link in their acceptance email before the first rehearsal class on September TBD.
Rehearsal Classes
Saturdays, 3:00-5:00pm starting September TBD and running through their final performance on TBD
Tuition: $TBD
Additional rehearsals are scheduled as needed and are performance dependent.
NW Spring Performance
2025.26 Spring Performance information will be available in mid-July, 2025
2025 Student Sign-up for the NW Campus Spring Performance
The NW Campus Spring Performance will run May 31-Jun 1 at THEARC. Sign-ups open on January 10, 2025.
The NW Campus Spring Performance is the culmination of a year filled with an incredible amount of hard work, dedication, and passion. Join us in celebration of the leaps and bounds these young dancers have made by enthusiastically applauding their achievements as they dance on stage with their peers.
Sign-up Information
Important Registration Dates & Fees
Spring Performance sign-up will open January 10, 2025 at 12:00am and close February 7, 2025 at 11:59pm.
Sign-up HERE starting January 10
Sign-up Fees: The performance fee helps cover production costs, and the costume fee provides costumes for the show. Students will wear the costumes in the performance and keep them afterward.
- Levels 1a-3: $175 ($125 performance fee + $50 costume fee)
- Levels 4a-7: $195 ($125 performance fee + $70 costume fee)
- Level 8: $225 ($125 performance fee + $100 costume fee)
ALICE Conflict for Lower Division Students: Spring Performance rehearsals for Level 1A, 1B, 2 & 3 overlap with ALICE rehearsals. Students must choose to participate in either ALICE or Spring Performance. They will not be eligible to participate in both productions.
General Sign-up Information
- Sign-up for the 2025 NW Campus Spring Performance is open to students in good standing* who are enrolled in 2024.25 School Year programs at our NW campus in Lower Division levels 1a, 1b, 2, 3, and Upper Division levels 4a, 4b, 5, 6, 7, 8. (Trainee Program students do not sign up, they will automatically participate.)
- All students who sign up will be assigned to a cast. Once casting is assigned, we cannot take requests to change your child’s performance day and time. All students must be available for all performances in case another student becomes ill or injured.
- Tickets will go on sale by April 1.
- TWSB has the right to decide if the student has missed too many rehearsals; this may be cause for non-participation. The performance fee is non -refundable .
*Good Standing qualifies as being up to date on all payments, and students must maintain a minimum of 80% attendance rate in classes.
2025 Spring Performance Rehearsal & Performance Dates
Upper Division Rehearsals
Upper Division levels have built-in class rehearsals during repertoire class. The rehearsal period for the Spring Performance begins the week of Monday, February 24, 2025. Saturday afternoon “put-together” rehearsals for combined class works will be held May 3rd, May 10th, and May 17th (subject to change). For a detailed rehearsal schedule, please visit the “NW Spring Performance 2025” tab on the Student Resources page.
Excused Absence Policy Upper Division
Students will be allowed 2 Excused Absences during the rehearsal period. The Upper Division Rehearsal occur during their level’s scheduled repertory classes beginning Monday, February 24th through the end of the school year. Parents must submit the request in writing in at least 1 week in advance to the school@washingtonballet.org address. NO Excused Absences will be permitted May 10 & 17. Students must be available for all tech rehearsals and performances the week of May 26-June 1. We understand local school districts have different Spring Break dates. TWSB follows DCPS Spring Break April 14-20. Please try your best to attend rehearsals during your child’s Spring Break.
Lower Division Rehearsals
Lower Division levels rehearse Saturday afternoons from February through early May.
February 22
March 1, 8, 15, 22, 29
April 5, 12, (No rehearsal Apr 19), 26
May 3, 10, 17, (No rehearsal May 24)
For a detailed rehearsal schedule, please visit the “NW Campus” tab on the Student Resources page.
Excused Absence Policy Lower Division
Students will be allowed 1 Excused Absence during the rehearsal period. Parents must submit the request in writing in at least 1 week in advance to the school@washingtonballet.org address. NO Excused Absences will be permitted May 10 & 17. Students must be available for all tech rehearsals and performances the week of May 26-June 1. We understand local school districts have different Spring Break dates. TWSB follows DCPS Spring Break April 14-20. Please try your best to attend rehearsals during your child’s Spring Break.
Tech and Dress Rehearsals at THEARC
Tue, May 27 – Fri, May 30 – (time/dates tbd)
Performances at THEARC
Sat, May 31 – Sun, Jun 1: TBD times
Not all dancers will perform in all shows.
Final casting will be determined April 1.
SE Spring Performance
2025.26 Spring Performance information will be available in mid-July, 2025
2025 Student Sign-up for the SE Campus Spring Performance
The SE Campus Spring Performance will be May 31, 2025 at THEARC. Sign-ups open on January 10, 2025.
The SE Campus Spring Performance is the exciting culmination of a year of hard work by our dedicated students! It will be a celebration of dance including a special ballet staging as well as performances from our modern, jazz, and contemporary classes.
Sign-up Information
Important Registration Dates
Spring Performance sign-up will open January 10, 2025 at 12:00am and close February 7, 2025 at 11:59pm.
Sign-up HERE starting January 10
Sign-Up Fees: $170 ($100 performance fee + $70 costume fee)
The performance fee helps cover production costs, and the costume fee provides costumes for the show. Students will wear the costumes in the performance and keep them afterward.
ALICE Conflict: Spring Performance rehearsals for SE Level 1A, 1B, 2, 3, 4A, 4B, 5 & 6 overlap with ALICE rehearsals. Students must choose to participate in either ALICE or Spring Performance. They will not be eligible to participate in both productions.
General Sign-up Information
- Sign-up for the 2025 SE Campus Spring Performance is open to students in good standing* who are enrolled in 2024.25 School Year programs at our SE campus in Pre-Ballet 3, Lower Division levels, 1a, 1b, 2, 3, and Teen Program. Upper Division levels 4a, 4b, 5, and 6 have mandatory participation and will automatically be signed up.
- Tickets for the SE Campus Spring Performance will go on sale by April 1.
- TWSB has the right to decide if the student has missed too many rehearsals; this may be cause for non-participation.
*Good Standing qualifies as being up to date on all payments, and students must maintain a minimum of 80% attendance rate in classes.
2025 Spring Performance Rehearsal & Performance Dates
Rehearsals
Rehearsals will take place on Saturday and some Sunday afternoons from February – May.
For a detailed rehearsal schedule, please visit the “SE Spring Performance 2025” tab on the Student Resources page.
Tech and Dress Rehearsals at THEARC
Tue, May 27 – Fri, May 30 – (time/dates tbd)
Performances at THEARC
Sat, May 31 – 2 shows: TBD times
All dancers will perform in all shows.