School Year Auditions
The Washington School of Ballet (TWSB) offers ballet programs for students ranging from ages 4-19 from late August to May. For more information on our School Year Programs, click here.
TWSB also offers Summer Intensive at the NW Campus and Summer Dance Program at the SE Campus (TWB@THEARC) from June to July for 4 to 5 weeks depending on the level; the NW campus also offers a 2 week intermediate program in August. For audition information visit Summer Program.
Adult classes are also offered at both campuses year round. Open enrollment is available for all adult classes. For more information, visit Adult Classes.
Northwest Campus
Auditions for the 2018.2019 school year will begin June 9. Please see times and dates on the NW Auditions tab.
Southeast Campus
Audition dates for TWB@THEARC will begin June 23. Please check the SE Audition tab for times and dates.
NW Auditions
Auditions for the 2018.2019 school year will begin June 9. Please see times and dates below.
Auditions for 2018.2019 Full Year Program
JUNE 9 (ages 4-19)
JULY 14 (ages 4-10)
AUGUST 18 (ages 4-19) SEPTEMBER 7 (ages 4-8)
Ages 4 to 5 (June 9, July 14, Aug 18)
Check in: 9:30 AM
Audition: 10:00 - 11:00 AM
Location: England Studio
Ages 6 to 7 (June 9, July 14, Aug 18)
Check in: 10:30 AM
Audition: 11:15 - 12:15 PM
Location: England Studio
Ages 8 to 10 (June 9, July 14, Aug 18)
Check in: 12:00 NOON
Audition: 12:30 - 2:00PM
Location: England Studio
Ages 11 to 14 (June 9 & Aug 18)
Check in: 9:30 AM
Audition: 10:00 -11:30 AM
Location: Phillips Studio
Ages 14 and up (June 9 & Aug 18)
Check in: 11:30 AM
Audition: 12:00 – 1:30 PM
Location: Phillips Studio
What to expect: Students will participate in a technique class and be assessed according to technical ability and age-appropriate standards. Prior experience will also be taken into consideration.
No experience is expected for ages 4-6. Evaluations for the youngest participants will be made on physical ability, coordination and musicality by a team of faculty members. For students ages 4-7 there will be a parent Q&A while students attend the audition class.
Attire: Girls should wear a leotard, tights or white ankle socks (ages 4-6) and ballet shoes (students on pointe should bring pointe shoes). No skirts please or distracting embellishments.
Boys should wear black tights, a white T-shirt and black or white shoes.
However, if your child has never danced before, he/she may wear form fitting clothing for the audition. It is important that our faculty be able to evaluate physical proportions. Please remove all jewelry and be certain that the student's hair is pulled away from his/her face and secured, preferably in a bun for girls.
For Video auditions please use the following guidelines:
Recorded audition should be NO LONGER THAN 10 minutes and include the following in your audition: Introduction: name, age, years and place of study. Only one side of combinations at the barre include: plies, battement tendu, adagio, grand battement. In center (ladies on pointe) adagio, pirouettes en dehors and dedans, petit allegro, grand allegro and a variation of choice. Gentlemen include tour en l’air (single or double depending on your age and ability level) and allegro that includes beats and grand pirouettes.
Submit your video to dglover@washingtonballet.org after registering online. Register here.
SE Auditions
TWB@THEARC AUDITION DATES/TIMES:
Please call 202.889.8150 to schedule an audition.
Location:
THEARC
Suite 202
1901 Mississippi Ave SE
Washington, DC 20020
Age 4 (June 23, July 28, August 18)
Registration: 9:00AM
Audition: 9:30AM
Age 5 to 6 (June 23, July 28, August 18)
Registration: 9:30AM
Audition: 10:00AM
Age 7 to 8 (June 23, July 28, August 18)
Registration: 10:15AM
Audition: 10:45AM
Age 9 to 11 (June 23, July 28, August 18)
Registration: 11:00AM
Audition: 11:30AM
Age 12 and Up with no prior experience (June 23, July 28, August 18)
Registration: 11:45AM
Audition: 12:15PM
Age 12 and Up with experience *Advanced Training Program Consideration
(June 23, July 28, August 18)
Registration: 12:30PM
Audition: 1:00PM
The TWB@THEARC school year program runs September 5 through May 25. For more information about these auditions, please email Sonitra Macrall, SE School Manager, at smacrall@washingtonballet.org.
*The Advanced Training Program is designed for serious ballet students who also aspire to become strong contemporary dancers. The program provides mentorship and work with the key leadership of TWB and other leaders in the field of dance. Students enrolled in TWSB’s program already are eligible if they are enrolled in Ballet 4.
What to expect: Students will participate in a technique class and be assessed according to technical ability and age-appropriate standards. Prior experience will also be taken into consideration.
Attire: Girls should wear a leotard, tights, and ballet shoes (students on pointe should bring pointe shoes). Boys should wear black tights and a white T-shirt. However, if your child has never danced before, he/she may wear form fitting, comfortable clothing for the audition. Please remove all jewelry and be certain that the student's hair is pulled away from his/her face and secured, preferably in a bun for girls.
Registration
What to expect after audition: Please wait for The Washington School of Ballet to contact you with confirmation of your acceptance into the program.
How to register: If your child has been accepted to The Washington School of Ballet, then please login to the Parent Portal to register.
Uniforms
NW Campus
Uniforms must be purchased according to ballet level. Please visit the TWSB studios for a fitting if you are unsure or call 202.362.3606 for more information.
SE Campus
Uniform requirements vary between class types and levels. 
Attire List 2016-2017.pdf
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:
- Girls’ hair must be secured in a bun at ALL times. If hair is short, a white headband will be necessary. No hair accessories (scrunchies, bun-covers, beads or bows) should be on or around your bun. Students should have extra hair pins, hair elastics, and hair gel/spray to secure their hair. Watch the YouTube videos below for tips and advice on buns or go to TWB's YouTube channel to see the complete bun video series.
- No jewelry allowed except stud earrings. Do not bring valuables to the studio! TWSB is not responsible for lost or stolen items.
- Ladies in pointe shoes MUST have a needle, thread, scissors, water-proof tape, and band aids with them AT EVERY pointe class. Students must be able to get into their shoes within a 5 minute time frame. PRACTICE!
- Students must wear street-clothes cover-ups AT ALL TIMES outside the classrooms.
- Please do not wear ballet slippers outside the building as they carry street dirt into the studio.
International Students
AUDITIONS
International students may audition via a video link. Recorded audition should be NO LONGER THAN 10 minutes and include the following in your audition:
Introduction: name, age, years and place of study. Only one side of combinations at the barre include: plies, battement tendu, adagio, grand battement. In center (ladies on pointe) adagio, pirouettes en dehors and dedans, petit allegro, grand allegro and a variation of choice. Gentlemen include tour en l’air (single or double depending on your age and ability level) and allegro that includes beats and grand pirouettes.
Videos should be submitted to: Donna Glover, Director of School Operations at dglover@washingtonballet.org.
To register for the video audition please click here. At step #4, please choose the VIDEO option. Audition results will be sent by email.
STUDENT VISA
The Washington School of Ballet does offer a F-1 student visa.
Once an international student is accepted we will ask for specific information including a photo of the student’s passport. Our administrative offices will then provide an I-20 form from the SEVIS system and include information about where to go online to pay the I-901 fee ($200) for the student visa. Once the I-901 fee is paid online, an accepted student may contact the US Consulate for an appointment. The processing time varies country to country.
STUDENT HOUSING
The Washington School of Ballet does not offer student housing. Students in our Professional Track Program (PTP) reside in shared apartments near the school. TWSB is located in a lovely neighborhood with many apartments that will allow a 9 month lease and will provide a lease for each student individually. It is important to note that a lease is a binding contract; the rent must be paid even if a student leaves the school. The lease agreement is between the apartment management and the student’s family. TWSB does not handle lease agreements but our staff will provide contact information for nearby apartments that enjoy housing our students. All suggested buildings are a short walk to the school. Our neighborhood offers many amenities with easy shopping so that our students do not need to use daily public transportation.
STUDENT MEDICAL INSURANCE
All students at TWSB must have medical insurance. There are many options available online. Be sure that you choose a plan that covers hospital emergency room visits.
Boys Training
Ages 6-20
In addition to their normally scheduled classes with their respective levels, boys will also train with Kee Juan Han and his distinguished faculty working toward perfecting the specific nature of male, classical ballet technique.
Boys 1 focuses on the understanding of the discipline, team work and placement for young, growing bodies.
Boys 2 works more specifically on body placement, and coordination for turns and jumps.
Intermediate Boys refines male training and emphasizes clean, men’s technique.
Advanced Boys continues fine-tuning the male classical ballet technique through classwork and strong emphasis on clarity, musicality, dynamics and strength.