NW Auditions

NW Auditions

Students are accepted into The Washington School of Ballet by attending an in-person audition or submitting a video audition. All students auditioning for TWSB programs will be placed by ability and readiness for the TWSB syllabus. Note that if we do not have a class that matches your student’s current training level or age-range, they may be recommended for our Teen or Open Class programs. Please note: Current TWSB students do not need to audition.

  • Students age 8-9 with no previous experience will be placed by ability and readiness for the TWSB Syllabus.
  • Children ages 10-11 should have a minimum of 1-2 years of ballet training.
  • Children age 11-12 should have a minimum 3 years ballet training. Students should be ready for beginner pointe work or have had 1 year of pointe.
  • Students 13+ should have a minimum of 2-4 years of ballet training and intermediate pointe work.
  • All auditions and placement classes carry a fee due at the time of registration.

Audition Attire

  • Students ages 7 and older should wear ballet shoes, a leotard, and tights.
  • 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.

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.

NW Campus In-Person Auditions

Registration for in-person auditions opens Monday, April 1
All Auditions will take place at TWB Main Building: 3515 Wisconsin Ave. NW

Lower Division Program Auditions
(ages 8-12 as of September 1, 2024)

Saturday, June 22, 2024 – pre-registration required, check-in begins 30 minutes prior to your audition.
Check-in for ages 8-12 at 11:30AM
Auditions for ages 8-12 at 12:00PM-1:00PM – Register Here
12-year-olds not yet on pointe, or with less than one year of pointe experience should attend this audition.

Saturday, August 24, 2024 – pre-registration required, check-in begins 30 minutes prior to your audition.
Check-in for ages 8-12 at 11:30AM
Auditions for ages 8-12 at 12:00PM-1:00PM – Register Here
12-year-olds not yet on pointe, or with less than one year of pointe experience should attend this audition.

Upper Division Program Auditions
(ages 12-21 as of September 1, 2024)

Saturday, June 22, 2024 – pre-registration required, check-in begins 30 minutes prior to your audition. Ages are as of September 1, 2024
Check-in for ages 12-21 at 12:00PM
Auditions for ages 12-21 at 12:30PM-2:00PM – Register Here
12-year-olds with at least one year of pointe experience should attend this audition.

Saturday, August 24, 2024 – pre-registration required, check-in begins 30 minutes prior to your audition. Ages are as of September 1, 2024
Check-in for ages 12-21 at 12:00PM
Auditions for ages 12-21 at 12:30PM-2:00PM – Register Here
12-year-olds with at least one year of pointe experience should attend this audition

Professional Training Division Auditions

A student may request to be assessed for the Professional Training Division during their participation in the TWSB Summer Intensive, 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.

Students are invited into the Trainee Program after a minimum of one season during the school year or summer program (exceptions can be made for extraordinary talent).

For more information, please email school@washingtonballet.org

NW Campus Video Auditions:

To submit a video audition for the TWSB NW Campus School Year, please follow these steps:

  • Register for Video Auditions ($40) on the online registration portal.
  • Check your email for a link to complete “Supplemental Forms”.
  • Follow the link and prompts to complete your “Supplemental Forms” and you will be prompted to enter a video audition link.
  • Add a video link from Vimeo or YouTube. Please make sure the video settings are set to public, or that you provide a valid password to view the video.
  • Students submitting a video audition can expect to hear a response by early June. Registration for new students will open July 1.

TWSB School Year Video Audition Submission

Video Audition Guidelines

Your recorded audition should be NO LONGER THAN 10 minutes and please include the following in your audition:

Upper Division & Professional Training Division Video Audition Guidelines:

  • Introduction: name, age, years, and place of study.
  • Only one side of combinations at the barre and include: pliés, 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.

Lower Division (ages 8-12) Video Audition Guidelines:

Your recorded audition should be NO LONGER THAN 10 minutes and please include either the following exercises for barre and center or exercises you are currently doing in your weekly class:

Ages 8-10

  • Introduction: name, age, years, and place of study.
  • Only one side of combinations at the barre and include: pliés, tendu, grand battement.
  • In center: tendu, sauté in 1st position, changement, échappe, port de bras.

Ages 10-12

  • Introduction: name, age, years, and place of study.
  • Only one side of combinations at the barre and include: plié tendu, dégagé, ronds de jambe, passé relevé facing the barre.
  • In center: tendu, adagio with developé or relevé lent, glissade, sauté 1st position, changement.
  • If students have begun pointe, please include the following en pointe: At the barre – relevé in 1st and 5th positions, échappé, pas de bourrée, relevé passé.

Video Auditions for SY 2024.25 will open April 1, 2024

 

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SE Auditions

SE Auditions

Students are accepted into The Washington School of Ballet by attending an in-person audition or submitting a video audition. All students auditioning for TWSB programs will be placed by ability and readiness for the TWSB syllabus. Note that if we do not have a class that matches your student’s current training level or age-range, they may be recommended for our Teen or Open Class programs. Please note: Current TWSB students do not need to audition.

  • Students age 8-9 with no previous experience will be placed by ability and readiness for the TWSB Syllabus.
  • Children ages 10-11 should have a minimum of 1-2 years of ballet training.
  • Children age 11-12 should have a minimum 3 years ballet training. Students should be ready for beginner pointe work or have had 1 year of pointe.
  • Students 13+ should have a minimum of 2-4 years of ballet training and Intermediate pointe work.
  • All auditions and placement classes carry a fee due at the time of registration.

Audition Attire

  • Students ages 7 and older should wear ballet shoes, a leotard, and tights.
  • 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.

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.

SE Campus In-Person Auditions (Ages 8-18)

Registration for in-person auditions opens Monday, April 1
All auditions for the SE Campus will be held in-person at 1901 Mississippi Ave SE Washington, DC 20020

SE Campus Program Auditions
(ages 8-18 as of September 1, 2024)

Saturday, June 1, 2024 – pre-registration required, check-in begins 30 minutes prior to your audition.
Check-in for ages 8-18 at 10:30AM
Auditions for ages 8-18 at 11:00AM-12:00PM – Register Here

For more information, please email kdeshields@washingtonballet.org

Teen Ballet Ages 11-18 (with no previous experience)

Teen Ballet is offered only at the TWSB SE Campus. Students ages 11-18 with no experience are welcome to register for Teen Ballet. An audition is not required.

Questions? Contact Kayla DeShields at kdeshields@washingtonballet.org.

SE Campus Video Auditions:

To submit a video audition for the TWSB SE Campus School Year, please follow these steps:

  • Register for Video Auditions ($40) on the online registration portal.
  • Check your email for a link to complete “Supplemental Forms”.
  • Follow the link and prompts to complete your “Supplemental Forms” and you will be prompted to enter a video audition link.
  • Add a video link from Vimeo or YouTube. Please make sure the video settings are set to public, or that you provide a valid password to view the video.

TWSB School Year Video Audition Submission

Video Audition Guidelines

Your recorded audition should be NO LONGER THAN 10 minutes and please include the following in your audition:

Upper Division (ages 12-18) Video Audition Guidelines:

  • Introduction: name, age, years, and place of study.
  • Only one side of combinations at the barre and include: pliés, 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.

Lower Division (ages 8-12) Video Audition Guidelines:

Your recorded audition should be NO LONGER THAN 10 minutes and please include either the following exercises for barre and center or exercises you are currently doing in your weekly class:

Ages 8-10

  • Introduction: name, age, years, and place of study.
  • Only one side of combinations at the barre and include: pliés, tendu, grand battement.
  • In center: tendu, sauté in 1st position, changement, échappe, port de bras.

Ages 10-12

  • Introduction: name, age, years, and place of study.
  • Only one side of combinations at the barre and include: plié tendu, dégagé, ronds de jambe, passé relevé facing the barre.
  • In center: tendu, adagio with developé or relevé lent, glissade, sauté 1st position, changement.
  • If students have begun pointe, please include the following en pointe: At the barre – relevé in 1st and 5th positions, échappé, pas de bourrée, relevé passé.

Video Auditions for SY 2024.25 will open April 1, 2024

 

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