2023 information coming soon!

Classes are held Monday through Friday 10:00am-4:00pm, Saturday 10:00am-1:30pm. 

No classes will be held on July 4, 2022

Colorado Ballet Academy continues to assess the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and appropriate health and safety protocols. All students attending the 2022 Summer Intensive will be required to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19. Students will be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their final dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.  

Students with medical or religious exemptions that prohibit them from being vaccinated are asked to contact CBA as soon as possible prior to registering for Summer Intensive. Exemption requests will be reviewed but CBA cannot guarantee that any exemptions will be granted. 

Students choosing the housing option will reside at University of Denver in shared, suite-style, air-conditioned rooms. The beautiful campus is within easy walking distance to RTD Light Rail where students will be escorted daily to/from Colorado Ballet by experienced chaperones.  

Colorado Ballet company dancers fill the roles of chaperone both on and off campus, providing an excellent resource for students. The student to chaperone ratio is approximately 12:1 and chaperones are available 24 hours a day onsite. Students will be issued an ID, RTD Light Rail pass and dining card.  

The residential student meal plan consists of breakfast and dinner on campus Monday-Saturday, with lunch catered at the studio. Brunch and dinner are provided on Sunday. 

Colorado Ballet Academy also offers chaperoned weekend outings for all residential students. Transportation is provided, and all outings are covered by the residential student activity fee.  

Past CBA activities included: 

• Performances at Denver Center for the Performing Arts 
• Colorado Rockies baseball game 
• July 4 Celebration with Colorado Symphony
• Museum of Contemporary Art Denver
• Local dance performances at a variety of venues
• Local tour attractions around the city of Denver
• University of Denver events 

Pre-Registration Online 

• Upon registration you will receive a receipt containing a link to complete your audition form and upload the requested photos.
  • (1) 4”x6” photo in first arabesque (on pointe if applicable)
  • (1) 4”x6” portrait
  • Photos do not need to be professional quality but must clearly portray student. 
• This form must be completed immediately upon receiving receipt in order to participate in the audition. Receipt will be generated from Colorado Ballet Ticketing and sent to the email address provided during the registration process. 
• Online pre-registration closes at 11:59pm MT on the Thursday before the audition. 

Day-of Registration 

• Students must register online and pay associated fee. A receipt of payment will need to be presented at the check-in table to receive an audition number.  
• Upon registration you will receive a receipt containing a link to complete your audition form and upload the requested photos. 
  • (1) 4”x6” photo in first arabesque (on pointe if applicable)
  • (1) 4”x6” portrait
  • Photos do not need to be professional quality but must clearly portray student. 

• This form must be completed by the Monday following your audition in order to receive audition results. Receipt will be generated from Colorado Ballet Ticketing and sent to the email address provided during the registration process.
• All audition fees are non-refundable, regardless of circumstance.
• Audition results will be communicated within two (2) weeks and will only be sent to Main Contact Email address as provided on registration form. Main Contact Email must be provided by a parent or legal guardian if auditionee is under the age of 18.
• Due to the number of auditions, we are unable to provide individual feedback.
• If you audition for Summer Intensive but also expressed interest in Pre-Professional Division (ages 13-20), further instructions will be emailed to you within 4 weeks from the date of your in-person audition. Those students who are applying for Pre-Professional Division are highly encouraged to attend Colorado Ballet Academy’s Summer Intensive.
• Audition Dress Code
  • Women: black leotard, pink or skin tone tights, pointe shoes
  • Men: black tights, white t-shirt 

• Health and Safety Protocols: 
  • All students attending a CBA Summer Intensive audition at the Colorado Ballet Armstrong Center for Dance are required to either provide proof of full vaccination OR a negative COVID PCR test that is no older the 72 hours.  
  • All students attending a CBA Summer Intensive audition at one of the audition tour cities must comply with the health and safety protocols set forth by each institution.  

Audition for Colorado Ballet Academy's Summer Intensive at one of the locations below.
$35 Audition Fee
Audition fee waived for current Colorado Ballet Academy students. Please email summerintensive@coloradoballet.org for registration details.

Saturday, January 8, 2022
The Washington Ballet 
3515 Wisconsin Ave NW 
Washington, DC  
Ages 12-20 
Audition Check-In: 5:00pm – 5:30pm EST 
Audition Class: 5:30pm – 7:00pm EST

Sunday, January 9, 2022  
Pacific Northwest Ballet 
1611 136th Pl. NE 
Bellevue, WA 
Ages 12-20 
Audition Check-In: 4:30pm – 5:00pm PST 
Audition Class: 5:00pm – 6:30pm PST 

Sunday, January 9, 2022 
Colorado Ballet Academy  
1075 Santa Fe Drive 
Denver, CO 
Ages 11-14 Audition Check-In: 9:30am-10:00am MST 
Ages 11-14 Audition Class: 10:00am – 11:30am MST

Ages 15-20 Audition Check-In: 12:00pm-12:30pm MST 
Ages 15-20 Audition: 12:30pm – 2:00pm MST 

Saturday, January 15, 2022 
Smuin Ballet  
1830 17th Street 
San Francisco, CA  
Ages 12-20 
Audition Check-In: 1:00-1:30pm PST 
Audition Class: 1:30pm-3:00pm PST 

Sunday, January 16, 2022 
Southland Ballet Academy 
9527 Garfield Avenue 
Fountain Valley, CA 92708 
Ages: 12-20 
Audition Check-In: 3:30pm-4:00pm PST 
Audition Class: 4:00pm-5:30pm PST  

Monday, January 17, 2022 
California Ballet School 
4819 Ronson Court 
San Diego, CA  
Audition Check-In: 10:00am-10:30am PST 
Audition: 10:30am-12:00pm PST 

Monday, January 17, 2022 
Ballet Arizona  
2835 E. Washington Street 
Phoenix, AZ  
Audition Check-In: 10:00am-10:30am MST 
Audition: 10:30am-12:00pm MST

Sunday, January 23, 2022 
Ballet Academy of Texas 
145 Fitness Ct 
Coppell, TX 
Ages 12-20 Audition Check-In: 10:30am-11:00am 
Ages 12-20 Audition Class: 11:00am-1:00pm  

Sunday, January 30, 2022 
Houston Ballet  
601 Preston St 
Houston, TX 
Audition Check-In: 10:30am-11:00am CST 
Audition Class: 11:00am-12:30pm CST

Sunday, February 6, 2022 
Ballet Chicago 
17 North State Street, 19th Floor 
Chicago, IL 
Ages 12-20  
Audition Check-In: 11:30am-12:00pm CST 
Ages 12-20: 12:00pm-2:00pm CST

Sunday, February 20, 2022  
Colorado Ballet Academy  
Denver, CO 
Ages 11-14 Audition Check-In: 9:30am-10:00am MST 
Ages 11-14 Audition Class: 10:00am – 11:30am MST

Ages 15-20 Audition Check-In: 12:00pm-12:30pm MST 
Ages 15-20 Audition: 12:30pm – 2:00pm MST

As we navigate the ongoing worldwide pandemic, professional ballet schools from across the nation have come together to create a unified collective.  In light of varying levels of comfort as the health crisis continues, we have created an audition opportunity that will keep our students and faculty safe, while providing national visibility. The professional school collective is offering in-person auditions at their facilities, and students who attend the National Summer Intensive Audition will be considered by all schools in the collective for acceptance to their summer intensives.

How It Works 

Students choose a city from the audition schedule and register with the host school. The audition is in-person, and the remaining schools will observe the audition via Zoom. Students are required to follow the safety protocol of the school at which they audition. This may include proof of vaccination.  The auditions will be recorded so that the observing schools may review the auditions if needed.  Students will have the opportunity to select which schools they would like to audition for, however all schools in the collective may reach out to any students who audition.  Students must pre-register and pay the registration fee directly to the host school in the city where they audition.  The secondary registration form must be completed in order to be considered by observing schools.  

Registration Details: 

• Upon registration you will receive a receipt containing a link to complete your NSIA audition form and upload the requested photos. 
  • (1) 4”x6” photo in first arabesque (on pointe if applicable) 
  • (1) 4”x6” portrait 
  • Photos do not need to be professional quality but must clearly portray student. 
• This form must be completed immediately upon receiving receipt in order to participate in the audition. Receipt will be generated from Colorado Ballet Ticketing and sent to the email address provided during the registration process. 
• Online registration closes at 11:59pm MT on the Thursday before the audition. 

Sunday, January 30, 2022  
Colorado Ballet Academy  
Denver, CO 
Audition Fee: $90 
11-14 Group: 10:00am – 11:30am
This age group is currently at capacity. Please contact summerintensive@coloradoballet.org to be placed on the waitlist.  
15-20 Group: 12:30pm – 2:00pm
This age group is currently at capacity. Please contact summerintensive@coloradoballet.org to be placed on the waitlist.
Classes taught by Colorado Ballet Director, Erica Fischbach, and Academy Principal, Domenico Luciano 

Observing Schools: Atlanta Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Joffrey Academy of Dance, Kansas City Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater  

https://nsiatour.squarespace.com/ 

Some of our summer intensive auditions will have shortened class times due to venue availability. Students should arrive at the audition warmed up and ready to dance. Please be prepared to dance an abbreviated barre, center combinations, pointe work and men’s steps. Students may be asked to repeat combinations several times in order to be fairly adjudicated. Advanced ladies should wear pointe shoes for center work. 

Our Summer Intensive accommodates beginning pointe/men's level through advanced/professional level. Students should not feel pressured to execute any steps they have not learned or are not comfortable dancing during the audition. For example, if a student has not learned pirouettes in the center en pointe, they should not attempt the combination and let the instructor know.  

Students will be expected to wear a mask for the duration of the audition and follow all protocols specified at their audition location.

Colorado Ballet Academy gives the same priority to those who audition in person or via video audition.   

Details 

• Video registration fee $45, credit card only. 
• All audition fees are non-refundable, regardless of circumstances. 
• Videos must be recorded and uploaded to a video sharing site such as YouTube. 
• Video must be recorded between October 1, 2021 and March 31, 2022. All videos must be received by no later than March 31, 2022. Early audition is encouraged, this deadline may change as the program is filled.
• Videos will be reviewed upon receipt and results will be communicated within four (4) weeks. Due to the number of auditions, we are unable to provide individual feedback. 
• Audition Dress Code 
  • Women: pink or skin colored tights and matching shoes 
  • Men: black tights, white t-shirt 

The audition videotape should 10-minutes maximum in length and include the following: 

• Barre (one side only) 
• Center floor work 
  • adagio
  • pirouette combination 
  • petit allegro 
  • grand allegro 

• Ladies: Pointe work 
  • echappe 
  • releve in arabesque 
  • pirouettes en pointe 
  • diagonal turning combination 

• Gentlemen 
  • tour en l’aire 
  • petit allegro with batterie 
  • men’s grand allegro 
  • grand pirouettes 

• Advanced gentlemen and ladies should include a variation from the classical repertoire 

 Steps to submit video audition 

1. Complete online registration. 

2. Upon registration you will receive a receipt containing a link to complete your audition form. You will provide the link to your video on this form as well as uploading the required photos: 

• (1) 4”x6” photo in first arabesque (on pointe if applicable) 
• (1) 4”x6” portrait 
• Photos do not need to be professional quality but must clearly portray student. 
• This form must be completed immediately upon receiving receipt in order to participate in the audition. Receipt will be generated from Colorado Ballet Ticketing and sent to the email address provided during the registration process

How are students chosen for Summer Intensive? 
Summer Intensive is by audition only. Students are assessed based on their technique, overall ability, physical attributes, strength, focus, attitude, and previous classical ballet training, as well as the ability to receive and apply correction. 

When will I find out if I have been accepted? 
For in-person auditions, results will be communicated via email within two weeks. 

For video auditions, results will be communicated via email within four weeks. 

Students who are accepted will be asked to respond by the deadline provided in the acceptance letter. Registration fee, as well as tuition and housing deposits are due upon acceptance. Those who do not register by their deadline will be placed on a waitlist. Due to the number of auditions, no feedback will be provided. 

Are there different levels within the program? How and when does level placement happen?  
Level placement is determined during the placement class that occurs on the first official day of each session. Students are not placed in any level prior to the placement day. CBA Summer Intensive has four levels. 

Is it possible to attend a portion of one session? 
Partial sessions are not allowed. 

Are scholarships or financial aid available? 
A limited number of scholarships are available and awarded on a case by case basis during the time of audition. We are unable to offer financial aid for our summer programs.  

Can parents observe classes? Will there be a performance at the end of the session? 
For students attending the two and five week sessions, parents can observe classes on Friday, June 24. There is no performance for the two week session. 

Those students attending the three and five week sessions will have a performance on Friday, July 15, 2022.  

What is the dress code for Summer Intensive? 
Women: black leotard, pink or skin colored tights, footless pink or black tights for modern class, pink ballet slippers pointe shoes, black character shoes, black character skirt, jazz shoes.  

Men: white t-shirt, black tights, black jazz pants, black or white ballet slippers with socks, jazz shoes, character shoes 

What is a daily schedule like? 
Monday – Friday 10:00am-4:00pm and Saturdays. 10:00am-1:30pm.
A typical day includes 4-6 hours of dance with supplemental lectures and focused trainings. The Summer Intensive curriculum consists of level specific classes in ballet technique, pointe, men’s conditioning and technique, variations, pas de deux, modern, jazz, character, yoga, and Pilates. Lecture classes will include injury prevention, nutrition, dance history, and music for dance. 

When can I check in to the dorms? Can I check in early? 
Check in details are TBD. Check back soon!  

Can I request to room with a specific person? How are roommates assigned? 
Prior to arrival, all residential students fill out a form indicating living habits, allergies and preferences. Students may request a roommate on this form, but requests are not guaranteed. Our chaperones pair students based on age, gender and mutual roommate requests. 

Is airport transportation available? 
Yes, airport transportation may be arranged. There will be a place to fill this out on the registration form. Please contact your airline regarding policies for unaccompanied minors, if applicable. Additional charges apply and may increase depending on arrival/departure of flight and/or special circumstances. 

May I leave the dorm on my own or to attend a family function?  
All students staying at the dorms, regardless of age, are required to be escorted to and from the dorms and any activities. Lights out will be strictly enforced by program staff. Permission to leave campus must be arranged by your parent and assigned chaperone and is handled on a case by case basis. No late arrivals to the dorms will be allowed past lights out. 

May I stay part-time in the dorms or overnight with a friend who is staying in the dorms? 
Due to housing reservations, we are only able to offer the dorms on a full-time basis for the duration of the summer intensive session chosen. No guests or visitors will be permitted in the dorms for the safety of our students.    

How do residential students commute between University of Denver and Colorado Ballet studios? 
Students receive a transportation pass to commute via RTD Light Rail. Students are escorted to and from the dorms by chaperones. 

Are Summer Intensive students eligible for Colorado Ballet Academy’s year round program? 
Students who meet appropriate age requirements will be eligible to register for Levels 5-7. Those wishing to be a part of Pre-Professional Division will also be assessed but must meet the age requirement 13-20 as of August 17, 2022. Acceptance into the Pre-Professional Division is by invitation only. If you wish to be considered for PPD, please indicate this on your registration form. 

Are Summer Intensive students considered for Colorado Ballet Studio Company positions? 
Eligible students attending Summer Intensive are assessed for Colorado Ballet Studio Company and Pre-Professional Division based on availability in both divisions. 

Is Summer Intensive required to apply for the Pre-Professional Division and/or Colorado Ballet Studio Company positions? 
Attendance of Summer Intensive is not required in order to apply for Pre-Professional Division or Studio Company; however, students interested in these positions are encouraged to attend SI.