Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School to Host Jan. 30 Pittsburgh Audition for Intensive Summer Program
As part of its nation-wide audition tour, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School is hosting a Pittsburgh audition on Saturday, Jan. 30, for young dancers interested in applying for its 2016 Intensive Summer Program (ISP). Registration begins at 1 p.m. The audition follows from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at PBT Studios, 2900 Liberty Ave., in the Strip District.
The immersive, five-week program – held from June 20, to July 23, – offers talented young dancers a diverse curriculum of ballet technique, partnering, pointe, repertoire, jazz and modern led by resident and guest instructors with extensive professional experience in the dance world. The program welcomes students age 12 and older.
More than half of PBT’s professional company dancers have received training in PBT’s ISP and year-round pre-professional training program. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School Co-directors Marjorie Grundvig and Dennis Marshall kicked off PBT School’s 2016 audition tour earlier this month, and will hold auditions in 35 cities and 22 states. The team expects to audition more than 800 students throughout the tour, and will recruit more than 250 students to come to Pittsburgh this summer.
Each summer, PBT School also welcomes a number of international students who audition by video or on-site at PBT’s annual international audition in Japan. Under the direction of PBT Artistic Director Terrence S. Orr and School Co-directors Grundvig and Marshall, ISP students attend classes six days a week as well as workshops on nutrition, choreography, injury prevention and the psychology of dance. Students receive housing at PBT’s student residence, Byham House, in Lawrenceville as well as Chatham University residence halls.
The tour also auditions students for PBT School’s “Company Experience” Workshop and for its 2016-2017 Pre-Professional Program, a full-time program held from September to May.
The “Company Experience” Workshop, June 6-17, offers a select group of pre-professional dancers, ages 16 and up, the chance to preview what it’s like to be part of a professional company while learning choreography from PBT dancers, artistic staff and choreographers. PBT School’s year-round Pre-Professional Program is recognized as one of the nation’s finest for professional-track dancers. Admission is by audition only, and the curriculum includes 25-30 hours of ballet training per week. Students come from around the country and internationally to attend the program each year.
Registration fee of $35 (exact change or check) is due at the time of the audition. Additional audition details are available at www.pbt.org/school
