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Summer Programming at Alberta Ballet School

As a parent, summers can be challenging – you want to keep your children busy, entertained, and fulfilled, for their benefit and yours. While Alberta Ballet School’s programming largely takes place during the regular school-year, we do have summer programming as well! If you’re looking for a dance school for your kids in Calgary or Edmonton, then you might want to consider Alberta Ballet School. Not only is it one of the best dance schools in the world, but it also offers a wide range of programming for students of all ages and skill levels.

About Alberta Ballet School

Founded in 1991, the Alberta Ballet School is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing excellence in dance education. With campuses in both Calgary and Edmonton, the school offers a wide range of programming for students of all ages and skill levels.

If you’re searching for the best ballet schools in the world, then the Alberta Ballet School should definitely be on your radar. With a faculty of world-renowned instructors and a focus on providing a well-rounded dance education, the school has earned a reputation as one of the best dance schools in the world. In fact, many of the school’s alumni have gone on to have successful careers with some of the most prestigious ballet companies in the world.

Calgary Programming

In Calgary, the school offers a Professional Division for students ages 12-19 who are serious about pursuing a career in dance. The program focuses on providing a comprehensive dance education, including training in ballet, contemporary, and jazz, as well as courses in dance history, dance science, and injury prevention.

In addition to the Professional Division, the Alberta Ballet School also offers a Post Graduate program in Calgary. This program is designed for dancers ages 16-22 who have completed their high school education and are ready to take their training to the next level. The Post Graduate program includes intensive training in ballet, pointe, variations, contemporary, and jazz, as well as courses in dance history, dance science, and injury prevention.

Calgary Summer Programming

The Calgary Summer Intensive is a three-week program that offers insight into intensive professional ballet training. We recommend this short-term commitment for students looking to get their feet wet in the world of professional ballet. The 2023 Summer Intensive will take place from July 17 to August 4, 2023, in Calgary, Alberta. Instruction will include Ballet, Pointe Work, Pas De Deux (for select levels), Repertoire, Variations, Contemporary, Character Dance, and Body Conditioning.

In addition to building skills with experienced professionals, the Summer Intensive is also an excellent opportunity to be considered for placement in the 2023-2024 Professional Division program. While the audition season is winding down, Alberta Ballet School continues to accept video auditions for our 2023 Summer Intensive and our 2023-2024 Professional Division Program. Both programs offer the opportunity to engage with an internationally recognized ballet curriculum, as well as participate in artistic and technical contemporary dance training. Students are guided by mentorship and instruction from experienced faculty, guest teachers, and Alberta Ballet’s professional dancers.

We request that all students attending the Summer Intensive in Calgary from out of town live in our residence. Located at Mount Royal University, students have their private floors separate from other university students. Our residence program includes accommodation in a secure building, full-time, on-site staff, a comprehensive meal plan, and daily transportation to and from the school. Residence life during Summer Intensive is designed to create a fun, memorable experience, forging strong social connections in a peer group that shares a passion for dance and ballet.

There are a few specific requirements you must include in your video to be considered; below are the requirements for junior and senior students to audition via video submission:

  • Barre Work; not to exceed 5 minutes in length and one side only
    • Pliés[EL1]
    • Battement tendus
    • Adage
    • Grands battements
    • Please be sure to film straight on or on a diagonal, avoid sideways.
  • Centre; not to exceed 5 minutes in length and demonstrated on both sides
    • Adage
    • Pirouettes, en dehors and en dedans
    • Petit allegro
    • Grand allegro
  • Pointe Work; aged 12 and over, one side only
    • Slow rises
    • Echappé relevé
  • Centre; for dancers aged 14 and over
    • Echappé relevé in 2nd and 4th, relevés and relevés passé
    • Pirouettes en dehors and en dedans (both sides)
    • Diagonal turns of choice
  • Male Identifying Applicants; aged 14 and over
    • Echappé battu
    • tour en l’air
  • Variations: for dancers aged 14 and over

If you intend to submit a video audition for any of our programs, you may do so here.

If your child is still just dipping their toes in the ballet and dance pond, we also offer summer camps for a variety of age groups. Our camps offer full day programming including daily classes in ballet, modern, jazz, workshop, conditioning and visual arts. Weeklong camps run for five weeks throughout July and August and allow students to keep moving all summer long. No experience is required to join our summer camps. These camps are quickly filling up, so be sure to book your child’s spot today!

Edmonton Programming

Moving on to the Edmonton campus, the Alberta Ballet School offers programming for students of all ages and skill levels. Programming in Edmonton is class-based, rather than the academic-style learning that takes place in Calgary. These classes are hosted in the evening on various days, depending on the age group and class selected. The school’s Junior School program is designed for students ages 3-12 and includes classes in ballet, jazz, and contemporary. The program focuses on developing fundamental dance skills and fostering a love for dance in young students.

For older students in Edmonton, the Alberta Ballet School offers a Senior School program. This program is designed for students ages 12-19 and includes training in ballet, contemporary, and jazz, as well as courses in dance history, dance science, and injury prevention. The Senior School program also includes a Professional Division stream for students who are serious about pursuing a career in dance.

Edmonton Summer Programming

Edmonton is also offering a Summer Intensive program for current students and non-students in the following categories:

  • 9+ (current student and non-student streams between 9-17, two weeks in length)
  • Junior Refresher (for ages 9-17, one week in length)
  • Senior Refresher (for ages 13-17, one week in length)

The Edmonton Summer Intensive does not require an audition, though we recommend participating in the Calgary Summer Intensive if you would like to be considered for the 2023/24 Professional Division.  This does not apply to current students who are already enrolled in the Professional Division.

Our location at the Ruth Carse Centre for Dance is also hosting summer camps in Edmonton for various ages. These are also full day programs including daily classes in ballet, modern, jazz, workshop, conditioning and visual arts. We are also offering half-day morning classes for preschool aged dancers. Please note we are only hosting camps for four weeks in Edmonton, so it is important to register quickly to ensure your child secures a spot. No experience is required to join our summer camps!

Why Choose Alberta Ballet School

Alberta Ballet School has a world-class faculty of instructors who are dedicated to helping students develop their dance skills and reach their full potential. The school also offers a comprehensive dance education that includes training in ballet, contemporary, and jazz, as well as courses in dance history, dance science, and injury prevention. While our dance studios are located in Calgary and Edmonton, we welcome students from all over the globe.

A third of our students join us from outside Calgary and 20% of our student body join us from outside of Canada, many of whom come from non-English speaking countries. We are extremely proud to meet students where they are in terms of language proficiency. Our Professional Division programming includes an English Language Learner (ELL) instructor, who provides several hours of personal instruction each week to ensure students have a safe environment to learn the language. If your child is joining us over the summer and needs some language support, we can certainly make arrangements to support that. We have received feedback from our students that we provide a welcoming environment to develop and strengthen English language skills.

Dance is a wonderful way for children to develop their creativity, discipline, and self-confidence. Whether your child is just starting out or is serious about pursuing a career in dance, the Alberta Ballet School has year-round programming that can help them achieve their goals. The overall experience at Alberta Ballet School has been intentionally designed to create a welcoming and exciting environment for all students who walk (and dance!) through our doors. We hope you’ll consider enrolling your child this summer and beyond! Should you have any further questions about any of our programs or the audition process, please feel free to reach out – we would be pleased to provide more information. Send us a note on our website, email us, or give us a call at 403.245.2274 ext. 722.