Annual Ensemble Auditions
Audition Information
Auditions will be in conjunction with the Ballet Wichita Placement Class. Dancers must mark on their Audition Form if they are attending for Academy Placement, Ensemble Auditions, or both.
Saturday, August 17, 2024
10:30am Registration Opens for ages 13 and up
11:00 am to 12:45pm Audition class for ages 13 and up
Requirements
All dancers auditioning for the Ballet Wichita Ensemble must be 13 years of age or older. In order to be considered for the Professional Resident Ensemble positions, dancers must be 17 years of age or older.
All dancers must email the following to bw.companydirector@gmail.com by 5pm August 16th, 2024:
—One (1) reference letter from a dance instructor or director.
—One (1) reference letter from a personal reference.
—A dance resume highlighting training and performance opportunities.
*Dancers who do not provide these items will not be considered for the Ballet Wichita Ensemble.
Video Auditions:
In-person auditions are preferred. However, video auditions will be allowed on a case-by-case basis. Please email bw.companydirector@gmail.com to receive permission and a list of requirements for submitting a video audition.
Division 1: Professional Resident Ensemble
Division 1 is for dancers, 17 years or older, to have the opportunity to be placed into a paid, professional level of Ballet Wichita’s Ensemble following the annual audition if they consistently perform with a strong technical foundation, a mature sense of artistry, [if female] proficiency in pointe work, and work-place professionalism. These dancers will be offered annual work contracts to perform and maintain their training with Ballet Wichita. They should consider Ballet Wichita as an official occupation, and therefore, be offered a clearly stated compensation arrangement at the time of acceptance into the Ensemble. Dancers will have one-on-one evaluations with the Company Director at the end of each season to discuss successes and areas for growth. Dancers will be able to train in Academy classes for free and have their audition and production fees waived.
Division 2: Pre-Professional Ensemble
Division 2 is perfect for the dancer who wants to experience and/or work towards a professional career in dance, all while still being in school. Dancers, between the ages of 13 and up, will have the opportunity to be place into a pre-professional level of Ballet Wichita’s Ensemble following the annual audition if they are successfully developing a strong technical foundation, discovering their own sense of artistry, [if female and development permits] are strengthening their pointe work in taking consistent pointe classes, and demonstrate a drive to always be improving their ballet capabilities. These dancers will be offered annual student contracts to perform and train with Ballet Wichita. Dancers will have one-on-one evaluations with the Company Director at the end of each season to discuss successes and areas for growth. Dancers will receive a tuition discount for unlimited classes, however, they will still be required to pay audition and production fees for each show.
Why Join a Pre-Professional Ballet Company As a Student?
This is a highly sought after opportunity to gain professional skills that will help guide you as a young dancer in the professional world. The rigorous dance schedule with classes will prepare you for ballet company life in your future career and provide performance, outreach, and training experiences that will add to your resume. Joining a pre-professional ballet company makes you a highly skilled and dedicated dancer as well as an individual. You will also grow by receiving more one-on-one attention from the director and teachers of Ballet Wichita through Company Classes, rehearsals, and other Ensemble opportunities.
Ensemble Dancer (Professional and Pre-Professional) are ensured participation/casting in the 2024/25 season’s three major productions [unless there is an extenuating circumstance] but will still need to attend each audition for specific casting.
Level | Description | Requirements | Opportunity |
Resident Company Ensemble Paid Professional | Dancers have the technical abilities and artistic maturity to hold their own in soloist roles. They have an established technical foundation, pointe work is fully proficient, and their performance quality and sense of artistry is matured. Dancers show, and have shown, a positive attitude towards learning and growing while working with directors, past and present. | ---Attendance in company classes prior to rehearsal. | ---Payment stipend for all major performances in the 2024/25 season. |
Demi-Soloist Pre-Professional | Dancers are on the verge of the professional level. They are ready to be challenged with small soloist and duet roles but are still in the pre-professional division based on age or artistic capabilities. They have a strong technical foundation, pointe work is approaching proficiency, and their sense of artistry is beginning to be developed. Dancers show, and have shown, a positive attitude towards learning and growing while working with directors, past and present. | ---Attendance in company classes prior to rehearsal. | ---$275 tuition for unlimited classes at Ballet Wichita Academy. (Proposed, subject to change) |
Coryphee Pre-Professional | Dancers have developing technical abilities, pointe work is semi-proficient, and they are learning to utilize their performance qualities in their movement. | ---Attendance in company classes prior to rehearsal. | ---$275 tuition for unlimited classes at Ballet Wichita Academy.(Proposed, subject to change) |
Corps de Ballet Pre-Professional | Dancers are beginning to perform en pointe. They are capable of executing more complex combinations/choreography with consistent technique. Female dancers have built enough strength en pointe to dance without the barre. Dancers are learning how to incorporate artistry into their movements. Dancers show a positive attitude towards learning and growing while working with directors. | ---Attendance in company classes prior to rehearsal. | ---$275 tuition for unlimited classes at Ballet Wichita Academy.(Proposed, subject to change) |
Trainee Pre-Professional | Dancers have begun taking their ballet training seriously and are wanting to put in the work for more performance opportunities. They are focusing on strengthening their technique as they increase their amount of training. Dancers are able to remember combinations/choreography from day to day. Dancers show a positive attitude towards learning and growing while working with directors. | ---Attendance in company classes prior to rehearsal. | ---$250 tuition for unlimited classes at Ballet Wichita Academy.(Proposed, subject to change) |