Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (2025)

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (1)
Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (2)
Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (3)

About the Trainee Program

SLB invites students to audition for the Professional Training Program. The program is intended to help post graduate students transition from student to professional dancer. The Professional Training Program is a program for ages 18-22 that concentrates on strengthening technique and developing artistry through a full-day, 35-week, comprehensive program. The Professional Training Program includes technique, pointe, variations, adagio, contemporary, and seminars and conferences on such topics as nutrition, personal safety, and life skills.

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (4)

Performing Experience

  • Company Rehearsals: Professional Training Program students may be called to SLB Company rehearsals. If called, students are expected to attend all scheduled rehearsals, whether or not they are cast to perform. The School office must be notified if rehearsals conflict with School classes. Professional Training Program dress code is required in rehearsals.\\

  • Company Performances: Professional Training Program students perform in “The Nutcracker”, additional full-length ballets, and at least one new works program or repertoire program.


Tuition for Professional Division 24-25:

  • $350/month (9 months of the year)
    Tuition rates subject to change pending submission year

Age Requirements: 18–22


Scholarships & Financial Aid

A limited number of partial scholarships are available and are awarded on the basis of financial need, class performance and potential for a professional career. Scholarships are granted for no longer than one academic year.
To apply click here.

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (5)

More than just classes and performances


Student Conferences

Conferences with Artistic Director and Rehearsal Directors are held in the winter to discuss student progress, options for summer programs, the following school year, and audition tour plans.

Pilates & Strength Training

Take up SPACE as you flow through Dance & Pilates movement patterns to ALIGN the body. This is an injury prevention class designed to strengthen & stabilize the abdominals while increasing flexibility & promoting long, lean muscles. Classes will finish with a Sound Bath Meditation infused with Reiki ENERGY to revitalize the soul.

Career Planning

SLB is committed to providing as many career planning resources and job placement opportunities as possible to Professional Division students. A resume workshop/audition seminar is held in early December to help students begin the process of writing a resume and searching for a job in the dance field. Photographer contacts for audition portfolios are available to students, as well as an annual directory which provides extensive information on approximately 40 ballet companies in the United States, a useful resource in planning auditions. Individual counseling and advice on careers in dance and/or college dance programs are also provided.

(Offsite company auditions: Absences for company auditions outside of SLB must receive prior approval from the Artistic office before any travel arrangements are made.)

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (6)

General Schedule

Class Schedule

  • Mon-Fr - 12:00 - 1:30: Ballet, 1:45 - 2:30 or 2:45: Pointe, Variations, Contemporary, Pilates, Partnering, or Rehearsal*

  • Saturday: 11:15 - 12:45 - Ballet, 1:00 - 1:45 - Pointe or Variations
    *Rehearsal may go later, as designated in PTP Information Package

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (7)

Faculty

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (8)

Gen Horiuchi

Executive and Artistic Director

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (9)

Louise Nadeau

Ballet Instructor
Former Principal of Pacific Northwest Ballet

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (10)

Ellen Costanza

Ballet Instructor
Former Principal of Cleveland Ballet

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (11)

CiCi Houston Sudholt

Ballet InstructorRehearsal Director for SLB

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (12)

Lisa Wolfsberger

Ballet Instructor

A foundingCompany Member of Saint Louis Ballet

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (13)

Christine Settembrino

Ballet InstructorAssistant Rehearsal Director for SLB

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (14)

Christine Knoblauch O'Neal

Ballet Instructor
Retired Professor of the Practice in Dance

Former ABT Dancer

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (15)

Michael Burke

Contemporary & Ballet Instructor

SLB Company Member

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (16)

Donna Patzius

Ballet Instructor

Former Ballet Met Dancer

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (17)

Shelby Glidden

Pilates

Recent alumni from the Professional Training Program and SLB School have gone on to the following companies and colleges:

Huntsville Ballet, Kansas City Ballet Trainee, Saint Louis Ballet, Ballet Chicago, Charlotte Ballet 2, Milwaukee Ballet Trainee, Minnesota Ballet Apprenticeship, Montgomery Ballet, Ballet Frontier, UMKC, Webster University, Ballet Met 2, Indiana University, Oklahoma University, University of Utah, Texas Christian University,Avant Chamber Ballet, Lexington Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Graduate Program, Ballet Des Moines

Housing

Professional Training Program students are responsible for making their own housing arrangements during the school year, as SLB School does not have year-round housing available. Students often choose to live with a roommate; most roommate situations are established before the end of the summer. Many students have recommended searching online at Zillow.com to find prospective apartments in the vicinity of Saint Louis Ballet School.

RegisterPD

For Students ACCEPTED into the Professional Training Division

for Fall 2024-2025:

Click "Register" below to complete your official registration into the program

All registrations will be reviewed before deposits are charged.
If you have not received an acceptance from SLB into the Professional Training Program, please do not use this registration.

Professional Training Student Resources:

Download the below PDF which includes dress code information, program calendar, local neighborhood information, local college and university information, and local health care facilities. All very helpful information especially to those relocating to St. Louis for this program.

DOWNLOAD RESOURCES

Questions?

If you have further questions please contact CiCi Houston at cicihouston@stlouisballet.org

Saint Louis Ballet Professional Training Program (2025)

FAQs

What is the hardest ballet school to get into? ›

Bolshoi Ballet Academy

To enter, of course, you have to take a selection exam and the admission to this school is so complicated. Some of the most important dancers who have left The Bolshoi Ballet Academy are: Maya Plisetskaya, Vladimir Vasiliev, Ekaterina Maximova, Nina Ananiashvili, among many others.

How many years does it take to become a professional ballet dancer? ›

It takes roughly eight to ten years of training to become a professional ballet dancer. Training ideally begins when a student is between the ages of 7 and 10. Beginners attend technique class once or twice a week.

How much do professional ballet dancers train? ›

Most professionals will dance 10 hours a day and be in class, either training or performing five to six days per week. Typically, this time is spent taking classes, attending required rehearsals, or taking private lessons.

How difficult is it to become a professional ballet dancer? ›

If a ballerina begins training at the age of 7, they become a pro by the time they are 18. Simply put, over the span of 9 years, 1111 hours are spent yearly, or about 21.3 hours weekly. As such, beginners usually attend training classes once or twice a week, with 7 to 8 hours of practiced dancing.

What is the most prestigious ballet school in America? ›

FOUNDED BY GEORGE BALANCHINE, SAB IS THE PREEMINENT BALLET SCHOOL IN THE US.
  • For Students. & Parents. Explore our world-renowned classical ballet training programs for 6 to 18 year olds and the myriad resources dedicated to the care and development of each student.
  • For. Supporters. ...
  • For. Everyone.

What is the most prestigious ballet company? ›

The Paris Opera Ballet was the absolute center of the ballet world for centuries, and it remains today perhaps the most prestigious company in the world. It is extremely difficult to earn a spot in the company, and it's fairly common for a dancer to never rise above the ranks of the corps de ballet.

Who is the highest paid ballerina? ›

Sylvie Guillem – $850,000 + per year

Sylvie Guillem is the highest paid female ballet dancer in the world today, at 48 years old. She hasn't slowed down in later years; continuing an enormously successful career, Sylvie is selling out theatres all over, and has been since the mid-80's.

How many hours a day do professional ballerinas train? ›

MYTH: Your career is short.

But so do Olympic swimmers like Michael Phelps, basketball superstars like Yao Ming, and world record–holding sprinters like Usain Bolt. Like these athletes, ballet dancers train hard: on average, 6 hours a day, 6 days a week. There's one important difference, though.

What is a prima ballerina's salary? ›

Though famous prima ballerinas like Nina Ananiashvili can make $30,000 in one performance, your ordinary, non-prima ballet dancer (who still isn't all that ordinary) makes roughly the same hourly rate as a kid flipping burgers over the summer.

What body type is best for ballet? ›

If you ask any ballet-fanatic what the perfect ballet body looks like, they will probably say something along these lines: long neck, small head, long legs, good feet, slightly hyper-extended knees, short torso, small waist, hips not too wide, shoulders not too broad.

What is the hardest ballet role to dance? ›

This includes the renowned Act III pas de deux, the dramatic climax of the ballet, where Des Grieux desperately tries to save Manon. It is a physically and emotionally exhausting finale for Des Grieux and the dancer portraying him, proving that this is one of the most strenuous male ballet roles out there!

What are the cons of being a ballet dancer? ›

Ballet dancers experience high stress and anxiety during training sessions and performances. It is a physically and emotionally challenging form of dance, and to master it, you have to be committed. Alas, the benefits of being a dancer demonstrably outweigh the cons.

Which is the most difficult ballet? ›

Swan Lake. If you find a fouette challenging, the Swan Lake dance has 32 of them! Swan Lake has some of the most notorious steps in ballet repertory. It involves whiplash motions of the raised leg that gives each turn its magnificence.

What is the hardest dance school to get into? ›

Finally, the most difficult university to get into for dance is The Juilliard School. While we do not necessarily see the value in it, we do have a general page for the hardest colleges to get into.

What is the greatest ballet school in the world? ›

The Paris Opera Ballet School, Paris, France

The Paris Opera Ballet School, located in Paris, France, is one of the top ballet schools in the world. This prestigious ballet institution was started in 1713 by Louis XIV. Initially, children did not attend the school.

What is the hardest ballet exam? ›

RAD Exam Results

RAD Ballet exams are the hardest in their field and as such are extremely highly respected.

Top Articles
Latest Posts
Recommended Articles
Article information

Author: Nicola Considine CPA

Last Updated:

Views: 5443

Rating: 4.9 / 5 (69 voted)

Reviews: 92% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Nicola Considine CPA

Birthday: 1993-02-26

Address: 3809 Clinton Inlet, East Aleisha, UT 46318-2392

Phone: +2681424145499

Job: Government Technician

Hobby: Calligraphy, Lego building, Worldbuilding, Shooting, Bird watching, Shopping, Cooking

Introduction: My name is Nicola Considine CPA, I am a determined, witty, powerful, brainy, open, smiling, proud person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.