Summer Intensive 2025

SUMMER INTENSIVE

The Charlottesville Ballet Summer Intensive is an eight-week program designed for dancers ages 8 to 20 who seek rigorous technical training and artistic coaching in pursuit of a professional career in dance.

Directors Sara Clayborne and Emily Hartka provide an environment focused on dancer health and wellness with no rigid physical aesthetic and where all body types are welcome (explore the professional company’s mission and history here). The Summer Intensive faculty members, augmented by guest teachers and instructors from the ranks of Charlottesville Ballet’s professional company, offer guidance, encouragement, and a relentless attention to detail.

Each day begins with a ballet technique class followed by additional classes that may include pointe, contemporary, jazz, hip hop, composition, improvisation, African dance, choreography, and enrichment.  Students have the option to enroll in 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 6 weeks, or the full 8 weeks, with a showcase at the end of each two-week session!

---

AUDITIONS: 

All applicants must audition for the Summer Intensive program. If you cannot attend an in-person open audition, you may submit a video audition (see more information below).

An audition fee of $20 will be charged upon registration. 

---

SUMMER INTENSIVE TUITION:

Once a student has successfully auditioned, a nonrefundable deposit of $500 is due upon acceptance into the Summer Intensive in order to hold their place in the program.  The deposit will be automatically charged to the credit card on file.   The remaining Summer Intensive tuition is due in full on June 2, 2025.

*Please note that students opting to enroll in two weeks of the intensive must attend two consecutive weeks (you may choose from Session 1, Session 2, Session 3, or Session 4). Students opting to enroll in four weeks may choose any two sessions. Students opting to enroll in six weeks may choose any three sessions.

Summer Intensive Session Tuition:

Session 1 | June 16-27 (No intensive on Thursday, June 19)	$945
Session 2 | June 30-July 11 (No intensive on Thursday, July 3 & Friday, July 4)	$840
Session 3 | July 14-25	$1,050
Session 4 | July 28-August 8	$1,050

Young Dancer Summer Intensive Session Tuition:

Session 1 | June 16-27 (No intensive on Thursday, June 19)	$675
Session 2 | June 30-July 11 (No intensive on Thursday, July 3 & Friday, July 4)	$600
Session 3 | July 14-25	$750
Session 4 | July 28-August 8	$750

---

Frequently Asked Questions:

What age group should I audition with if I am one age at the audition and a different age when the Summer Intensive begins?
Please audition with the group that is your age at the time of the audition. We will place students into groups based on ability levels for the actual Summer Intensive.

What is the difference between the Summer Intensive and the Young Dancer Summer Intensive?
The length of the day for our young dancers. The YDSI is combined with our Summer Intensive, so the programming does not differ—they simply leave earlier and will consequently attend fewer of the additional genre classes at the end of the day. Ultimately, the choice between the two programs depends on the length of time students would like to commit to attending.

Are photos/resumes required for Summer Intensive auditions?
No photos or resumes are needed. The only required paperwork is the online audition enrollment form prior to attending.

What should I wear to the audition?
Please wear a leotard (any color) and skin-toned or pink tights, or tight fitting dance attire. Please bring ballet shoes and pointe shoes if you are currently taking pointe. Hair should be pulled back off of the neck.

What should I expect during the audition?
Auditioning students will take a ballet technique class and all students will participate in the full class. There are no eliminations during the audition.

When can I expect to hear results from the audition?
In-person auditioning students should receive an email by the end of March with whether or not they have been accepted for the Summer Intensive. Video auditioning students will receive an email with results as soon as possible upon completing and submitting all video requirements. All accepted students will not learn their specific intensive groups and daily class schedules until closer to the Summer Intensive.

Is housing available?
Unfortunately, housing is not provided for the intensive.

Is financial aid available for the Summer Intensive?
As a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Charlottesville Ballet is dedicated to providing dance training to students and families from all backgrounds. Financial assistance is available for all families that qualify, with distribution determined by the amount of financial resources available for the current season. If you are interested in applying for financial aid, please click this link to submit an application: Financial Aid Application.

If accepted into the Summer Intensive, what should I wear?
Students should wear any color leotard and tights or tight fitting dance attire. Ballet skirts are optional. Students may bring shorts to put on if desired for non-ballet genres. Please bring ballet shoes and other genre shoes as applicable—specific class schedules indicating dance genres for each group will be distributed closer to the intensive:

• Ballet shoes may be worn for jazz class if students do not own jazz shoes.
• Students who do not have character shoes may wear jazz shoes; if the student does not own jazz shoes, ballet shoes may be worn. A character skirt or long wrap skirt may be worn for character classes.
• Please only bring pointe shoes for pre-pointe/pointe if you have previous experience.
• We have a few donated pairs of tap shoes at our front desk for students who need to borrow during this intensive.

We welcome all hair types and textures at CBA (see our IDEA page!) and require students to have their hair secured in a ballet bun or pulled back neatly off of the neck and out of the face for all classes. Dancers should have freedom for full movement during jumps, leaps, and turns!

If you have any additional questions or would like further information about the Summer Intensive, please email [email protected].