Auditions  //  Year-Round Professional Training Program 2021-2022

The Ellison Ballet - Professional Training Program will be held in-person for the 2021-2022 school year.

​Audition Requirements
  • Applicants should be between 12-19 years of age and have a strong basic classical foundation in relation to their level and age.
  • Students who are 11-years-old may audition as long as they turn 12 before September.
  • Dancers should audition with the age group that they fall into on the date of the audition.
  • Girls should wear a solid color leotard and full-length pink or skin-tone tights with ballet slippers. Boys should wear white t-shirts and full-length black tights.  

Audition Types
Students can choose to audition for the Ellison Ballet - Professional Training Program in one of three ways: 
  • In-person audition in New York City
  • Zoom audition
  • Video submission

​You will find details about each type of audition below. All audition types are given equal consideration.
​
Acceptance and Enrollment Process
Upon completing an audition, participating students will receive a letter indicating acceptance, wait-list, or non-acceptance within two weeks. 
​Accepted students will receive an invitation letter along with enrollment forms detailing the fees, deadlines, etc.

**For questions regarding the Professional Training Program or the audition process, please email info@ellisonballet.org.
​No phone calls please unless urgent.

In-Person Auditions


Ellison Ballet will hold in-person audition classes for 2021 entry to the year-round Professional Training Program on the following date: 

Sunday, July 11, 2021    
**CLOSED** Ages 12-13:     Check-In: 10:30am      Audition: 11:00am-12:45pm (USA-EDT)
Ages 12-15:     Check-In: 12:30pm      Audition: 1:30pm-3:30pm (USA-EDT)
Ages 16-19:     Check-In: 3:30pm       Audition: 4:00pm-6:00pm (USA-EDT)

Registration Deadline:
​Friday, July 9, 12pm (USA-EDT)

Location:
Ellison Ballet Studios/Manhattan Movement & Arts Center
248 West 60th Street
New York, NY 10023

Audition Photos:
Students must upload two photos with their online registration: 1st arabesque and tendu a la seconde. 
​
​Audition Fee: $40

Zoom Auditions

 
Ellison Ballet will hold Zoom audition classes for 2021 entry to the year-round Professional Training Program on the following date: 

Sunday, July 25, 2021    
Ages 12-19:     Sign-In to Zoom: 1:00pm   Audition: 1:30-3:30pm (USA-EDT)

Registration Deadline:
​Friday, July 23, 12pm (USA-EDT)

Audition Photos:
Students must upload two photos with their online registration: 1st arabesque and tendu a la seconde. 
​
​Audition Fee: $40
Zoom Audition Information:
  • Zoom audition classes will be taught by Artistic Director Edward Ellison and the full-time Ellison Ballet faculty.
  • Students may participate in Ellison Ballet Zoom auditions either in their own homes or in a dance studio. 
  • Students who register for their audition prior to the registration deadline will receive their Zoom invitation link approximately 48 hours prior to their audition. Students who register after the deadline will receive their Zoom invitation link approximately 30-90 minutes prior to their audition.
  • Students should sign into Zoom 30 minutes prior to the audition start time. Students will be placed in a waiting room until the audition begins.

Optimizing WiFi and Zoom Settings:

Virtual classes run best with a strong, fast internet connection. Some tips to optimize your connectivity:
  • Make sure your router is located near your device – the further it is, the weaker your signal.
  • Keep your router dust-free and properly ventilated.
  • Restart your modem a day or two prior to your audition. This cleans up old data and re-provisions your modem configuration from your ISP.
  • Check for other devices on your network. Other devices doing data-heavy activities such as streaming video, gaming, or downloading large files at the same time as your class may use up bandwidth and slow down your connection.
 
Please view the following guides to optimize and enhance your Zoom settings:

Video Auditions


​Students may send video auditions if they are not able to attend either the in-person or Zoom auditions listed above. 

Video Submission Deadline: 
​August 1, 2021

Audition Photos:
Students must upload two photos with their online registration: 1st arabesque and tendu a la seconde. 

​Audition Fee: $40

Video Submission Guidelines:
  • Video submissions should be approximately 15-20 minutes in length.
  • Videos do not need to be professionally filmed, but should show the student's full body clearly.
  • Videos can be filmed in a dance studio or home dance space. See below for home studio set up guidelines.
  • Dress code:
    • Girls -- solid color leotard, full-length pink or skin-tone tights, ballet slippers, pointe shoes
    • Boys -- white t-shirts, full-length black tights, ballet slippers
  • At the beginning of the video, you should introduce yourself and state your age, the number of year(s) of ballet/dance study, the number of years of pointe work (if applicable), the name(s) of your current school and teacher(s), and any previous summer intensive programs, festivals and/or international ballet competitions in which you have participated.
  • Video should demonstrate barre and center exercises, including adagio, tendus, pirouettes, grand pirouettes, petit, medium, and grand allegro, tours en l'air for men, fouettes and pointe work for ladies. You may also include a classical ballet variation if desired.
    ​**We understand that some students who do not have access to a studio or suitable space may not be able to include all requested exercises.

***You MUST register online to submit a video audition. Unregistered candidates will not be considered for Ellison Ballet programs. 
​***DO NOT SEND VIDEOS VIA EMAIL. Video links must be submitted within the online registration form.

Setting Up Your Home Dance Space


We understand that every student’s situation and home is different, and understand that all families do the best they can within their space and financial restrictions. Where the use of an actual dance studio is not possible for a Video or Zoom Audition, the following recommendations are optional and encouraged, but are not required:
  • Clear your space as much as possible to create the largest possible dancing area.
  • Move extra furniture out of the space if possible, or to the edges of the room.
  • Arrange your camera/device and lighting fixtures to allow for the student to be clearly lit. Use curtains or sheets or portable lamps to optimize your lighting.
  • Place your camera/device where your body can be fully visible, including your feet.
  • We recommend the purchasing of Marley or dance floors where possible. Where a dance floor is not possible, we recommend having a yoga mat or similar item available to help prevent slips and cushion jumps.
  • Many portable ballet barres are available for purchase. Other families have made their own using railings and wall brackets purchased from Amazon or hardware stores. To stabilize a portable barre that is too light or unsteady, some dancers have found a solution using sandbags, dumbbells, or other weights to secure the feet of the barre.
  • If a barre is not available, please find another suitable replacement. Options may include railings or banisters, kitchen counters, backs of couches or heavy chairs, or other furniture.
Scholarships:
Scholarships are limited and considered for students of exceptional talent and need and granted at the sole discretion of Ellison Ballet. Students receiving scholarship are expected to make early decisions about attendance. 

Notice of Non-Discrimination Policy
Ellison Ballet admits students of any race, color, sexual orientation, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of any of the aforementioned qualities or characteristics in its recruitment and admission of students, educational policies, scholarship programs, and the operation of any of its school-administered programs.

For more information, please email us at:  info@ellisonballet.org
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