​Summer auditions 2021 
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Classical Variations Intensive
Classical Pas de Deux Intensive
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​
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​**Students may audition for Summer 2021 and the year-round Professional Training Program 2021-2022 via ZOOM Audition or VIDEO Audition.
​​**Summer Intensives and the year-round program will be held in-person in New York City.
**The ladies’ classes of the 4-week Summer Intensive are nearing capacity. Please note that auditioning for this program may result in placement on a Wait List at this time due to current social distancing requirements.


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 if they will turn 12 by June 2021.
  • Dancers should audition with the age group that they fall into on the date of their audition. 

Audition Process
  • ​Register online for your Video Audition or Zoom Audition by clicking the button above.
  • Audition Registration Fee (Non-Refundable): $40
  • Students must upload two recent photos to their audition registration: 
  • Audition 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
  • All students who audition will receive a letter via email indicating acceptance, wait-list, or non-acceptance within two to four weeks. 

Acceptance and Enrollment Process
  • Accepted students will receive an email with their invitation letter along with an enrollment link detailing the fees, deadlines and Ellison Ballet Summer Intensive policy. The enrollment links must be submitted by the listed deadline or your spot will be forfeited.
  • Wait-listed students must reply indicating whether or not they wish to remain on the wait list within ten days of the date on their Wait List letter. Those who wish to remain on the wait list will be informed of final decisions by mid-March. Priority is given to the full SI program (6 or 4 weeks) participants. 
  • **Those wishing to be invited into the year-round program are strongly encouraged to audition for and attend one of our three summer programs first. The summer intensive programs are considered “Phase Two” in the audition process for acceptance into the year-round program. This allows Mr. Ellison and the faculty to see how the student works over an extended period of time, and allows the student to get first-hand experience of Ellison Ballet, its faculty, and programs, thereby allowing both to determine whether the student and school are a good fit. Auditions for the year-round program are held during the four-week Summer Intensive each year for interested students.

**For additional questions regarding auditions and/or our summer programs, please visit our Frequently Asked Questions page. If you have a question that is not answered on our website, please email summer@ellisonballet.org. No phone calls unless urgent.
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Zoom Auditions
 
In place of our annual in-person Audition Tour, Ellison Ballet will hold audition classes on Zoom on the following dates: 

Sunday, December 13
Ages 12-14:     Sign-In to Zoom: 12:30pm  Audition: 1:00-3:00pm (USA-EST)
Ages 15-19:     Sign-In to Zoom: 3:00pm   Audition: 3:30-5:30pm (USA-EST)
Registration Deadline: Friday, December 11, 12pm (USA-EST)

Sunday, January 10
Ages 12-14:     Sign-In to Zoom: 12:30pm  Audition: 1:00-3:00pm (USA-EST)
Ages 15-19:     Sign-In to Zoom: 3:00pm   Audition: 3:30-5:30pm (USA-EST)
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 8, 12pm (USA-EST)

Sunday, January 24
Ages 12-14:     Sign-In to Zoom: 12:30pm  Audition: 1:00-3:00pm (USA-EST)
Ages 15-19:     Sign-In to Zoom: 3:00pm   Audition: 3:30-5:30pm (USA-EST)
Registration Deadline: Friday, January 22, 12pm (USA-EST)

Sunday, February 14
Ages 12-14:     Sign-In to Zoom: 12:30pm  Audition: 1:00-3:00pm (USA-EST)
Ages 15-19:     Sign-In to Zoom: 3:00pm   Audition: 3:30-5:30pm (USA-EST)
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 12, 12pm (USA-EST)​

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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: ​

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Video auditions
Students may submit video auditions if they are not able to attend the Zoom auditions listed above.

How to audition by video:
  1. Film your video according to the Video Submission Guidelines below.
  2. Upload your video to a site such as Youtube, Vimeo, DropBox, or Google Drive.
  3. Register your audition online at the link above and pay audition fee. Be sure to include your online video link with your registration. 

Video Submission Deadlines: 
     Summer Programs: June 1, 2021
​     Year-Round Program: August 1, 2021

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.


Fees and tuition


Audition Registration Fee: $40
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2021 TUITION:
Ellison Ballet Summer Intensive (EBSI - 4 Weeks): $3650 
Classical Variations Intensive (CVI - 2 Weeks): $2150 
Classical Pas de Deux Intensive (PDD - 2 Weeks): $2150 
Summer Intensive + Variations Intensive OR Pas de Deux Intensive (EBSI/CVI or EBSI/PDD - 6 Weeks): $5500**

​*Audition fees, registration fees, and housing costs are not included in tuition.
**We offer a $300 tuition discount for students participating in two programs (six full weeks). This discount does not apply to students on scholarship.

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Scholarships:
Scholarships are limited and considered for students of exceptional talent and need and granted at the sole discretion of the artistic director. Students receiving scholarship offers are expected to make early decisions about attendance. See our FAQs for more information.
 
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Notice of Non-Discrimination Policy
Ellison Ballet admits students of any race, color, religion, 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:  summer@ellisonballet.org