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2025 Summer Ballet Intensives

Audition required for new dancers. Learn more HERE.

Current TPB Curriculum students do not need to audition.

Intermediate Ballet Intensive: July 14 – August 2, 2025

Ages: 11-16

The Portland Ballet’s Intermediate Ballet Intensive invites dancers aged 11–16 to immerse themselves in three transformative weeks of focused training. Designed to develop technical precision and artistic expression, the program includes six full days of weekly intensive studio work. Dancers will train in ballet technique, pointe, performance workshops, contemporary, African, and other dance styles.

This intensive is also an excellent option for advanced dancers rehabbing from an injury or seeking to strengthen their foundational and core techniques.

Tailored to meet the aspirations of young dancers, this program emphasizes strong technical foundations while inspiring growth in a supportive and nurturing environment. Guided by TPB’s esteemed faculty and professional curriculum, dancers will gain the tools to excel in their ballet journeys.

 Tuition: $2,250

Advanced/Upper Intermediate Choreography Intensive: August 11 – 23, 2025

For advanced and upper-intermediate dancers with at least two years of pointe experience, this two-week program offers a unique opportunity to refine technical skills and deepen artistic understanding. From Monday through Saturday, participants will work closely with distinguished faculty to learn and perform a range of classical and contemporary repertoire. The program culminates in a performance on Saturday, August 23, 2025, showcasing the repertoire learned.

Faculty:

  • Nancy Davis
  • Lauren Lane
  • John Clifford
  • Additional faculty to be announced

 Tuition: $1,500

Join us for a summer of inspiration, growth, and exceptional training at The Portland Ballet!

The Portland Ballet offers broad, deep and enriching ballet and contemporary dance instruction. Throughout the five-week Summer Intensive, dancers aged 11-18 stretch their limits in a challenging and disciplined setting. Despite the rigor of the program, TPB ensures that the environment is safe, healthy and nurturing for all dancers.

Not every summer program offers TPB’s blend of intense training and supportive structure. The right choice can have a profound effect on how much a dancer achieves during those precious summer months. TPB’s program specifically targets the needs and goals of aspiring dancers, helping push them to the next level while reinforcing their foundations.

Classes include ballet technique, pointe, variations, men’s technique, modern/contemporary, hip-hop, musical theater, and strength training. Seminars include nutrition, self-care, injury prevention, dance history, career talk, music for dancers, and more.

New this year is a performance opportunity! Dancers participating in the entire five-week program will perform in a full-produced concert with costumes and lighting. Works in the program will include excerpts from a classical ballet, a piece by George Balanchine, and new contemporary works created during the program.

The Portland Ballet attracts a faculty of dance teachers with distinguished professional experience at companies in North America and Europe. The teachers and choreographers focus their expertise completely on the young dancers, providing concentrated, individual attention to every student. Visiting instructors offer fresh insight and perspectives, as well as valuable connections to companies throughout the ballet world. Both resident and visiting teachers work with dancers to develop their skills and push their limits.

All of TPB’s teachers work with a dynamic and proven curriculum. TPB’s approach rests on the Russian method of ballet mastery – the approach most famously taught and Americanized by George Balanchine. TPB’s syllabus remains unmatched in the Portland area for breadth, depth and flexibility. It also includes the region’s only Men’s Ballet Program, taught by male teachers and designed specifically for the needs and strengths of young male dancers. See the “Guest Teacher” section for a list of our fantastic guest teachers.

The Summer Intensive program is in session Monday through Saturday. TPB provides classes in: ballet technique, pointe, variations, men’s technique, modern, contemporary, and core/stretch, as well as a lecture series that includes music appreciation, dancer wellness and dance history. Dancers spend the last part of each day in workshop rehearsals, preparing for the performance at the end of the program.

After the audition and video audition deadline, TPB will email out letters of acceptance.

Upon notification of acceptance, a non-refundable deposit of $350 will be due by April 15, 2025. The remaining balance will be due in two installments, on May 13, 2025 and June 10, 2025 or may be paid in full on May 13, 2025. Cash payments are not accepted. All payments must be made with valid Visa/MasterCard/American Express/Discover. Tuition is non-refundable.

All students must read and follow the TPB policies, which are laid out in the Student Handbook. TPB reserves the right to dismiss any student who does not follow the guidelines.

Financial aid scholarships are available upon acceptance into the program. For scholarship information click here or email registration for a scholarship application. There is a $60 application fee. Scholarship applications are due April 1, 2025. Scholarship applicants are required to submit a $100 non-refundable deposit to hold the dancers place.

Host families may be available for out-of-town dancers. Please contact admissions with any housing questions.

Nestled between the Pacific Ocean and the Cascade Mountains, Portland boasts the best of both urban culture and natural scenery. The TPB studios are located in the Hillsdale neighborhood, ten minutes from the city center. Enjoy Oregon’s legendary summer weather while working with some of the finest ballet and contemporary dance professionals in the United States. For help locating housing or to learn more about accommodation in the Portland metro area, please contact TPB.

Please submit an audition registration form with your video by mail or by email.

Dancers must provide a digital headshot along with an audition video. Videos must be less than 6 months old.

Barre Work
  • (maximum of 5 minutes; only one side needed of each combination)
    Pliés, tendus, adagio, grands battements
Centre Work
  • (maximum 10 minutes)
    Pirouette combination with pirouettes en-dehors and en-dedans, adagio
Allegro combinations:
  • Small jumps, petit allegro, medium size allegro, including assemblés, jetés, sissonnes, etc.
Pointe Work
  • (for ladies currently dancing on pointe)
    Warm up échappés, retirés, double pirouettes en-dehors and en-dedans on pointe, fouettés

Guest teachers for the 2024 Summer Ballet Intensive include LeeWei Chao, Carter Alexander, Jeff Stanton, Natasha Bar, Bunky Williams, and Chauncey Parsons.

young dancer summer

Young Dancer Summer

Summer 2025: July 14 – August 1 & August 11-22

Ages: 6-12

The Young Dancer Summer (YDS) program, designed for dancers aged 6–12, builds upon the technical skills developed during the curriculum year while deepening each student’s foundation. The program offers weekly or bi-weekly classes for Level 1 through Level 3 students, complemented by a weekly Progressing Ballet Technique conditioning class.

Dancers aspiring to advance to the next level for the upcoming curriculum year can use YDS as a focused preparation opportunity. The program is equally suited for those wishing to keep their skills sharp and stay active over the summer. All participants benefit from working with excellent teachers and maintaining peer connections.

New for Summer 2025, YDS will be presented in two sessions: a three-week session in July and a two-week session in August. Attending both sessions provides the best preparation for the 2025–26 curriculum year.

Dancers new to TPB must audition for placement. Please email TPB Admissions to set up a placement class.

Current TPB students will receive notification of summer placement in Spring of 2025.

Audition: Call 503-452-8448 or Email [email protected] for information

All auditions are held at The Portland Ballet Studios: 6250 SW Capitol Hwy.

Please wear a simple leotard, pink tights and ballet slippers or black tights, a white t-shirt/leotard and ballet slippers.

Dancers who are not currently enrolled in The Portland Ballet’s Curriculum program are welcome to attend the Young Dancer Summer. Current students do not need to audition, as they continue in their Curriculum Ballet level for the summer. Registration will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.

All students must read and follow the TPB policies, which are laid out in a handbook distributed to enrolled students. We reserve the right to dismiss any student who does not follow the guidelines.

To register, contact admissions or call 503.452.8448. Register early, as class size is limited.

Please pay for the session at the time of registration. We accept checks, cash, VISA, Mastercard, Amex, & Discover. Tuition payments are not tax-deductible as a charitable donation, and we do not provide refunds.

YDS 2025 Schedule

Schedule: TBA

Tuition:

Level 1 – $295

Level 2 – $395

Level 3 – $430

Female dancers should wear a black or 2023-24 curriculum leotard with pink tights and pink full-soled ballet slippers or skin-tone tights with skin-tone ballet slippers. Male dancers should wear a close-fitting t-shirt, black tights with sewn suspenders(Levels 3 + 4) or black ballet shorts (Levels 1 + 2), black full-soled ballet slippers (with socks for Level 1 + 2).