SUMMER PROGRAMS

The Portland Ballet offers broad, deep and enriching ballet and contemporary dance instruction. Throughout the four-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.

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.

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.

The tuition for the Summer Ballet Intensive is $1975. Upon notification of acceptance, a non-refundable deposit of $275 will be due by April 17, 2023. The remaining balance of $1700 will be due in two installments, May 15, 2023 and June 12, 2023 or may be paid in full on May 15, 2023. 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 $55 application fee. Scholarship applications are due April 17, 2023. Scholarship applicants are required to submit a $100 non-refundable deposit to hold the dancers place.

Due to Covid-19, host families are not available for out of town dancers. Please contact registration 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

Marika Anderson – Ballet Technique

Randy Davis – Musical Theater

Cait Powers – Ballet Technique and Pointe

Mari Kai Juras – Contemporary

Rachel Lundberg – Yoga