Take your ballet career to the next level.

The best route to becoming a professional dancer is to train with them every day – and that’s the experience offered through the Indianapolis School of Ballet’s Professional Trainee Program, hosted in partnership with Indianapolis Ballet.  

This 1-to-2-year program is designed to guide our dancers through the transition from student life to professional dance or higher collegiate education. Trainee dancers are considered for Apprentice positions within the Indianapolis Ballet company, and students may also have opportunities to perform in Indianapolis Ballet company productions throughout the year. Additional performance opportunities may arise via IB’s increasing schedule of community performances, including outreach lecture demonstrations.

Dancers invited to take part in the Professional Trainee Program concentrate on refining technique and developing artistry through an intensive, full-day, 38-40 week comprehensive program of instruction from August through June. Curriculum includes technique, pointe, variations, men’s class, adagio, modern, choreography, Pilates, strength training, and seminars on such topics as nutrition, personal safety, and injury prevention. The Indianapolis School of Ballet also assists students with career planning by offering workshops on résumé writing for the audition/job search process, resources for audition photos, and through individual counseling or conferences.

To be considered, video auditions are accepted. Please view the Video Audition Form (located under Resources) which contains full details on the necessary materials to include with the application and requirements for the video submission. A registration fee of $35 will be due either as part of the online registration process or during in-person registration prior to an audition.

Acceptance to the Professional Trainee Program is by audition only; students will be notified of their acceptance within seven days of audition. 

The registration process requires information from the prospective student, his/her parents, a recommendation from the student’s current ballet instructor, and financial assistance paperwork (if financial aid is needed). 

Annual tuition cost for the Professional Trainee Program is $4,000 per year; tuition will be prorated depending on when the student joins the program. Prospective students and their parents must consider living arrangements (ISB does not offer year-round housing) as well as academics. Candidates who have not completed high school must have a plan to continue academic studies while attending ISB. Learn more about tuition here.

Dancers interested in obtaining more information about the Professional Trainee Program are asked to contact Lauren Fadeley Veyette, Head of School, at 317-955-7525 or at lfadeley@indyballet.org.

Indianapolis Ballet is a non-profit organization and does not discriminate on the basis of race, religious creed, ancestry, gender, sexual orientation, ethnicity, or national origin.