If you are looking to launch right into a serious career as a professional dancer right after high school (or even during high school), then you may consider opting out of the college route and heading straight for a professional training program. Below, we have listed some of the top training programs in the country. Know that admission is not easily gained to these programs, and they are highly competitive.
Why attend a training program instead of college? Training programs get right to the heart of the matter – if you want to dance professionally and don’t have any interest in pursuing a degree, this lets you focus 100% of your energy on honing your technical dance abilities and performance quality. There is no college credit or degree awarded – but these programs are the most rigorous and high-quality dance training out there.
- The Ailey School
Program: 3-Year Training
Location: New York City, New York
Website: http://www.theaileyschool.edu/ailey-school/professional-division/programs/certificate-program
- Alonzo King LINES Ballet
Program: 2-Year Training
Location: San Francisco, California
Website: http://training.linesballet.org/about/
- Boston Ballet
Program: 2-Year Training
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Website: http://www.bostonballet.org/school/professional/trainee.html
- Broadway Dance Center
Program: 4-Month Training (one semester)
Location: New York City, New York
Website: https://broadwaydancecenter.com/training/pro_semester/index.shtml
- Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet
Program: By the Month
Location: Carlisle, Pennsylvania
Website: http://www.cpyb.org/school/academic-program/pre-professional
- Dance Theatre of Harlem
Program: 32-Week Training
Location: New York City, New York
Website: http://www.dancetheatreofharlem.org/school/professional-training
- The José Limón Dance Foundation
Program: 9-Month Training
Location: New York City, New York
Website: https://limon.org/training/professional-studies-program/
- Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance
Program: 2-Year Training
Location: New York City, New York
Website: http://marthagraham.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/04/PTP-Description-2012-with-fees.pdf
- Peridance Capezio Center
Program: 2-Year Training
Location: New York City, New York
Website: http://www.peridance.com/certificate-program.cfm
- Point Park University
Program: By Semester
Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
Website: http://www.pointpark.edu/Academics/Schools/COPA/COPADeptsMajors/Dance/PreprofessionalDanceProgram
- Richmond Ballet
Program: 1-Year Training
Location: Richmond, Virginia
Website: http://www.richmondballet.com/school/classes/trainees/
*Must attend summer program to be considered for this program*
- Steps on Broadway
Program: 2-Year Training
Location: New York City, New York
Website: http://www.stepsnyc.com/professional-training-programs/