Pre-Professional & Jr Pre-Professional Programs

The Pre-Professional Program encompasses intermediate dancers at Level 4 (Jr Pre-Pro) through advanced dancers at Level 7. Our program emphasizes ballet and contemporary dance, building on the foundation established in our leveled ballet and contemporary classes. The intensive curriculum is designed to help motivated, career-oriented students meet the highest standards in the dance field. Our belief in the effectiveness of focused training underlines this approach: the more classes a student takes and the more diligently they apply themselves, the faster their growth and progress will be.

In the Pre-Professional Program, training intensifies over time as students hone their skills, broaden their required curriculum, increase their weekly class hours, and expand their schedules for rehearsals, performances, and special events. Students follow a prescribed set of classes with their cohort throughout the week and must commit to the full schedule. To support student readiness and growth, a la carte enrollment is not permitted. Classes will also be combined with dancers from both the Junior Pre-Professional and Pre-Professional levels at times.

It is important to note that the level and acceptance into the Pre-Professional Program indicate a student's current stage of skill development. Placement in the program is not determined solely by age, years of study, or innate talent; instead, it is guided by a student's physical ability and their capacity to quickly digest and retain technical information, rather than by a fixed syllabus.

Dancers will be required to audition for and participate in the Fall production of ‘The Nutcracker’ and a classical spring showcase, where the program will perform various variations, corps works, and contemporary pieces. This is a wonderful opportunity to build their repertoire, develop artistry within new roles, and hone their skills from the studio onstage. Additionally, dancers will perform in Coomer Ballet’s annual Spring recital. 

Dancers will also be required to perform a Contemporary group piece, and encouraged to perform a Classical or Contemporary solo, to be performed at both Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and ADC/IBC. Participants who would like to compete a solo must participate in the group piece. Both competitions serve as an excellent opportunity to learn from different instructors from around the country, meet new people, and receive feedback from a prestigious judging panel. Dancers who compete in these competitions will be expected to participate in the weekend classes offered by the competition as well.

Junior Pre-Professional dancers must be at Ballet Level 4 or higher. Pre-pointe or beginner pointe dancers are welcome to audition. Pre-Professional dancers are admitted by audition only and must be at an intermediate level or higher on pointe. For more information, please email our Pre-Professional Director Aimee Kilgore at aimee.k@coomerballet.com.

Current Pre-Pro Schedule