2010 Summer Intensive Program
Levels 5-8
June 21 – July 30, 2010
Frequently Asked Questions
ABOUT THE PROGRAM
I am interested in the Houston Ballet Academy’s 2010 Summer Intensive Program. Can you give me an overview of the program?
Houston Ballet’s summer program offers six full weeks of intensive classes. Students will have classes Monday – Saturday, with Sundays as their off days. Classes begin each day around 9:00am or 10:00am depending on the student’s level. The day usually concludes around 5:00pm; however, the schedule varies daily.
Students will have classes in ballet technique, pas de deux, classical variations and repertory, including modern, character, jazz, drama, musical theater, and social dancing. Classes in dancer health and well-being are also offered. Pilates sessions are also offered to students for an additional cost.
Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy classes are taught by world-renowned instructors, including current and former Houston Ballet company dancers.
Instructors include:
Stanton Welch, Artistic Director
Shelly Power, Associate Director
Claudio Munoz, HBII Ballet Master
Steven Woodgate, Ballet Master
Louise Lester, Ballet Mistress
Priscilla Nathan-Murphy, Lower School Principal
Cheryne Busch, Principal Instructor
Phillip Broomhead, Instructor
Sabrina Lenzi, Instructor
Sally Rojas-Herrera, Instructor
Frances Perez Ball, Instructor
Andrew Murphy, Instructor
Jim Payne, Instructor
Bridget Payne, Instructor
and Houston Ballet company members.
For full bios on these and other Houston Ballet staff, please visit Inside Houston Ballet.
What are the dates of the program?
Classes for levels 5-8 begin on Monday, June 21, 2010. The program will conclude on Friday, July 30, 2010.
Students who have been in level 5 have the choice of attending the entire 6 week program or either one of the two 3 week sessions. The first session will be held from June 21-July 9, 2010. The second session will be from July 12-July 30, 2010.
What are the costs for the program?
Tuition for the full 6 week program for levels 5-8 is $1,800; if attending the 3 week program, tuition will be about half of that.
As of this posting, room and board costs have not yet been determined. We will update the site as soon as this information becomes available. For a general idea of the cost: During the summer of 2009 the room and board was $2,600. We expect the cost for the 2010 program will be about the same or slightly higher.
Are there any other costs or fees aside from tuition and room and board?
There are additional fees associated Sunday activities, pilates sessions, and weekday lunches. We do not have specific information on the details of these fees at this time. Participation in the aforementioned is optional.
THE AUDITION PROCESS
What is the process for auditioning for Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy’s 2010 Summer Program?
Admittance into the 2010 Summer Program is by audition only, regardless of age. For a listing of audition cities, please visit the Summer Audition Tour webpage. Auditions begin on January 9, 2010 and conclude on February 14, 2010.
How can I register for the audition?
Registration forms can be downloaded from our website beginning in December. Please bring the completed form with your photos (refer to the following question) stapled to the back of the form to the audition site. There will be two members of Houston Ballet Academy’s artistic staff to take your completed forms. Audition registration forms will also be available on site for you to complete.
In short, what should I bring to the audition?
1.) Two photos of yourself: a headshot and a full body photograph of you in a leotard and tights in arabesque (any photo size).
2.) $25 cash only audition fee
3.) A completed registration form if you are able to download and print the registration form from our website. Forms will be available for you to complete on site (please refer to: How can I register for the audition?)
4.) Women should bring their pointe shoes.
All of the age groups begin at age 12. What if I am younger than 12 years old?
Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy cannot be responsible for housing students under 12 years of age at the time of the program. Students who are 11 at the time of the audition but may be 12 during the summer program may audition with the 12-14 year old age group
What if I am not able to attend any of the auditions listed?
Foreign students and U.S. students granted students not able to attend a scheduled audition are allowed to submit a DVD audition. Please download a DVD/Video audition form and submit it with your audition materials. The deadline for all DVD/Video auditions is February 7, 2010. Please do not submit DVD auditions any earlier than January 1, 2010.
Although we welcome video auditions, we highly encourage students to try to make one of our scheduled auditions if at all possible.
*Please note:We cannot guarantee they will not be reviewed until after the deadline on February 7, 2010.
What if my birthday is close to the audition date? Which age group should I attend?
All students must attend their age group corresponding to their age at the time of the audition- not the age they will be during the time of the summer program. The age limit for our program is 19 years.
What can I expect during the audition?
The audition class will consist of barre, center, pointe for the women, and men’s allegro for the men.
Who will be adjudicating my audition?
Most auditions will have two Houston Ballet Academy artistic staff members adjudicating the audition. Specifics as to who in particular these two staff members will be cannot be determined at this time.
What should I wear to the audition?
Women should attend class in a solid color leotard, pink tights, pink ballet shoes, and have their pointe shoes readily available. Men should wear a solid color leotard or t-shirt and black tights, and ballet shoes.
How will I be notified of my audition results?
Audition results will be emailed approximately one week after each audition, but no later than 2 weeks. Please do not call Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy as results will be conveyed by email only.
What if I have a pending deadline with another school and I have not received my audition results?
If students have a conflict with a deadline from another school, they should contact the academy at rsawyers@houstonballet.org and attach a copy of their acceptance letter from the other school that includes the looming deadline. The Academy staff will do their best to convey the results in a timely manner.
PROGRAM REGISTRATION
I have been accepted into the program. What should I do now?
If you are accepted into the program, you spot will be guaranteed for exactly two weeks after email notification. Registration forms and the required payment can be returned by email, mail, or fax. After two weeks, the space will be no longer guaranteed and registration will be done on a first come, first serve basis after March 2, 2010. Students and parents should expect communication from the Academy staff to pick up after the audition tour is complete. Directions as how to proceed will be relayed via email communication with parents and students.  |
