Trainee Program

Program Overview

OBT School’s Trainee Program is under the guidance of the OBT2 Director, Dominic Walsh. The tuition-based program aims to nurture and develop the technical skills and artistry of young dancers. This program prepares them for a professional dance career by bridging the gap between students and OBT2.

Training & Coaching

Trainee students participate in daily classes and rehearsals from 9:30 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Company rehearsals may extend until 5:30 p.m. Evening school classes may be required.

Technique Classes:

• Pointe
• Men’s
• Pas de Deux
• Variations
• Contemporary
• Character
• Improvisation
• Choreography

Workshops from visiting guest artists and repetiteurs are offered throughout the year. Local dance presenters provide Trainee dancers with complimentary or discounted tickets for select programs throughout the season.

Wellness Program:

Individual physical therapy, chiropractic, massage, and acupuncture appointments are available to the dancers at no cost. Dancers receive classes and individual support in strength training and injury prevention/ rehabilitation with OBT’s Wellness coordinator & Lead Physical Therapist, Nadia Chopra, PT, DPT, OCS, COMT.

Classes Include:

• Yoga & Meditation
• Pilates
• Gyrotonics
• Strength Training
• Injury Prevention & Rehabilitation
• Progressive Ballet Technique
• Alexander Technique
• Titas Motion Therapy

Beyond the Studio:

Dancers will gain a better understanding of an arts non-profit organization through a wide variety of career development classes and lectures.

• Resume Instruction & Assistance
• Dance History
• Video Studies
• Stage Make-up
• Music Theory for Dancers
• Stage Management
• Lighting Design
• Anatomy
• Social media training and interview preparation

Directors from marketing, development, grant writing, and production meet with the dancers to offer an insight into their backgrounds and individual facets within the organization.

Mentor Program & Audition Support:

Each dancer is provided with a mentor from OBT2 & Trainee faculty to discuss their goals and to offer them support throughout their journey in the program. Audition support provided to Trainee members includes variations coaching, resume guidance, photography, and videography.

Performance Opportunities

Trainee students may be considered to understudy and perform professional company roles in the first three large-scale productions for OBT’s professional company performances during the season, but performing with the company is not guaranteed. In the spring, Trainees participate in OBT School’s Annual School Performance, OBT by Design, and are included on an as needed basis for roles on OBT2’s Spring Tour.

24–25 Performance Opportunities

• Hansel & Gretel
• George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®
• Giselle
• OBT by Design
• OBT Company Artists create new works on dancers from the OBT2 & Trainee programs.
• OBT School’s Annual School Performance
• OBT2’s Spring Tour (April – June)

For more information on OBT’s current season, visit here.

Audition

Those aged 16 to 22 years old wanting to be considered for the Trainee program, must be admitted to OBT School’s Summer Intensive in Levels 5 or 6, and attend a minimum of the first four weeks, though all six weeks is recommended. Decisions will be made and communicated to the dancers during the fourth week of the Summer Intensive. Admission into the Trainee program is based solely on invitations from the OBT2 Program, Artistic, and School Directors.

Summer Intensive audition dates, locations and video audition information can be found at Summer Intensive.

Current Trainees are required to attend a minimum of 2 weeks in the Summer Intensive.

Tuition

2025-2026: $7,900 (August 18 – June 7— 37 weeks)

* View tuition for OBT2 Dancers here. 

Trainee students may be provided with a shoe allotment to be determined at the beginning of the season.

Participation is one to two years; students’ placement in the program is evaluated every year.