Professional Program

Pre-elementary Level 1 (10-12 years)
Pre-elementary Level 2 (12-13 years, minimum academic grade 8)
Elementary Level 1 (13-14 years)
Elementary Level 2 (14-16 years)
Intermediate Level (14-16 years)
Senior Level (16-18 years)
Graduate Program (18-19 years)

Please click here for a schedule
Please click here for a registration form
Please click here for fees and financial information

The Professional Training Program is designed for the committed and talented dance student. Younger students are introduced to the rigor and physical demands of professional training. Higher levels are for advanced dancers who are seriously considering a professional dance career. All classes demand physical strength, technique and discipline. The program is ballet-based and provides dancers with a broad movement vocabulary. Classes include Ballet, Pointe Work, Junior Character and Introductory Pas de Deux, Cecchetti Exam Preparation, Modern, Jazz, Flamenco Dance, Men's Work, Coaching and Conditioning, and Anatomy and Health for Dancers. Admission by audition only.

Past guest teachers and choreographers:

  • Gioconda Barbuto
  • Roberto Campanella (Artistic Director, Proartedanza)
  • Dominique Dumais
  • David Earle (founding member of Toronto Dance Theatre)
  • Margie Gillis
  • Glenn Gilmour (The National Ballet School)
  • Robert Glumbek
  • Mark Godden
  • Jean Grand-Maître (Artistic Director, Alberta Ballet)
  • Edward Hillyer (Ballet Master, les Ballets Jazz de Montréal)
  • Shawn Hounsell
  • Rob Kitsos (Dance at the School for the Contemporary Arts, SFU)
  • Thomas Klein (formerly Compagnie Natcho Duato)
  • Donna Krasnow (York University Dance Faculty)
  • Sabrina Matthews
  • Eric Miles (les Ballets Jazz de Montréal)
  • Emily Molnar (formerly National Ballet of Canada and Frankfurt Ballet)
  • Matjash Mrozewski
  • Annette av Paul (Artistic Director, Banff Summer Dance Program)
  • Kenny Pearl (Founding Member, Toronto Dance Theatre)
  • Crystal Pite (Artistic Director, Kidd Pivot)
  • Donald Sales (Ballet British Columbia)
  • Margo Sappington
  • Risa Steinberg (Juilliard Faculty)
  • Cathy Taylor
  • Susan Toumine (Master Ballet Teacher)
  • Wen Wei Wang
  • Alexandra Wells (Juilliard Faculty)
  • Edgar Zendejas (les Ballets Jazz de Montréal).

Graduates of the Program

Graduates of the Professional Training Program go on to further training and a wide range of dance careers around the world in film and television roles and with companies such as:

  • Ballet British Columbia
  • Ballet Kelowna
  • Ballet Victoria
  • les Ballets Jazz de Montréal
  • The Juilliard School (New York)
  • Banff Centre Professional Dance Program
  • Bat-Dor Dance Company (Tel Aviv)
  • Galili Dance (Netherlands)
  • Stuttgart Ballet
  • Ballet Dresden
  • Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre (New York)
  • The Source (Los Angeles)
  • Derosiers Dance Company (Toronto)
  • Compagnie Marie Chouinard (Montreal)
  • Karen Jamieson Dance (Vancouver)
  • Dancemakers (Toronto)
  • Princess Cruiseship Lines
  • 2006 Winter Olympics Closing Ceremonies, choreographed by Mark Godden (Torino, Italy)
  • Lion King (London's West End)
  • Moving Out (Broadway)
  • Wen Wei Dance Co. (Vancouver)
  • Jennifer Muscall (Vancouver)

Professional Training Program Requirements: Admission is by audition only. Audition dates for 2008-2009 will be announced in the spring. Please fill out an Audition Form and bring it with you to the audition. Students who are unable to travel to Vancouver for auditions may audition by video. If you missed this year's auditions, sign up for our for our Summer Dance Intensive. All Intensive dancers will be considered for acceptance to our Professional Program.

  • Successful applicants are required to enroll in a full program.
  • Participation in the Arts Umbrella Dance Company is recommended and requires a separate audition.
  • Pre-Elementary Levels 1 and 2 take place after school.

  • Elementary Level 1 (Academic Grade 8) and above require that the dancer attend the academic, half-day SPARTS Program at Magee Secondary School to facilitate the intensity of the training program. Elementary Level students attend Arts Umbrella in the morning; all higher levels attend Arts Umbrella in the afternoon.Transportation between Arts Umbrella and Magee Secondary is available. For more information on the SPARTS Program, please contact Magee Secondary School directly. 

Pre-requisites:

Pre-elementary Level 1 - 2 years of dance training
Pre-elementary Level 2 - 2 years of dance training
Elementary Level 1 - 3 years of dance training
Elementary Level 2 - 3 years of dance training
Intermediate Level - 4 years of dance training
Senior Level - 5 years of dance training
Graduate Level 1 - minimum 5 years of dance training
Graduate Level 2 - Graduate Level 1

Graduate Training (18-19 years)

This unique program provides an opportunity for dancers to forge a link to a professional career. Applicants must be at an advanced ballet level with a pre-professional background. The program consists of professional company classes with Ballet British Columbia and daily classes at Arts Umbrella including Ballet, Cecchetti Exam Preparation, Pointe Work, Modern, Jazz, Flamenco, Improvisation and Composition, and Anatomy and Health for Dancers and Career Perspectives. The Graduate Training Program features 21 classes per week of training, residencies with guest choreographers and rehearsal with the Senior Dance Company.

For more information regarding the program please contact Jackie Faulkner at 604.681.5268x 233