SUMMER PROGRAMS 2026
Ballet Chicago offers eight weeks of summer training each year, providing the serious ballet student with an unparalleled training experience. Our programs bear the hallmarks of every Ballet Chicago course: truly intensive, multidimensional, activity-packed programming that will challenge you, educate you, and leave you feeling enriched and inspired.
SUMMER INTENSIVE
June 22 - July 24, 2026
Ages: 11+
Tuition: TBD
Housing: TBD
Registration Fee: $75
Activity Fee: TBD
Ballet Chicago’s five-week Summer Intensive offers the serious ballet student an unparalleled training experience. Our expert faculty, led by Artistic Director Daniel Duell, School Director Patricia Blair and Resident Choreographer Ted Seymour, is known for its ability to transform dancers through highly focused guidance, correction, and validation for each student. Our comprehensive curriculum includes women’s and men’s technique in the Balanchine tradition, pointe, variations, Pilates, stretch, modern dance technique, classical Spanish dance, and pas de deux (for upper levels only). Classes are demanding, and results are palpable. The Summer Intensive is open to dancers ages 11 and up.
Acceptance is by audition only.
BALANCHINE REPERTORY WORKSHOP
July 27 – August 7, 2026
Tuition: TBD
Housing: TBD
Registration Fee: $75
Activity Fee: TBD
Ballet Chicago’s two-week Balanchine Repertory Workshop is a perfect complement to our five-week Summer Intensive. Every year, students flock to Ballet Chicago from cities throughout the U.S. to take part in this exceptional, accelerated training program. Dancers immerse themselves in learning and perfecting repertory. They are coached daily to gain the strength, purity of line, musicality, self-confidence, and focus that allows them to transform classroom technique into artistry.
Acceptance to the Balanchine Repertory Workshop is by audition only.
For the Summer Intensive program and Balanchine Repertory Workshop, Ballet Chicago offers limited, supervised housing for students ages 12 and up at the University Center, a secure and state-of-the-art downtown student residence. Located just five blocks from the Ballet Chicago studios, the dorm is staffed by experienced chaperones who live on site.
BOOT CAMP
June 15 – June 19, 2026
Ages: 11+
Tuition: TBD
Registration Fee: $50
Ballet Chicago’s Boot Camp is everything you need to prepare for intensive summer training. Designed for intermediate and advanced dancers, each day provides Body Conditioning or Pilates, Technique, Pointe, and finishes with a stretch class.
No audition required. Registration now available!
JUNIOR INTENSIVE
Session 1: June 15-19
Session 2: July 27-July 31
Session 3: August 3-7
Ages: 7-12
Registration Fee: $50
One Week: TBD
Two Weeks: TBD
Three Weeks: TBD
Ballet Chicago’s Junior Intensive, designed for dancers ages 7 to 12, gives students the foundation necessary to excel. We inspire students to become excited about beautiful posture, and we teach them how to combine purity of form with expressiveness, increasing the capacity of their minds as well as their bodies. Our carefully stepped curriculum includes ballet technique, repertoire, modern dance, Spanish folkloric dance, Pilates, and stretch. Placement is based on age, amount of prior training, and level of advancement. The program culminates with an in-studio viewing. Both in the classroom and in performance, Ballet Chicago builds ability, awareness, and self-confidence.
No audition required. Registration now available!
WAYS TO AUDITION
AUDITION TOUR:
The best way to audition for Ballet Chicago’s Summer Programs is through our National Audition Tour. Visit our Audition Tour page to find a city near you.
Can't Make an Audition Tour Location?
VIDEO AUDITIONS: $30 Audition Fee
Video auditions are available to students who are unable to attend in person. Click below to fill out the online audition application through DanceApply. You will need to upload a photo in first arabesque and a headshot
(school photos acceptable).
IN-CLASS AUDITION: $40 Audition Fee
In-class auditions are also available to students who are unable to attend one of our National Audition Tour dates. Students will be required to fill out an audition application upon arrival. Please bring a hard copy of a photo in first arabesque and a headshot (school photos acceptable). Dimensions for each photo must be smaller than 5" x 7". Cash or check is accepted for the $40 registration fee (made out to Ballet Chicago).