TRAINEE PROGRAM
Train professionally. Create rigorously. Take the next step toward your career in the arts.
ABOUT
Boston Dance Theater Trainee Program
bridges the gap between a dancer’s formative training and professional or collegiate pursuits. BDT’s philosophy and process stretches the self-imposed limits of developing artists both physically and mentally as performers and co-creators, emboldening them to fearlessly take their place in the 21st century dance landscape.
CONTACT
Jessie J Stinnett
Program Director
PROGRAM
The Trainee Program is a full time, 11-month educational experience that is immersive and designed for pre-professional dancers aged 17-24 who aspire to join a professional dance company and want to take a gap year between high school or college and entering the professional world. The year consists of 3 trimesters (39 weeks, 13 week sessions) during which trainees take company class, rehearse, perform, create, and teach alongside BDT’s main company.
In addition to regular class and rehearsal hours, trainees receive 1:1 mentorship and coaching with co-artistic director Jessie Jeanne Stinnett. At the conclusion of the training year, each trainee will be fully prepared to embark on auditions. With Stinnett, the trainee will develop his/her audition package that is targeted toward the companies or universities that are most suitable for the trainee’s artistic voice.
A unique and distinguishing characteristic of BDT’s training program is that all trainees engage directly with the main company on a daily basis. Trainees and Company Dancers train together, rehearse together, and trainees understudy company members in all creative residencies. This means that the trainee will have the privilege to engage directly with all choreographers that BDT commissions, and will be able to list this invaluable experience on their CV. Our alumni have worked with world-renowned choreographers and rehearsal directors including Itzik Galili, Elizabeth Gibiat, Sidra Bell, Brett Perry, Grace Whitworth, and Yin Yue.
ACADEMIC YEAR
FALL 2020
September 8 - December 11
WINTER 2021
January 4 - April 2
SPRING 2021
April 21 - July 9
Dancers attend classes Mon - Fri, approx 32 hours per week.
CURRICULUM
Core:
Contemporary
Modern
Ballet
Improvisation
Composition/Choreography
Boston Dance Theater Repertory
Career Planning + Coaching
Dance Entrepreneurship
Additional:
Contemporary Partnering
Afro-Cuban Modern
Gaga
Flying Low Technique
Floor barre
Yoga
Pilates
Gyrotonic
Somatics + Experiential Anatomy
Creative Writing
Repertory:
Itzik Galili (Stuttgart Ballet, Rambert Ballet)
Sidra Bell (Sidra Bell Dance NY)
Yin Yue (Yin Yue Dance Company)
Shannon Gillen (VIMVigor)
Marco Goecke (Nederlands Dans Theater)
Micaela Taylor (TL Collective)
Mathieu Geffre (National Company Wales)
Babatunji Johnson (Lines Ballet)
Rena Butler (Hubbard Street Chicago)
Eligibility:
Dancers must be aged 17 or older at the start of the audition to be considered.
Dancers must complete their high school diploma or equivalent before starting the program.
International Dancers:
BDT is not an accredited institution and, therefore, cannot provide international visas. Though responsibility falls to the student to secure a visa, BDT staff is available to advise and support you in the process. More information can be found through International Arts & Artists.
Tuition & Costs:
Please contact us directly to inquire about current tuition fees.
Estimated cost of Living 2019 (not including tuition).
AUDITION
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Acceptance into Boston Dance Theater Trainee Program is by audition only.
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Dancers must be aged 17 or older at the audition to be considered.
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Dancers must complete their high school diploma or equivalent before starting the program.
NO AUDITION FEES
Applications accepted: Rolling basis
Late consideration, space permitting
Required materials:
All prospective students must complete the audition registration form. You will be asked to provide the following:
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Headshot
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Video sample (2 minutes max)
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Letter of motivation
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Statement of intended outcomes
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Confirmation of audition fee payment
There are 4 ways to audition for BDT Trainee Program:
3.
National Tour
The 2019-20 audition tour has concluded. 2020-21 dates TBA.
Procedure:
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After you have auditioned acceptance letters are sent out on a rolling basis. You should hear from us within 2-4 weeks following your audition.
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Once accepted, to reserve your spot in the program you must sign and return all Registration Documents (Letter of Agreement, Cosigner Forms, Physician Release Form) + pay non-refundable down payment (due date will be included with letter of agreement).
