Pre-Professional Training Program
Program Details
Pre-Professional Program
The Pre-Professional Program offers a diverse curriculum-based program for students ages 7 to 17 taught by The Ailey School’s experienced and distinguished faculty. Designed to develop well-rounded young dancers, the Program offers a graded curriculum of classical ballet, enriched by several other dance techniques including modern, West African, Spanish, tap and character. Performance opportunities are offered in The Ailey Citigroup Theater and a larger NYC Theater in May.
Pre-Professional Scholarship Program
The Scholarship Program is a training program for high school students ages 15 to 17 who show the highest potential for a career in dance. This prestigious program provides financial assistance to gifted intermediate and advanced level high school students who attend part-time during the school year and full-time during the summer. Scholarship students also have the opportunity to gain a variety of administrative skills by working in The Ailey School or Alvin Ailey Dance Foundation offices in exchange for their scholarships.








Preferred Dancewear of The Ailey School
Use code VEBZMG to order your dancewear online
and BLOCH will donate a portion of the proceeds to The Ailey School.
Admissions
Pre-Professional Program (ages 7-17)
All new students are required to attend a live audition for acceptance in the Pre-Professional Program. Students should be dressed in ballet attire for the audition. Advance registration for the audition is strongly suggested, as auditions tend to fill up quickly.
Pre-Professional Scholarship Program (ages 15-17)
Acceptance to the Scholarship Program is by live audition only, held every semester at The Ailey School.
Students must re-audition annually in order to maintain their Scholarship. Auditionees should be prepared to take ballet and modern classes. Please view the School dress code for appropriate audition attire. Scholarship support may be extended for as long as five years for those who enroll while still in high school.
Curriculum
Coursework
Pre-Professional Program students audition and enroll in a class level assigned to them based on the student’s ballet ability and are required to take all of the classes assigned to his/her level.
Please see below sample class level schedules:
Level I
Level IIA
Level IIB
Level IIIA
Level IIIB
Level IV
Level V
Level VI & VII
The Ailey School has a strongly enforced Dress Code for each specific level. Students are required to follow the dress code in all of their classes.
Evaluations
Students receive written evaluations from all instructors twice annually to assess the student’s progress.
Performance Opportunities
Pre-Professional students in Levels I - VII perform annually in May in a New York City theater in the Jr. Division Spring Concert. Students in the highest level(s) may also have an opportunity to perform in the Winter Concert in conjunction with Professional Division Program students.
Tuition & Fees
Pre-Professional Tuition
Pre-professional tuition varies from $2,636/year to $4,184/year depending on level and number of classes per week. The minimum payment required to complete registration is the first tuition installment + required fees.
A new payment system will be introduced for the 2021-2022 Academic year.
New “Tuition Pay” System includes:
- Choose your own username
- eCheck or Credit/Debit Cards
- User-friendly
- Autopayment required
- Enrollment payment method saved for next payments
- Login to change card or account for next payments
Email Bursar@alvinailey.org to withdraw or inquire about important dates in the withdrawal policy.
2021-2022 Scholarship Fees
Level 1 Scholarship
$370/semester (Includes Annual $50 Registration Fee)
(3 hours weekly work assignment)
Level 2 Scholarship
$460/semester (Includes Annual $50 Registration Fee)
(3 hours weekly work assignment)
Frequently Asked Questions
NOTE: FAQ's listed below pertain to procedures at The Ailey School prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and may not be applicable during the current school year.
Please visit the COVID-19 Health and Safety FAQ page.
No, students under the age of 16 cannot participate in professional level classes, regardless of their years of training or proficiency.
Yes! Because the Junior Division Program is curriculum-based, students must participate in every class assinged to his/her level in order to meet the requirements to advance to the next level.
Yes. Junior Division Students must attend all of the classes scheduled for their level.
Tuition fees are based on the level and program in which the student is placed.
Some school year discounts are available if certain eligibility requirements are met during enrollment. For example, a 10% discount applies when tuition is paid in full in ONE installment by the deadline. Review enrollment materials for more details.
Once in Level 3 or higher, students in need can request some tuition assistance twice per school year (if the student was enrolled the previous academic year). Application instructions are provided during re-enrollment with the assigned schedule. First year students are not eligible. Tuition Assistance is different from the merit-based Scholarship Program. They cannot be combined. Tuition Assistance can only be combined with tuition discounts.
Yes, intermediate and advanced students between the ages of 15-17 may audition for merit-based scholarships. Scholarship audition dates and times will be posted on the Pre-Professional Program page and on the Audition Calendar.
Class schedules are based on student placement and class levels.
Students are not allowed to sample a class. Anyone participating in Junior Division classes must be enrolled in the Junior Division program.
No, students must participate in the full curriculum of classes assigned to their level. There are no open classes available in the Junior Division.
Hip Hop is not a part of our curriculum. Students interested in Hip Hop classes should contact the Ailey Extension for information on their Teen Extension Hip Hop classes.
The Level placement of Junior Division students is determine by their proficiency in ballet.
Enrollment for the First Steps/Bounding Boys program takes place annually in late July. Enrollment takes place online and is on a first-come/first-served basis and tends to fill quickly.
If you are interested in being placed on a waiting list at any time of the year other than the July enrollment period, please email juniordivision@alvinailey.org providing the following information and a packet will be mailed to you:
- Parent's name
- Student's/child's name
- Student's/child's date of birth
- Mailing address
- Phone number
- Email address
If your child is going to miss class, please email jdattendance@alvinailey.org and include the student's name and level in the subject line. (Example: Jane Smith, 2A-3)
Parents should contact the following assigned Parent Liaisons:
- First Step/Bounding Boys: Baredu Ahmed
- Level I-III; AABD: Baredu Ahmed
- Level IV: Dena Hardee
- Level V, VI/VII: Dena Hardee
Evaluations tend to differ from class to class due to the energy level or the focus of the class. For example, a student’s energy level from Ballet to West African is different. It also depends on the energy of the class.
If your child received a mark in that area the instructor most likely commented on how they could progress at the bottom of the evaluation. Encourage your child and let them know they can improve in those areas; encourage them to stretch at home. Many instructors provided students with exercises throughout the school year. Have them speak with the teacher to receive further explanation or exercises in which they can improve. If you still need further clarification, please contact your parent liaison.
Students are permitted 3 absences per term. If a student will be out, it is best that the parent notifies the Junior Division office at jdattendance@alvinailey.org. Students are permitted a 5 minute grace period for lateness. After that, students will be asked to observe.
In lieu of traditional academic Report Cards, The Ailey School issues written evaluations that are an overview of your child’s growth and development.