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. 

Upcoming Auditions

Auditions for the Pre-Professional Program will be held on the dates listed below.
Audition registration is open on our Auditions Calendar. Space is limited! Early registration is advised. 

Dates*

• Tuesday, June 13 at 4:30pm - Ages 7 to 8
• Tuesday, June 13 at 6:00pm - Ages 15 to 17
• Wednesday, June 14 at 4:30pm - Ages 11 to 12
• Wednesday, June 14 at 6:00pm - Ages 13 to 14
• Thursday, June 15 at 4:30pm - Ages 7 to 8
• Thursday, June 15 at 6:00pm - Ages 9 to 10

Students ages 11-17 should have previous ballet training.
All students should be required age by September 1, 2023
* Times are subject to change.

To register for an audition for the Pre-Professional Training Program and scholarships, please visit the Auditions Calendar.
Audition

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.

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: 

First Steps/Bounding Boys

Level I

Level IIA

Level IIB

Level IIIA

Level IIIB

Level IV-1

Level IV-2

Level IV-3

Level V 

Level V/VI

Level VII

Dress Code

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.  

Dress Code

Feedback

Students receive written feedback 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.

Pre-Professional Tuition

Pre-professional tuition varies from $1,157/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 is in place for the 2023-2024 school 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

2023-2024 Tuition Price Chart

Email Bursar@alvinailey.org to withdraw or inquire about important dates in the withdrawal policy.

2023-2024 Scholarship Fees

Level 1 Scholarship

$210/semester (Includes Annual $50 Registration Fee)
(plus 2 hours weekly work assignment)

Level 2 Scholarship

$300/semester (Includes Annual $50 Registration Fee)
(plus 2 hours weekly work assignment)

Other Fees during the School Year

• Annual Registration Fee: $50
• Optional Physical Therapy fee – (level III & higher): $65 per semester
• Scholarship Physical Therapy fee (required): $110 per semester

Payment Instructions