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.








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Admissions
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.
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 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.
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.
Tuition & Fees
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
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
Frequently Asked Questions
To begin the process of enrollment, please visit the First Steps and Bounding Boys Enrollment page.
Class schedules are based on student placement and class levels. Please visit the Curriculum page to find our current class schedule.
Yes. Junior Division Students must attend all of the classes scheduled for their level.
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.
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.
Junior Division students may NOT participate in professional level classes, regardless of their years of training or proficiency.
Level placement has been determined based on several factors including, but not limited to, proficiency in ballet and modern, instructor recommendations, and audition panel observation. Previous evaluations and attendance records were also reviewed to determine level placement.
Tuition fees are based on the level and program in which the student is placed. Please visit Tuition & Fees for more details.
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.
The option to request Tuition Assistance is available to students who have been enrolled for one or more years, and can be requested prior to the start of each semester. First year students are not eligible to receive Tuition Assistance. Application instructions are provided during re-enrollment. Tuition Assistance and scholarship funds 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 Audition Calendar or email juniordivision@alvinailey.org for more information.
Students are not allowed to sample a class. Anyone participating in Junior Division classes must be enrolled in the Junior Division program.
Students are allowed 5 excused absences per term. If a student will be absent from class, it is best that the parent fills out the Absence Notification Form. Students are permitted a 10-minute grace period for lateness. After the grace period elapses, students will not be allowed in the classroom.
In lieu of traditional academic Report Cards, The Ailey School issues written Feedback Forms that are an overview of your child’s growth and development.
We thank you for your interest in training at The Ailey School. Please reference the Audition Calendar for updates. Inquiries may be directed to juniordivision@alvinailey.org.