Alabama School of Fine Arts
Birmingham, AL
Grade levels: 7th-12th
Curriculum: Ballet, composition, contemporary, hip hop, modern, Pilates
Performance opportunities: Three times per year
Tuition: Free for Alabama residents
Alumni: Shawn Black, Wes Chapman, Elijah Crispen, Marshall Ellis, Kathleen Moore, Brandon Ragland
Auditions: March 5, 2022
Daily schedule: 2–5:30 pm
Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics
Phoenix, AZ
Grade levels: 6-12
Curriculum: Ballet, contemporary, jazz, partnering, pointe, technique
Performance opportunities: Fall and spring concerts, winter showcase, open house
Tuition: Free
Alumni: Eric Klich, Amity Thomas, Alex Trumble
Auditions: Placement auditions are held each spring for the upcoming school year.
Daily schedule: 8am-3:30pm, Monday- Thursday. Fridays, 8am-2pm for tutoring and rehearsals.
Additional opportunities: Master classes, student choreography and solo projects, optional convention and travel opportunities.
Arkansas Arts Academy High School
Rogers, AR
Grade levels: 7-12
Curriculum: African, ballet, choreography, jazz, men’s dance, modern, musical theater, tap
Performance opportunities: Fall and spring concerts, Tea with Clara, American Academy of Ballet Performance Awards, student choreography showcase, Night at the Museum at Crystal Bridges, spring musical. There are three student performing companies that require auditions.
Tuition: Free, open-enrollment public charter school
Alumni: Numerous professional dancers
Auditions: Placement classes in June for the following school year
Daily schedule: Classes available as part of the regular school day as well as opportunities to dance in after-school programs
Additional opportunities: Travel to dance festivals and performances; summer intensives with guest artists
Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Dallas, TX
Grade levels: 9-12
Curriculum: Ballet, ballet folklorico, composition/improvisation, dance & media, dance history, dance kinesiology, dance pedagogy, dances of the African diaspora, modern/contemporary, jazz, hip hop, pointe, repertory, tap
Performance opportunities: Evening of Dance (main-stage repertory concert), On Stage at the Montgomery Arts Theater (main-stage repertory concert), Will Dance for Change (student-produced/choreographed concert), senior choreography projects, Hispanic Heritage Festival, African American Heritage Festival, repertory workshop (curricular culminating performance), all-school musical, Creations (collaborative student-work performance), various community-outreach performances/collaborations
Tuition: Free public magnet school
Alumni: Todd Baker, Jared Brown, Antuan Byers, Jonathan Campbell, Montana Dalton, Catherine Ellis Kirk, Jay Franke, Michael Garcia, Austin Goodwin, Ricardo Hartley, Lindsey Harwell, Shadden Hashem, Alysia Johnson, Ausia Jones, Nicholas Kade Cummings, Mason Manning, Bridget L. Moore, Maddie Murphy, Minga Prather, Omar Rivera, Celeste Robbins, Ida Saki, My’kal Stromile, Kaylin Sturtevant, Stephanie Troyak, Zane Unger, Christopher Vo, Joi Ware, McKinley Willis
Auditions: In-person, in Dallas, January 29 and February 5, 2022
Daily schedule: Block schedule with integrated arts and academics; rehearsals after school
Additional opportunities: Performances and master classes with TITAS/Dance Unbound, National High School Dance Festival, college showcase, collaborations with Dallas arts organizations
Cab Calloway School of the Arts
Wilmington, DE
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: Cecchetti ballet, contemporary, dance composition and choreography, jazz dance, modern (Horton and Taylor techniques), pointe/variations
Performance opportunities: Fall and winter showcase, student choreography showcase, spring concert
Tuition: Free, public arts magnet school
Alumni: Meagan Helman, Avery McGee, Heather Phillips
Auditions: January; open to Delaware residents
Daily schedule: 7:25 am–2:15 pm, Monday–Friday
Additional opportunities: Master classes with a variety of professional artists, community opportunities
Charter High School of the Arts (CHAMPS)
Van Nuys, CA
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: Ballet, composition, contemporary, jazz, modern, musical theater; supplemental classes include hip hop, body conditioning, Latin infusion
Performance opportunities: Winter dance performance, spring dance concert, community performances, student choreography
Tuition: Free
Alumni: Attend top dance programs, universities, conservatories and more, including Bolshoi Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Joffrey Ballet
Auditions: For placement only. Students do not have to choose between CHAMPS and their dance studio; they can do both.
Daily schedule: Three dedicated dance periods
Additional opportunities: Connections with local dance companies and theaters, master classes and workshops, guest choreographers, field trips
Grand Center Arts Academy
St. Louis, MO
Grade levels: 6–12
Curriculum: Students choose a pathway in high school and spend half the day in the art of their choosing. AP, dual-credit and 1818 courses are offered.
Performance opportunities: Robust opportunities for students in all four pathways: visual art, dance, music, theater
Tuition: Free; public charter school
Auditions: A demonstration of art is required.
Daily schedule: Block schedule, 8 am–3:15 pm
Additional opportunities: Student government, chess, ACT prep, sports via our other high school
Hamilton Academy of Performing Arts
Dundas, ON
Grade levels: 3–12
Curriculum: Performing arts and Ontario Ministry of Education elementary and high school curriculum. At the high school level, students choose one of the three streams: academic, ballet (Vaganova method) or theater arts (which includes drama, music and voice). All streams include academic courses. After successful completion of the grades 9–12 curriculum in any of the chosen streams, students will obtain an Ontario Secondary School Diploma (OSSD).
Performance opportunities: School drama and musical productions, Nutcracker, spring ballet production, music and dance concerts; local cultural and community events
Tuition: Canadian high school students: $12,500 CAN/Non-Canadian high school students: $16,500 CAN
Alumni: Alexander Christiansen, Caitlin Collingwood, Claudia Gennaccaro, Veronica Higgins, Addison Holley, Kaylee Marko, Olivia Patiakis, Erin Pitt
Auditions: See haofpa.com/admissions
Daily schedule: 8:45 am–4:30 pm
Idaho Fine Arts Academy
Eagle, ID
Grade levels: 6–12
Curriculum: A pre-professional dance program with choreography and performance at its heart. Dance majors study dance technique, anatomy, conditioning, history, filmmaking, writing about dance and art criticism.
Performance opportunities: Several times each semester in informal and formal settings in and outside of school. Guest artists each semester create choreography on and with dance majors. Past guest artists include Barbara Angeline, Bradley Beaks, Kay Braden, Nick Cendese, Daniel Charon, Efren Corado Garcia, Caitlin Cullen, Lauren Curley, Dave Eggar, Bill Evans, Laura Halzak, Molly Jorgensen, Mary Lyn Graves, Isabella Machado, Cassie Meador, Amy O’Brien, Daniel Ojeda, Chuck Palmer, Re’Sean Pates, Nathan Powell, Rebecca Rasmussen, Ethan Schweitzer-Gaslin, Repertory Dance Theatre, Ririe-Woodbury Dance Company.
Tuition: Free audition-based public arts school of choice
Alumni: Kalie Dow, Alexa Firmage, Hayli Henretty, Amalia Romero
Auditions: Annual; see westada.org/Page/44658 and watch the audition video (youtu.be/jTPTbYzFAH8)
Daily schedule: 7:30 am–2:35 pm; block schedule with four periods a day, alternating eight classes between A and B days. Students attend 90 minutes of the dance major class five days a week.
Additional opportunities: Three concurrent enrollment courses in dance through Boise State University; junior and senior chapters of the National Honors Society for Dance Arts. As a member of the National Dance Education Organization, the Idaho Dance Education Organization and Dance and the Child International USA, IFAA participates in state, national and international events.
Idyllwild Arts Academy
Idyllwild, CA
idyllwildarts.org/academy/dance/
Grade levels: 9–12, postgrad
Curriculum: A multidisciplinary dance program that offers the ABT curriculum in ballet as well as cutting-edge modern and jazz
Performance opportunities: Spring and winter concerts, student choreography, Youth America Grand Prix, Arts Enterprise Laboratory program, which offers students grants to produce their own dance projects
Tuition: $65,091–$68,432
Alumni: Braulio Alvarez de la Parra, Ricardo Urbina
Auditions: Ballet and/or contemporary dance
Daily schedule: Ballet six times a week, modern/jazz/improvisation five times a week, pointe, pas de deux, men’s class, rehearsals, choreography, dance history, dance conditioning
Additional opportunities: Inland Empire Ballet, master classes, student teaching
Inspire School of Arts & Sciences
Chico, CA
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: All ability levels, from never-danced to pre-professional; college and career-prep in styles including ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, modern, hip hop, Polynesian, cultural dance
Performance opportunities: School-wide gala, student-choreography showcases, musical theater, school culture days, community outreach
Tuition: Free
Alumni: Tianna Holly-Haynie, Victoria Monèt Knighten
Auditions: Held solely for performance opportunities
Daily schedule: 8:30 am–3:30 pm, Monday–Friday
Additional opportunities: Extracurricular dance clubs (Ulu Polynesian, tap ensemble, CI Hip Hop Dance Team), connections with local dance companies, instruction from community professionals
Interlochen Arts Academy
Interlochen, MI
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: Ballet focus with additional courses in contemporary styles
Performance opportunities: Two fully produced ballet performances from classic repertoire; showcase performances
Tuition: Grades 9–11: $68,900; grade 12–postgraduate: $73,500; day program: $39,000
Alumni: Janet Eilber, artistic director, Martha Graham Dance Company
Auditions: Upload video to application or audition on campus during open-house events
Daily schedule: 8:30 am–6 pm
Additional opportunities: Tours, collaborative projects, guest artists
Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts
Houston, TX
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: Ballet, character, composition, folk dance, jazz, modern, musical theater, tap,
Performance opportunities: Fall/spring repertory dance concerts, senior dance recital, dance showcase I & II
Tuition: Public school
Auditions: Required
Alumni: Kacie Boblitt, JoDee Engle, Roderick George, Laura Gutierrez, Courtney D. Jones, Allysen Hooks, Robbie Moore, Zach Tang, Mario Zambrano
Auditions: See houstonisd.org/applyhspva
Daily schedule: Three hours of dance a day, 15 hours per week
Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts
Bethlehem, PA
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: Classical ballet, composition, conditioning, dance history, improvisation, jazz, modern, performance, pointe, rehearsal
Performance opportunities: Dance Soup (student choreographed), Young Choreographers in Concert (senior choreographed), Dance Quilt (faculty choreographed), various community performances
Tuition: Public charter school
Alumni: Sophia Blasco, Sarah Haarmann, Cody Krause, Jesse Sani, Corinne Shearer
Auditions: Held annually at the school
Daily schedule: 7:40 am–3 pm, Monday–Friday; artistic classes for half the day, core academics for half the day
Additional opportunities: Locally and nationally known guest choreographers, numerous master classes, Regional and National High School Dance Festivals. Historically, a high percentage of dance majors have received scholarships to top college dance programs.
McCallum Fine Arts Academy
Austin, TX
mccallumfineartsacademy.com/dance
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: Applied anatomy and kinesiology, ballet, dance history, hip hop, improvisation/composition/choreography, jazz (classic, contemporary, Latin, Afro-), Laban Movement Analysis, Language of Dance, modern, social dance (vernacular and partner), tap, world dance forms
Performance opportunities: Two faculty-directed productions, student-directed productions, various festivals and other opportunities
Tuition: Free
Alumni: Have studied at American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, New York University, Penn State, Long Island University–Post, Point Park, Sam Houston State University, Shenandoah University, Texas Christian University, University of Arizona, University of Texas–Austin, Western Michigan University
Auditions: Every winter
Daily schedule: Varies depending on level
Additional opportunities: National and Regional High School Dance Festivals; National Honors Society for Dance Arts and graduating with honors; performances at professionally produced events in the Austin area.
New Mexico School for the Arts [cid:35326]
Santa Fe, NM
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: Contemporary, modern (Horton), neoclassical ballet
Performance opportunities: Winter dance, student choreography showcase, senior projects
Tuition: Free
Alumni: Terrance Matthews, Hugo Pizano
Auditions: Held annually in Santa Fe
Daily schedule: 2–5 pm, Monday–Friday
Additional opportunities: Connections with local dance companies, like Dancing Earth, and other professional guest artists
New World School of the Arts
Miami, FL
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: Afro-Caribbean, ballet, jazz, modern (Horton, Taylor, Graham)
Performance opportunities: Numerous
Tuition: Free
Alumni: Robert Battle, Gaby Diaz, Melissa Fernandez, Jacoby Pruitt, Justin Rapaport, Kelly Robotham, Chris Rudd, Yusha Sorzano
Auditions: February 5 and February 12, 2022
Daily schedule: Academics: 7:30 am–1 pm; dance classes: 1:10–3:45 pm; rehearsals: 4 pm and later
Additional opportunities: Performances at NWSA and elsewhere; choreographing
Performing Institute of Minnesota (PiM) Arts High School
Eden Prairie, MN
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: Areas of concentration: theater, musical theater, vocal music, instrumental music, dance, visual art, media art
Performance opportunities: Fall and spring shows in theater and dance, quarterly vocal and instrumental concerts, quarterly gallery presentations, monthly student variety show
Tuition: Free public charter school
Alumni: Several
Auditions: None; arts placement for level but not for entry
Daily schedule: Block schedule, four blocks in a day, 83 minutes in a block
Pittsburgh CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts Magnet)- Pittsburgh Public Schools
Pittsburgh, PA
Grade levels: 6–12
Curriculum: Under the direction of James Washington Manning: ballet, jazz, modern (Horton and Graham). Master classes in various styles with renowned teachers and choreographers
Performance opportunities: Fall, winter and spring dance concerts, Celebrating Black Dance, Regional High School Dance Festival, The International Association of Blacks in Dance, local and national events
Tuition: Public magnet school, audition-based
Alumni: Kyle Abraham, Kelsey Bartman, Chrisala Brown, Ira Cambric, Erik Cavanaugh, Quela Clancy, Casey Fenton, Jamuir Garland, James Gilmer, Brett Halyak, Kaylin Horgan, Rebekah Kuczma, Aj Libert, Billy Porter, Joy Marie Thompson – SUNY Purchase Grad, Sleep No More- NYC, Interpretations Classic Photos Art Exhibit – August Wilson Center, Kyle Abraham – World Renowned choreographer and dancer, artistic director – A.I.M
Auditions: January–February (winter 2022)
Daily schedule: Middle school students: two and a half hours, five days a week; high school students: three hours, five days a week
Additional opportunities: National Honors Society for Dance Arts, Gene Kelly Award–winning all-school musicals
Repertory Company High School for Theatre Arts
New York, NY
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: A small high school which offers a full academic program and comprehensive theater arts classes for students who aspire to work in the theater arts field or behind the scenes.
Curriculum includes acting, music, musical theater dance, technical theater, theater arts. Performance opportunities: Multiple times throughout the year in at least one of our many school productions, including one main-stage play, one main-stage musical, winter and spring arts festivals, assembly performances, student-produced talent shows, New Play Festival, freshman class productions, monologue competitions and senior distinction projects. Students routinely have performance opportunities outside of school and on Broadway stages.
Tuition: Free, public school for NYC residents
Alumni: Dante Criclow, Aneesa “Young Nees” Folds, Reyna Guerra, Genesis Parades, Babou Senneh
Auditions: See website
Daily schedule: 9 am–3 pm and later
Additional opportunities: Interdisciplinary arts partnerships with world-class arts institutions throughout the city provide experiences, resources and opportunities that are beyond the scope of daily class work. Students meet working artists, see a wide range of professional productions, write and publish their own work, participate in performance competitions that award scholarships, and much more. Current partnerships include Roundabout Theatre Company, Wendy Wasserstein Project, Town Hall, Statement Arts college prep, NYC Summer Arts Institute, Young Dancemakers Company, Paul Taylor training program, LeAp OnStage, August Wilson Monologue Competition, Red Bull Theater, Martha Graham scholarship training program, College Now
The San Diego School of Creative and Performing Arts
San Diego, CA
scpa.sandiegounified.org/dance
Grade levels: 6–12
Curriculum: Ballet (American Ballet Theater National Training Curriculum); choreography and composition; classical partnering; college and career preparation; dance history; modern (Graham, Horton, Limón); Pilates; pointe; Progressing Ballet Technique. Master classes in diverse dance genres and styles from professional guest artists
Performance opportunities: Performance juries with live adjudication panels, two annual dance concerts (one middle school, one high school) featuring faculty and guest-artist choreography, annual showcase, choreography showcase, senior exhibition, Regional and National High School Dance Festival, community events and bookings
Tuition: Free
Alumni: Have been accepted to collegiate programs (including Juilliard, Fordham, Boston Conservatory, Butler, Chapman, University of the Arts, Point Park) and have studied with the San Francisco Ballet School, Royal Ballet of London, School of American Ballet, The Rock School, Ballet West, Orlando Ballet and others. Our dancers have performed in companies such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Complexions, Atlanta Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.
Auditions: Held annually; for more information visit: sdscpaauditions.com
Daily schedule: 8:35 am–3:25 pm, Monday–Friday
University of North Carolina School of the Arts
Winston-Salem, NC
Grade levels: 9–12
Curriculum: Classical ballet, contemporary dance
Performance opportunities: Yes
Tuition: In-state: free; out-of-state: $13,978
Alumni: Camille A. Brown, Blaine Hoven, Claire Kretzschmar, Juel D. Lane, Mari Meade, Gillian Murphy, Anthony Santos
Auditions: January 29, February 5, February 12, 2022
Daily schedule: TBD
Additional opportunities: TBD
