ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL

HOW DO I ENROLL AND REGISTER FOR AN ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL PROGRAM?

Registration is completed online for new families or through the parent portal for returning families, following our criteria:

• Students ages 18 months through age 6 can register online in our young dancer program without an audition based on age as of September 1st.
• Students age 7+ will first need to attend a placement or school audition for registration purposes prior to enrollment.
• To schedule an audition/placement appointment, contact registrar@orlandoballet.org with your child’s age and summary of dance experience.

DOES MY CHILD NEED TO DO A PLACEMENT OR AUDITION?

Only students aged 7+ will need to complete a placement class. Based on your child’s age and previous dance experience, they will attend a class where they are evaluated individually during classwork. Students who are on pointe will be asked to bring pointe shoes to their audition/placement class. No previous training or experience is necessary to audition for Orlando Ballet School as students will be placed based on the evaluation from our faculty during the audition/placement class.

IS THERE A FEE FOR THE AUDITION/PLACEMENT?

Yes, there is a $40 placement/audition fee for all new students seeking placement or returning students who did not have continuous enrollment with us.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO THE AUDITION/PLACEMENT?

Please wear:

• A black or solid colored leotard.
• Pink or flesh toned tights with matching ballet or pointe shoes.
• Hair in a ballet bun or neatly pulled back away from face.

WHEN WILL I BE NOTIFIED OF MY AUDITION / PLACEMENT RESULTS?

Results are sent via email within 3-5 business days for in-person auditions and up to 10 business days for video submissions.

ONCE I RECEIVE MY RESULTS, HOW CAN I REGISTER FOR CLASSES?

Registration is completed online. Families can either find their eligible program on our webpage and proceed with enrollment or can email our School Registrar at registrar@orlandoballet.org to be directed to their program for online registration.

WHAT IS THE TUITION FOR ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL?

Tuition varies by level and program based on the number of hours and coursework within a 34-week school year, August-May. All school breaks and closures are taken into consideration to the yearly tuition.

WHAT ARE MY OPTIONS FOR PAYING TUITION?

Families receive a 5% discount when tuition is paid in full. Alternatively, families may opt to enroll in an installment payment plan during enrollment. Installment plans require a down payment upon enrolling with the remaining tuition balance divided into monthly payments.

DOES ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL HAVE ANY REQUIRED OR NON-REFUNDABLE FEES?

Yes, there is a registration fee due upon enrolling that includes the American Ballet Theatre® examination fee for levels Primary C and above. The showcase fee is also required for participating students by November 1st. This fee is non-refundable after November 1st and includes the participation, costumes and video of their student’s showcase performance. These fees vary by level.

ARE THERE SCHOLARSHIPS OR FINANCIAL AID AVAILABLE?

Yes, Orlando Ballet School offers scholarships and financial aid to families based on merit and need. Students in levels 2B and above qualify after they’ve been an Orlando Ballet School student for at least 1 year. All families offered scholarships or seeking financial aid are required to submit a financial information application and scholarship packet. The application fee is $45. All applications are due by July 31st.

IF I WITHDRAW IN THE MIDDLE OF THE YEAR, AM I PROVIDED A REFUND?

Should you need to withdraw your student part way through the year, you forgo all fees and tuition paid up to that point, however, you would not be charged for tuition from the withdrawal date forward. The withdrawal form must be submitted in order to have a withdrawal officialy processed. Families are responsible for tuition until the form is submitted.

IF MY SCHEDULE CHANGES AND I WOULD NEED TO SWITCH TO ANOTHER CLASS/DAY OR TIME, AM I ABLE TO?

Students can transfer to another class session of their level prior to November 1st for a $10 fee, pending capacity and availability. Please note that some levels only have one schedule option and therefore an accommodation cannot be provided. Transfers after November 1st are subject to the department head’s approval due to showcase and exam preparations.

AFTER COMPLETING A SEASON WITH ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL, HOW DO I KNOW WHICH LEVEL TO ENROLL MY STUDENT IN FOR THE FOLLOWING YEAR?

Orlando Ballet School provides two evaluations per year to students:

• A mid-year evaluation which is general and includes commentary on their progression thus far in the year. This evaluation will also address any concerns regarding their progression.
• A year-end evaluation, which is completed either by Orlando Ballet School artistic faculty or an American Ballet Theatre® examiner. When you receive this evaluation, your students’ level recommendation for the next season will be provided.

DOES ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL ACCEPT INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS?

Yes, Orlando Ballet School accepts international students aged 16+ by audition. Once accepted, students submit an international student information form and processing fee ($90) to begin the student F-1 visa process.

WHAT CURRICULUM DOES ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL UTILIZE?

Orlando Ballet School is proud to include the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum, a breakthrough 8-level program that combines high quality artistic training with the basics of dancer health and child development. The American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum consists of a comprehensive set of age-appropriate, outcome-based guidelines to provide the highest quality ballet training to dance students of all ages and skill levels. Primary through Level 7 will be taught by American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teachers who have successfully completed the American Ballet Theatre® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through the levels they are responsible for in classes of the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum.

WHAT PROGRAMS DOES ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL OFFER?

Visit our Preparatory Training and The Academy pages to see an overview of our offerings.

DOES ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL HAVE A DRESS CODE?

Yes, each level has a specified dress code. Dress code information can be found on our webpage for families seeking the information directly related to their child’s level. To supply all required uniform items, we work directly with Dancewear Corner, located 136 S Semoran Blvd, Orlando, FL 32807.

WHAT ARE ABT EXAMS?

As an affiliate school, the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum Student Examinations are a graded examination system based on sound ballet principles, incorporating elements of the French, Italian and Russian schools of training. An adjudicator from the American Ballet Theatre® National Training Curriculum Artistic Board of Examiners will observe the students perform a prepared examination class, which is conducted by the students’ American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher. The students must have the examination class memorized. Most students will participate in the American Ballet Theatre® exam during the scheduled event with an American Ballet Theatre® examiner, while some students may be required to perform their American Ballet Theatre® exam in house during regular classwork by our Head of Certifications staff.

WHEN DO STUDENTS BEGIN POINTE WORK?

Students progress to pointe work following completion of level 2B and at the discretion of their instructor in level 3A. Once families receive their confirmation from their level 3A teacher, details on how to fit and where to purchase pointe shoes will be provided.

ARE THERE DORMS FOR FULL DAY, THE ACADEMY, TRAINEE OR OBII STUDENTS?

Orlando Ballet School does not have dorms for school year programming, only for our Summer Intensive. Our student services representative can provide a list of housing and apartments within walking distance of our facility and give families access to our housing forum to arrange roommates and housing with other registered students.

CAN PARENTS OBSERVE CLASS?

To best benefit students’ progression and focus their attention to the classwork, class observations are not available at our facility. Instead, Orlando Ballet School offers a parent observation week twice per year to invite parents, in person, to see their student in their classes.

WHAT ARE THE PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF PROCEDURES?

Orlando Ballet School has a drop-off and pick-up area that is open 15 minutes prior to class start time and no earlier than 15 minutes before class end time. Parents are provided with a car tag to direct staff to your vehicle with your child during pick up. Families also have the option to park and walk up to the facility to drop-off or pick up their child.

ARE PARENTS ABLE TO WAIT IN THE LOBBY?

One parent may wait in the lobby. We do not allow siblings to wait in the lobby unless they are a registered student with a class before or after the other enrolled sibling. Families can request the full lobby policies from the front desk staff.

IF MY CHILD IS ABSENT, CAN THEY ATTEND A MAKE-UP CLASS?

Make-up classes are not permitted for student absences. If Orlando Ballet School should close due to inclement weather or a mandated state of emergency, we may schedule make-up days to accommodate these closures.

CAN MY CHILD PARTICIPATE IN ORLANDO BALLET’S PROFESSIONIAL COMPANY PRODUCTIONS SUCH AS THE NUTCRACKER?

Registered students in levels Primary C and above are eligible to audition for participation in The Nutcracker. Students must be a registered student at the time of the audition. Due to casting requirements, late registrants or students who do not attend the audition will not be eligible to participate.

For other Orlando Ballet Company productions that may involve students, Orlando Ballet School will either invite students to participate or host an audition. Auditions are subject to level, age and height requirements.

WHERE CAN I FIND THE SCHOOL CALENDAR OR SCHEDULES?

Visit our parent portal for more information.

CAN FAMILIES DISCUSS THEIR CHILD’S PROGRESSION WITH FACULTY?

Orlando Ballet School families are welcome to communicate with their department head via email regarding any questions they may have. Families may reach out to our administration team to set an appointment if circumstances deem it necessary.

DO ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL FAMILIES RECEIVE ANY DISCOUNTS OR BENEFITS FOR SHOWS OR PROGRAMS?

Registered families receive a variety of benefits, including:

• Discounted tickets to Orlando Ballet Company performances
• Discounts on workshops, camps or intensives (when available)
• Parents and students ages 14+ receive discounted Fitness Thru Dance classes

WHERE IS ORLANDO BALLET LOCATED?

Harriett’s Orlando Ballet Centre, 600 N. Lake Formosa Drive
Orlando, FL 32803.

WHERE CAN I PARK WHEN I VISIT ORLANDO BALLET SCHOOL?

Our facility has limited street parking and parking garages (subject to a fee) within walking distance. There is a handicap parking lot on site. We are also located 1 block from the Advent Health Sunrail station.