In 2020, Boston Ballet School entered a partnership with Walnut Hill School for the Arts, an independent boarding school and day school for high-school-aged artists, in an effort to create a more well-rounded artistic, academic, and residential experience for our pre-professional students.

Boston Ballet School’s Professional Division at Walnut Hill (formerly Pre-Professional Program) offers Boston Ballet School’s world-renowned dance instruction in conjunction with Walnut Hill’s best-in-class college preparatory academic and rich residential life program. Students receive an immersive and intensive educational experience on Walnut Hill’s scenic and safe campus in Natick, Massachusetts, a small New England town just outside the cultural hub of Boston.  The entire program – from classes, to studio, to stage – is designed for young artists.

This joint program is led by Boston Ballet’s Artistic Director Mikko Nissinen, Interim Director of Dance Miranda Weese, and internationally renowned BBS faculty. Together, Walnut Hill School for the Arts and Boston Ballet School oversee student life, academics, admissions, financial aid, scholarships, dance instruction, performances, choreography, music direction, recruitment, and career development. The collaboration truly supports our commitment to developing future dance artists in addition to providing students with a first-class academic program and a vibrant residential community.

Students interested in joining Boston Ballet School’s Professional Division at Walnut Hill may now begin the application/audition process for the 2023-2024 school year.For more information on how to apply, please visit the Walnut Hill School for the Arts website.

HOW TO APPLY/AUDITION
 

2023-2024 Visiting Artist Series

Through the Visiting Artist Series Professional Division students have access to internationally renowned choreographers, dancers, teachers, stagers, and regisseurs, through workshops, classes, conversations, and more.

March 2024
Professional Division students will attend Rising Stars, a special performance of Boston Ballet II and Graduate Program dancers, led by Associate Director Joan Boada (BBII) and Rehearsal Director Kathleen Mitchell (Graduate). This performance showcases the “dancers of tomorrow” and provides great inspiration to the Professional Division students on what could come next for them in their training journey. The performance will take place at 19 Clarendon Street in Boston.

April 2024
Choreographer and stager Ken Ossola will lead a workshop for Professional Division students at Walnut Hill. Ken is a former Nederlands Dans Theater dancer who worked directly with Jiří Kylián, a veteran contemporary dance choreographer who has created over 100 works. Ken is staging multiple Kylián works for Boston Ballet and is excited to bring his talent and expertise to Professional Division students.

April 2024
Students will attend Boston Ballet’s performance of Carmen on opening night at the Citizens Opera House. Professional Division students have the exclusive benefit of attending or performing in (program dependent) all Boston Ballet performances with their peers and faculty.

May 2024 
Students will attend Boston Ballet’s performance of Spring Experience at Citizens Opera House.

May 2024
Students will perform in Next Generation at Citizens Opera House, a collaboration featuring dancers from Boston Ballet II, the Graduate Program, and the Professional Division. Professional Division students will perform George Balanchine’s Serenade, accompanied by the Next Generation Orchestra, which includes students from our Music Department.

May 2024
Students will perform in the Professional Division’s Spring Showcase at Walnut Hill.