Boston Ballet II

Boston Ballet II (BBII) is the exciting pre-professional program in residence at Boston Ballet. Members of BBII are young dancers of outstanding ability, ages 16-21, who are challenged to improve artistically and technically so they may reach their full potential. The two-year program bridges the divide between the final year of schooling and professional careers with major dance companies and offers dancers a full range of performance opportunities in addition to further skill development as artists.

BBII members gain professional exposure and train with Boston Ballet’s Artistic Director and Staff, as well as with guest choreographers, stagers and directors from distinguished American and international companies. An indispensible and important part of their performance education is understudying and appearing regularly on stage with Boston Ballet.
 
Beyond main-stage appearances, BBII also performs its own repertoire throughout the Greater Boston Community. Annual engagements in local K-12 academic schools extend BBII’s performance opportunities as well as Boston Ballet’s invaluable outreach efforts. Under the auspices of Young Audiences of Massachusetts, this interactive series featuring BBII is designed to introduce ballet to new audiences and develop youth appreciation for ballet as an art form.

BBII’s daily schedule is primarily structured by the framework of the main company’s rehearsals. Weekly class offerings are divvied up among full company, men’s and women’s and BBII-only classes, all taught by Boston Ballet’s Artistic Staff. Typical rehearsal weeks, prior to performances, run Monday through Friday from 11:30am-6:30 or 7:30pm as needed.  When free from company obligations, BBII dancers are also required to attend classes offered by Boston Ballet School’s Trainee Program – pas de deux, men’s class, variations, pointe, etc. – to expand upon their technique and broaden their fundamental skills. Performance weeks for main company productions run primarily from Tuesday through Sunday at the Boston Opera House.
 
BBII members receive a weekly stipend, full health and dental benefits and a shoe allowance for performance purposes. They also have full access to a wealth of health and well-being services, including pilates and gyrotonic training as well as care provided by the company’s full-time physical therapy staff.

BBII members have gone on to professional dance careers in a myriad of American and international companies, including The Royal Ballet of London, Nederlands Dans Theater, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Alberta Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Cincinnati Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Houston Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.  Understandably, BBII alumni fill Boston Ballet’s ranks; in the current 2009-2010 season, 16 of 41 company dancers – nearly 40% – are former BBII members.
 
Auditions for BBII are held each year between January and March. 
 
BBII touring information.