Junior Summer Intensive

Sunday, July 14-Friday, July 26

Deadline to Apply: Wednesday, May 1, 2024
*Please note: We are unable to consider international students for Junior Summer Intensive.

APPLY HERE

Students will receive a unique registration link upon acceptance. 

Boston Ballet School’s Junior Summer Intensive (JSI) is an enriching summer dance program for dedicated young ballet students. Designed for ages 9-12, JSI supports the development of students seeking a higher level of commitment to their dance education. The program prepares students for more rigorous dance experiences in the future, such as Boston Ballet School’s Summer Dance Program, by giving them the opportunity to explore a professional training environment. Located at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, the home of Boston Ballet School’s Professional Division, students have the option to live in residence with their peers and our team of Residential Counselors.

Learn more about Junior Summer Intensive below. Please email jsiadmin@bostonballetschool.org with any questions.

Curriculum

Under the instruction of Boston Ballet School’s Classical Ballet Program faculty, students engage in daily technique classes intended to strengthen and refine their fundamental ballet skills. Additionally, within this welcoming and growth-oriented environment, students broaden their knowledge of diverse dance styles through supplemental classes including character, modern, and jazz. With five classes each day, students enjoy a robust and rewarding curriculum. Level placements, determined by age and experience level, occur at the start of the program.

In addition to in-studio learning, students’ holistic education is supplemented by relevant lectures, with topics including dance history, as well as “Meet the Artist” opportunities with professional dancers. Towards the end of the program, all Junior Summer Intensive students will travel to Boston Ballet’s headquarters in Boston’s South End neighborhood to watch a dress rehearsal for our Summer Dance Program’s final demonstration.

Residential Experience

Junior Summer Intensive is based at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, a private boarding school located in the picturesque town of Natick, Massachusetts. This quaint and quiet campus is ideal for building community. Students who choose to enroll in the program’s residential package will live in dorm rooms housing two or three students each. Roommate requests are welcome in advance of the program.

A team of Residential Counselors (RCs) – hired and trained directly by Boston Ballet School – acts as an essential resource for students during their two weeks in Natick. RCs organize activities for the group each night, with past activities including game nights, karaoke, and arts and crafts. RCs also supervise an off-campus field trip in the Natick area during the one weekend spent on campus.

In addition to support from Residential Counselors, a Registered Nurse – provided by Walnut Hill – is available throughout the program. This individual assists with medication distribution, allergy management, and other health and wellness needs that may arise.

Dining on Campus

The Dining Hall at Walnut Hill School for the Arts features a variety of nutritious meal options. Three meals a day are included for residential students, while day students are served lunch only. The Dining Hall is extremely accommodating to allergies and dietary restrictions, and Dining Staff are glad to work with students and families to make sure plenty of options are available.

Application Process

Deadline to Apply: Wednesday, May 1, 2024 

To apply for Junior Summer Intensive, please submit a free online application via Boston Ballet School’s DanceApply page. Please be prepared to upload:

• A letter of recommendation from a current ballet faculty member
• A headshot (or any front-facing photo of the student’s face)
• A photo of the student in first position with preparatory arms
• A photo of the student in tendu a le seconde (en face)

Please refer to the below tips for photos:

• Take photos head-on, rather than taking them in the mirror.
• Make sure the entire body is visible in the dance photos, so faculty can see full technique.
• Make sure the lighting is conducive to being seen well. For the best results, light sources should be positioned in front of a student, rather than behind.