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 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 2024-2025 school year. For more information on how to apply, please visit the Walnut Hill School for the Arts website.

HOW TO APPLY/AUDITION