Trainee Program
Our Trainee program is nationally recognized. We annually select students from our Summer Intensive audition tour as well as video auditions to participate in the Trainee Program.
Our Training
Trainees receive a full course of dance study, which includes ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, character dance, pas de deux, rep and variations. Trainees also take part in lectures about nutrition, anatomy, marketing and other aspects of ballet company administration.
There are 2 levels of trainees as well as a boys training program.
Our typical schedule is similar to below
Ballet Technique 1 hr 30 min-1 hr 45 min daily (Mon-Sat)
Male Ballet/Variations 1 hr daily (M-F)
Pointe/Variations/Rep 1 hr daily (M-F)
Pas de Deux 1 hr per week
Jazz 1 hr 30 min per week
Modern/Comp 4 hours per week
Pilates 1 hour per week
Misc other styles
Trainees typically train 6 days and approximately 30 hours a week.
Performance Opportunities
All trainees have the opportunity to be observed for selection by BalletMet Artistic Staff to perform with the BalletMet professional company as well as the second company. Last year our trainees performed in The Nutcracker, Don Quixote and Cinderella.
Attendance at the Summer Intensive Program is recommended for students who are accepted into BalletMet Trainee Program. The BalletMet Trainee Program is tuition based. Merit scholarships are awarded to selected trainees and financial aid is available to those who qualify.
Our Faculty
Become a BalletMet Trainee
Trainees are selected through auditions.
Our auditions for the 20/21 trainee program are currently in progress. View audition cities and dates here.
We love Columbus, you will too!
Trainee FAQ
How long is the Trainee Program? In 2019, the program begins 8/26/19. The Trainee program beings and ends with our Academy year. The final performance is the Spring Performance which is June 5 and June 6, 2020.
Does BalletMet assist with finding housing and roommates? We have some local apartment buildings that have housed trainees in the past. They are The View on Grant, The Seneca, The Abigail and The Normandy. These are all in walking distance to BalletMet. We can also recommend certain zip codes for those that have transportation.
We are happy to connect students if you’d like to try and find a roommate.
What is tuition? Tuition for the Trainee Program for 2020-21 is $7670.00 per student.
Are there scholarships? Yes, there are limited merit based scholarships that are awarded at the discretion of the Academy Director.
Is there financial aid? Yes, there is limited need based financial aid available.
Are there performance opportunities? Trainees perform in the performance ensemble shows, in Academy roles in The Nutcracker and in the Trainee Showcase and the Spring Performance. At the artistic staff’s discretion, trainees may be asked to perform in roles with The Company. In previous season trainees have performed in Giselle, The Nutcracker, Dorothy and the Prince of Oz, Cinderella, Serenade, and are expected to participate* in the 19/20 season of Twisted3, Alice, and The Nutcracker .
If you have any questions, please email Kathy Wilson at kwilson@balletmet.org.
*Subject to change
2019-20 BalletMet Trainees
Evelyn Beard
Bo Bischoff
Megan Boyette
Angelina Broad
Sophia Buell
Avalou Burns
Cheyanne Burroughs
Gillian Carr
Christian Chester
Nathan Cronheim-Strasser
Gabrielle Cutrona
Joey DeCola
Emma Diehl
Nicole Digiovanni
Lucy Fernandes
Vincent Harris
Avery Held
Ariana Henke
Cassandra Hope
Megan Hug
Noah Hug
Amanda Hwang
Sumi Ichikawa
Erin Jenkins
Dominique Jones
Molly Kayden
Nicolette Leamon
Devon Lee
Emily Luria
Caroline Mack
Adrien Malof
Alicia Marcondes
Nicole Martinez
Hailey Maynard
Neve Wilcox
Darcy McLoughlin
Katie Merritt
Jacob Mingus
Malerie Moore
Chloe Morales
Polina Myers
Sydney Owens
Rachel Paradis
Anya Phillips
Ellen Pierce
Tori Pontious
Xavier Pugliese-Ciulei
Reagan Ramsey
Jillian Sadler
Jessica Schmitt
Zoe Simons
Liza Smelyanska
Lani Spratt
Simon Squires
Abigail Stewart
Madelin Talbot
Pamela Veltri
Charlotte Westman
Hannah Wood
Trainee Spotlight
Lucy Fernandes was trained throughout high school at Project Ballet, under Beth McLeish and Robert Steele. In addition, she has spent summers training with The School of American Ballet and Chautauqua Institution. She has performed numerous roles in the Nutcracker and works by Melinda Howe and Jimmy Orrante.
Vincent Van Harris began his training as a student of BalletMet at the age of nine. As a student at BalletMet, he has received several scholarships. He is currently a member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. He has performed in many BalletMet productions including the Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Giselle and many more.
Born in Carmel, Indiana, Avery Held, began her ballet training at the Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana under the direction of Alyona Yakovelea-Randall and continued training with Jane Hachiya-Weiner at Ballet Theatre of Carmel. Avery then went to Walnut Hill School for the Arts and trained under Micheal Owen for the four years she was there.
Ariana Henke is originally from Flint, Michigan, where she began her training at Young People’s Ballet Theater under the direction of Denise Paavola and Nicholas and Laura Schultz. In 2017, she began training at Ballet West Academy in Salt Lake City, under the direction of Peter Merz, Jeff Rogers, and Heather Fryxell.
Cassandra Hope received her training at the Yen-Li Chen Ballet School under the direction of Yen-Li Chen. She joined the Southwest Youth Ballet Theater in 2013 where she danced as a company member until she graduated in 2018. Under the artistic direction of Ms. Chen, Cassandra was given the opportunity to perform the roles of Sugar Plum, Dew Drop, and Clara in The Nutcracker, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, and Dawn in Coppélia.
Originally from Portland, Oregon, Megan Hug trained at Oregon Ballet Theatre School for fourteen years first under the direction of Damara Bennett and later Anthony Jones. During her time there she had the privilege to have received instruction from many wonderful artists and teachers including Natasha Bar, Elise Legere, Gavin Larsen, Chauncey Parsons, Alison Roper, and Lisa Sundstrom.
