The School of Philadelphia Ballet: Training, Trainees, and the Path to Company Life

Ballet Help Desk

Davit Karapetyan, Director of The School of Philadelphia Ballet, joins us to talk about how the school is structured and how dancers move through its levels, from the pre-professional program to PBII and beyond. He explains how auditions are evaluated, what adjudicators look for, and the common mistakes dancers should avoid.

We also dig into how scholarships are awarded and renewed, the housing available to students, and what families should consider when deciding if it is time to move to a company-affiliated school. Karapetyan discusses the realities of career planning at the postgraduate level, how many dancers transition into PBII and the main company, and the skills students need both inside and outside the studio before leaving home for residential training.

Finally, he shares his perspective on navigating the financial realities of ballet, managing expectations in a competitive field, and what he wishes young dancers and parents better understood about the path to a professional career.

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