Pre-Professional Division

Our acclaimed faculty focuses on individualized instruction for each student, drawing from extensive professional performing careers and solid pedagogical backgrounds in their respective schools of training. Their expertise paired with the MCBS syllabus creates a rigorous, comprehensive training program that develops a strong classical technique, refinement and musicality.

For more information regarding our esteemed Faculty, please visit our Faculty page.

The Pre-Professional Division is divided into two levels that meet six times a week and train approximately 20 – 25 hours per week. The Pre-Professional curriculum includes Men’s and Women’s Ballet Technique, Pointe, Variations, Pas de Deux, Repertory, Spanish Dance, Contemporary Dance and Choreography classes. Supplemental training classes are offered in Pilates and Weight Training for Men. All technique classes are taught to live piano accompaniment.

• Pre-Professional I – Students attend classes six days a week. Classes are scheduled to start in the early afternoon through early evening.
• Pre-Professional II – Students attend classes six days a week. Classes are scheduled from morning through the afternoon.

MCB School demonstrates a commitment to the holistic development of each dancer through an array of academic, career planning and wellness services.

We provide each student with:

Masterclasses

Masterclasses provide our most advanced students with a unique opportunity to engage with and learn from acclaimed Guest Instructors who have made celebrated impacts within the world of dance and the performing arts.

MCBS Mentorship Program

The Mentorship Program strives to bridge the transition between students to professional life.

Topics covered inherent in the dance world include confidence building, understanding the unknown, overcoming obstacles, strategies to stay focused, how to approach the stage, professionalism, summer intensive auditions, and company auditions.

Injury Prevention and Nutrition Seminars

Miami City Ballet School partners with Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’s Sports Health Program to bring dance medicine, injury prevention, and nutrition education to the students. Seminars and workshops include guided exercises, self-care strategies, and nutrition recommendations to reduce injury risk and improve dance performance. Students learn the importance of connecting with their bodies to promote a healthy dance career.

Additional Services

• A weight-training room with various gym equipment for Men’s personalized weight training class.
• Career assistance to prepare Pre-Professional II students for auditions by instructing them how to research dance companies and college dance programs, write a resume and cover letter, and create and submit audition videos.
• International student services offered by our professional, multilingual staff who assists with visa-related inquiries, orients students and parents, and facilitates adjustment to life in the United States.

Miami City Ballet School is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant students.

Miami City Ballet School is pleased to offer housing for students ages 12 + in our brand-new facility just a minute’s walk across the plaza from MCBS studios. Each dormitory style unit houses 2 students and is fully furnished. The residence offers a large community room with a fully equipped kitchen and 24-hour security. A full-time Housing Manager is available to meet our students’ needs.

This new facility will be completed in March 2025. Details are forthcoming!

Option 1:
Many families choose to enroll their students in correspondence or online high school programs. Miami City Ballet School does not have a partnership with any particular program. Our staff can assist you with options that have worked well with our students.

Option 2:
Over the years, many of our year-round students have chosen to enroll in the Miami Beach Senior High School, which allows students to complete their academic studies while participating in the Pre-Professional Division. Students may also enroll in online academic courses.

Miami Beach Senior High (MBSH) is located at 2231 Prairie Avenue in Miami Beach, two blocks from the Miami City Ballet School dormitory and studios. The school is part of the Miami-Dade County Public School system, which is the fourth largest school district in the country.

• After initial registration, students will meet with a MBSH counselor to discuss scheduling, coursework and academic programs.
• Miami Beach High allows our Pre-Professional II students to pair early morning classes with online coursework.

In 2009, MBSH was recognized as a magnet school.  Some of the academic programs offered at MBSH include:

• Advanced Placement Courses
• Scholars Academy
• International Baccalaureate Program
• ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages)

Admission into the Pre-Professional Division (ages 14 and up) requires an audition.

Limited partial and full scholarships are available based on merit and financial need.  These are awarded at the discretion of the School Artistic Director.

Students will be provided with the Registration Packet for the Pre-Professional Division upon acceptance into the Program. Once received, please follow the instructions for online registration.

For more information on how to audition visit our Audition page or email School@miamicityballet.org.

Student Workshop Performance
For Pre-Professional I & II students
Each spring, students from the Pre-Professional Division I & II will perform in the Student Workshop Performances, giving them the opportunity to perform works from the classical repertoire, original works by faculty members and select works from the Balanchine/Robbins Repertory.

Education and Outreach Performances
Pre-Professional I and II students perform in MCB’s signature education and outreach program, Ballet for Young People, as well as in other special events and public performances at some of South Florida’s premier performing arts venues such as Adrienne Arsht Center, South Miami-Dade Cultural Arts Center and Kravis Center for the Performing Arts, among others.

Company Performances
Students from the Pre-Professional Division are considered by the Miami City Ballet’s Artistic Director and School Artistic Team to learn, rehearse, and/or perform with the company in select ballets during the company season.

Apprentice Program
The Apprentice Program allows select students, chosen by MCB Artistic Director, Lourdes Lopez, to take class, rehearse and perform with the MCB Company during the season.  Apprentices receive a weekly stipend and an allotment of shoes.  Apprentices are considered for company positions with Miami City Ballet. 

Choreographic Workshop
This workshop for students is the culmination of a yearlong Choreography class that is part of the program’s curriculum.  This creative studio environment provides an exploration into movement aesthetics and choreographic creativity. Students are responsible for all aspects of envisioning and choreographing their pieces including musical choice, choreography, lighting and costume design and are mentored throughout the process by School Artistic Director, Arantxa Ochoa and School Resident Choreographer, Durante Verzola.   At the end of the year, we highlight the original choreography created and performed by the students. 

We have several alumni who began choreographing through this weekly class and are now commissioned choreographers creating works for other schools and companies.

To spotlight one:

Durante Verzola, who recently joined MCBS in 2022 as Faculty Member and School Choreographer, is producing new works every year, most recently for Joffrey Studio Company and Miami City Ballet. Over the years, he has choreographed pieces for Miami City Ballet School, Pennsylvania Ballet II, Ballet Dallas, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Columbia Ballet Collaborative, Goucher College, School of Pennsylvania Ballet, Peabody Dance, and Ballet Conservatory of South Texas.

Details coming soon!