THUNDER BAY – ENTERTAINMENT – Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) are announcing that the 2015/2016 National Audition Tour (NAT), which includes Auditions and Open Classes, will start in Halifax, NS on November 3. This year’s NAT, which is presented by Sun Life Financial, will visit 19 cities across Canada, including Thunder Bay, before concluding in Toronto on February 7, 2016.
Auditions for the Professional Ballet Program – which offers full-time dance training, academic education and residential care for students in Grades 6 to12, and full-time dance training to post-secondary students (Post-Secondary Program) – take the form of a specially designed ballet class where dancers are assessed for quality of movement, coordination and overall suitability for the demands of classical ballet. The minimum age to audition is 10, and no prior ballet training is required for students aged 12 and under.
Open Classes are offered by NBS artistic staff as an outreach component of the National Audition Tour. These classes are for junior and senior dance students regardless of their intent to audition for the full-time program. Designed for young dancers who are eager to explore movement, these classes give participants a dynamic sense of dance and performance.
NBS also offers a full and part-time Teacher Training Program to high school dance majors, professional dancers seeking a career change and practicing ballet teachers who would like to enhance their knowledge and teacher skills. Entrance into the Teacher Training Program is by DVD audition submission. Information detailing the application process is available on NBS’ website at www.nbs-enb.ca/Teacher-Training.
“Sun Life Financial is delighted to continue its support as Presenting Sponsor of NBS’ National Audition Tour for the sixth year in a row,” said Paul Joliat, Assistant Vice-President, Philanthropy and Sponsorships, Sun Life Financial. “Through Sun Life’s Making the Arts More AccessibleTM program, we aim to extend the reach of arts and culture programming within our communities. By supporting the National Audition Tour, we are promoting access to arts education and helping talented emerging dance artists from across Canada achieve their dreams.”
“NBS’ National Audition Tour’s success relies on the support of parents and dance teachers from across the country who send their talented children and students to audition, ensuring that the School continues to be Canada’s leading professional ballet training institution. During last year’s Tour we had a record number of students audition and subsequently, NBS has the largest enrollment of new students in the Professional Ballet Program this academic year,” said Mavis Staines, NBS Artistic Director and CEO. “Our Artistic Staff are equally excited this year to set off on the Tour, and look forward to sharing their love of ballet with students, whether auditioning or attending open classes. Meeting parents and teachers across Canada fulfills a critical component of NBS’ mission – to engage and support all ages and abilities in dancing for a healthy body and mind. We are thrilled once again to have Sun Life Financial help ‘make the Arts accessible;’ their support has allowed us to truly live up to being, Canada’s National Ballet School.”
From the more than 1,000 young dancers who audition each year, up to 175 are chosen to participate in the second-stage assessment, a four-week Summer School held at NBS’ state-of-the-art training facilities in Toronto in July.
NBS continues to make its website the key source for information on all its programs, projects and initiatives. The School’s Facebook page now boasts upwards of 9,000 fans, and its YouTube Channel has more than 135 videos. NBS is also on Twitter, and can be found under the handle @NBS_ENB. For instant updates from the Tour, follow the hashtag #NBSAuditions on Twitter. Registration for Open Classes and Audition dates is now open, check NBS’ website, www.nbs-enb.ca for details.
National Audition Tour 2015/2016 Cities and Dates:
St. John’s, NL Sunday, October 18, 2015 (in conjunction with outreach initiatives)
Halifax, NS Wednesday, November 4, 2015
Fredericton, NB Friday, November 6, 2015
Nanaimo, BC Friday, November 6, 2015
Vancouver, BC Sunday, November 8, 2015
Quebec City, QC Sunday, November 8, 2015
Kelowna, BC Tuesday, November 10, 2015
Calgary, AB Thursday, November 12, 2015
Edmonton, AB Sunday, November 15, 2015
Brandon, MB Tuesday, November 17, 2015
Saskatoon, SK Thursday, November 19, 2015
Montreal, QC Friday, November 20, 2015
Ottawa, ON Sunday, November 22, 2015
Thunder Bay, ON Tuesday, November 24, 2015
St. Catharines, ON Tuesday, January 5, 2016
London, ON Thursday, January 7, 2016
Waterloo, ON Friday, January 8, 2016
Toronto, ON Sunday, January 24 & Sunday, February 7, 2016
Barrie, ON Sunday, January 31, 2016
About Canada’s National Ballet School
Established in 1959, Canada’s National Ballet School is a world leader in the training of professional dancers and teachers. Dedicated to moving the world by teaching and celebrating dance, NBS is committed to promoting the art of dance through community initiatives, as well as offering recreational and professional programs. NBS alumni can be found as dancers, teachers, choreographers and artistic directors in over 80 dance companies and schools around the globe.