Arts Canterbury - Classic Dance Program

Classic Program Details


Classic Program Audition Information


We welcome candidates for positions in our Classic Program for grades 9-12.

  1. Appy between Nov 11th - Dec 2nd, 2024
  2. Auditions will take place in person in Studio B at Canterbury High School. Once candidates have successfully applied online, they will receive a confirmation letter with the date and time of their first large group audition class to take place between in January or February 2025.  At the end of this audition class, candidates will be given the date and time of their second small group audition class to take place 1-3 business days later. Candidates must attend both classes for their application to be considered.
  3. Long-distance candidates should contact our Arts Coordinator ([email protected]) to obtain permission to submit a video audition according to our specific requirements. This opportunity is reserved for candidates temporarily living out of the province or country or temporarily living more than 4 hours away from Ottawa. Click here for long-distance audition instructions. Incomplete video submissions will not be processed.

What To Expect In The Audition Classes


Candidates will be greeted warmly by our faculty and will notice our CHS dance classes taking place concurrently.  We will have a male and female change room allotted for our candidates; some seating will be available for parents/ guardians who wish to wait in the hallway during the audition class. The studio doors will be closed. 

The audition will proceed much like a typical ballet class: an approximate 35- minute barre followed by a 40-minute center practice. If you receive feedback from the teacher, try your best to implement the correction. There will also be a modern improvisation exercise during which candidates can demonstrate movement outside the ballet genre.

There will be two audition panelists taking notes during the audition.  

At the end of the first audition class, candidates will be given an invitation to return for a second audition in a smaller group.  The ballet class will be very similar to the first audition so dancers can demonstrate their growth.  There will also be a stretching segment. Following the dancing portion, each candidate will have a private opportunity to share with the panel why they would like a spot in the Classic Program. They should speak honestly and from the heart.

What To Wear


Candidates for the Classic Program are encouraged to wear tight-fitted clothing such as: 

  • a black bodysuit and pink or skin-coloured tights with ballet shoes; or
  • a fitted dance tee and black dance tights with ballet shoes

All dancers should secure their hair neatly, such as in a bun, with bangs off the face, fastened with a headband or hair clips.

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