Charlotte Ballet--Trainees

[dadwhocares]

Have any other dancers who attended the auditons for Chautauqua/North Carolina Dance Theatre received a letter offering "an opportunity to participate in their Apprentice/Trainee program for the 2006-2007 Season"?

Along with the letter is information stating that it is a requirement to attend their summer intensive. The usual package materials of the program with registrations etc.

 

Thank you for any information you can supply. We are interested in if anyone else has received this letter this year or in the past, plus outcome with relation to employment with the NCDT ballet company.

 

 

What are the details also with Chautauqua Festival dancers and connections to NCDT?

[lgmg11]

DD received her acceptance packet to NCDT's Summer Intensive but no letter about the trainee program - but she is only 13. How old is your daughter??

[dadwhocares]

To be considered for this program I believe my dancer said it was 16 +.

Dancer is 17.

[pictures]

DD was excited to receive the same letter as your dd yesterday. I don't know much about the NCDT program but it sounds like a great way to get your foot in the door. The letter states they will watch you the first two weeks of the SI and the offer will either be withdrawn or confirmed. Sounds like a two week audition to me!

 

The directors of NCDT are also the directors of the Chautauqua Ballet and SI. There is quite a bit of information about Chautauqua in the summer intensive forums.

[balletbooster]

Here are a few questions that might help decipher the nature of this program:

 

dadwhocares, did your daughter specify that she was auditioning for the company or did she say she was auditioning for the NCDT SI? (They circle the various things they are auditioning for on the dancer's number.)

 

Just wondering if it was offered to only those who were auditioning for company slots or also included those who were 16+ who were auditioning for NCDT SI?

 

Is your daughter a junior or senior?

[e'smom]

Also, what was the deadline for replying and putting down a deposit? When my daughter pre-registered for Chautauqua online, it said if accepted you have to confirm within a week.

[pictures]

April 25th is the deadline for NCDT deposits. Balance due May 25th.

 

Chautauqua is a different program and will have different due dates. I believe they do require a deposit soon after you are accepted with the balance due the first day of the intensive.

[lulis mom]

Have any other dancers who attended the auditons for Chautauqua/North Carolina Dance Theatre received a letter offering  "an opportunity to participate in their Apprentice/Trainee program for the 2006-2007 Season"?

Along with the letter is information stating that it is a requirement to attend their summer intensive. The usual package materials of the program with registrations etc.

 

Thank you for any information you can supply. We are interested in if anyone else has received this letter this year or in the past, plus outcome with relation to employment with the NCDT ballet company.

 

 

What are the details also with Chautauqua Festival dancers and connections to NCDT?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

 

16 year old dd received same letter today. Looks like NCDT requires a minimum 4 week SI committment to be considered for year-round apprentice/trainee program.

[pictures]

I talked to a very nice woman at NCDT who said participating in the summer intensive is a good way for the trainee/apprentices to see how good a fit NCDT is for them. She said it is very rare for the offer to be withdrawn, using the example of a dancer showing up injured or a dancer having a change of heart, giving both sides an "out".

 

I would suggest calling and speaking with Darlene Callaghan, the school director about the program. I had a lot of questions and she happily and patiently answered all of them. It may take her a few days to get back with you as she was going to be doing some auditions over the weekend but she will call you back.

[e'smom]

Do you know if Ms. Callaghan has an email address? My daughter and I have a lot of questions but I would prefer that my daughter ask them and she has difficulty getting return phone calls as she is not available.

[pictures]

I looked on the web site and this is what is listed as her e-mail.

adancepl@ncdance.org

 

Worth a try if you can't make a phone call!

[dingdong]

Hi ALL; I am the mom of a new NCDT Trainee for the 2006-2007 season. 3 weeks into this now and only a very few minor glitches. So far my DD is enjoying it. Only negative I can see is the fact that she is younger than all else so there is a lack of social activities for her. She just turned 16 and can't go out to clubs, doesn't drive yet, needs to finish High School and so on. It has been more of a financial commitment than expected. The phrase "pointe shoes provided" had a small print disclaimer that explained it was only for the Apprentises, even though Trainees are in same classes, performances and dance same amount of hours with the Apprentices (Also Trainees pay Tuition and Apprentices do not, but that part we knew). She dances 35-45 hrs a week so she goes through 2 or 3 pairs of pointe shoes a week. You all know what they cost so you can do the math. We didn't figure that into the expenses equation...ouch! Atmosphere seems abit competitive, but aren't they all? Administrators all are very nice, and Charlotte is lovely. Large group in the A/T program and to the best of our knowledge no one was hired into the company from the program last year except 1 male dancer. DD is just thrilled to be around real, Professional dancers everyday!

[Guest balletsocorro]

Hi Everyone!

I just recemtly got accepted into the Chautauqua Festival program and i was also offered a position in the apprentice/trainee program with NCDT. I just recently spoke to them, and i am pretty sure you have a week to send the deposit after you get the lettter of acceptance. Im thrilled though, because i've heard a lot of great things about the Chautauqua summer intensive. But i was wondering if anyone had any other info about it. also are there Dormortories for the girls in the trainee/apprenctice program to live in?

 

[edited by moderator to remove full quote of immediately preceding post.]

Edited February 17, 2007 by dancemaven

[Clara 76]

Hello balletsocorro, and welcome to Ballet Talk for Dancers!

 

Since this is such an important decision, my suggestion would be to phone or e-mail them. That way, you can get all of your questions answered, and make an informed decision!

 

Congratulations on the offer too!!!!

[e'smom]

Congratulations! To answer your question, there are no dormitories for the trainee/apprentice program during the year. Most girls share an apartment. Rents run around $1000 a month for a two bedroom apartment in town Charlotte, much less further out, if you're willing to make the drive. Contact Darlene or Jackie at NCDT, they can answer any questions you have.