Average height ranges of major US companies

[ddm]

I have spent a lot of time trying to find height ranges for females in the major the major US companies. I have searched her on BT as well as through google.

Anyone have any ideas about NYCB, ABT, SFB, PNB, etc. Or can you tell me where to look? I've tried all sorts of keyword combinations and come up with very little. Not much to go on either since auditions aren't posted right now.

[Momof3darlings]

PNB heights are sort of all over the place. They definitely stairstep their heights so you don't notice a difference in heights. But for example, Maria Chapman Kennedy is not much taller than 5'5", if that.

 

Boston lists their height minimums and maximums with every audition notice. 5'4" used to be the minimum but I'm not sure if that is still true.

 

We do have some threads titled something like Companies with taller dancers or Companies with shorter dancers however, those were viable when DD was first auditioning in 2006 and many companies have changed what they look for since then.

[dance1soccer1]

The newly hired (last three years) female dancers my DD knows at NYCB have ranged from 5'3" to 5'10", at ABT they have been shorter males in the 5'6" average, and the women she knew at Boston were all around 5'4".

[watching in awe]

ddm - I have also been searching for height requirements for ballet companies. I like you have not had any luck finding information online! You would think this would be a popular topic. If you find out any info., please post it here! I will do the same!

Edited August 20, 2010 by NEABDANCEMOM

[Momof3darlings]

It's one of those topics though that as soon as you think you have the info, an AD changes or a need changes and all of sudden what was, isn't anymore.

[bunbun]

For the record - Kaori Nakamura is about 5 feet, maybe 5'1", and their tallest female dancer is 6 feet tall. Maria Chapman is by no means the shortest dancer there. Houston or SFO just hired a 5 footer too I hear. This is at PNB....

[Georgia]

Boston lists their height minimums and maximums with every audition notice. 5'4" used to be the minimum but I'm not sure if that is still true.

 

 

You would think that they wouldn't do that for fear of missing out on a great dancer. Adriana Suarez, one of Boston's best dancers back in the day, stands at 4'11". (I don't know what her official bio lists, but that's her height).

[jmh4]

Boston Ballet still lists the minimum height requirement on the auditions page as 5'4" for women. There are several slightly shorter women in the company. Several of the new corps are on the tall end for example Rachel Cossar.

 

Adriana Suarez was beyond beautiful during her time at BB. And though petite I have to express doubt that she is (or ever was) 4'11"'during her career there. My dd danced with her and I would put her at at least 5 feet. Of course she danced big!

 

Georgia what makes you so certain?

 

AD's will still hire who catches their eye and who they can find a place for in the company IMHO. Regardless of height=artistic license.

[MBF]

I thought Whitney Jensen from BB was quite petite?

 

Last time I looked I think Richmond Ballet also had a 5'4" - 5'7" height requirement for females and I have seen other company audition listings with female height minimums of 5'6" or 5'7" (in the case of LINES).

[watching in awe]

Is there a certain place to look for audition information for companies or do you just go online to companies you are interested in? I have not had any luck finding height requirements, etc. on their websites. Sorry to ask - this is all new for us! Thanks!

[pointeprovider]

NEABDANCEMOM, I think that height requirements, and audition info in general, are hard to find right now, because they might have removed last year's info, and the new info is not yet posted. Maybe in November they will have the info up for auditions which generally begin in January and last throughout spring.

[Georgia]

Georgia what makes you so certain?

 

At a dance class a few years ago my daughter was exactly 5' tall. Ms. Suarez stood shoulder to shoulder with my daughter and she was about 1" shorter than my daughter. Of course it's not a huge difference between 4'11" and 5". She is quite beautiful and really nice.

[its the mom]

Boston Ballet heights are all over the place. Most of the principal women are 5'3" or shorter. My dd is a little over 5'5" and the tallest principal woman. There are taller women in the corps de ballet. And, as for men, there's also a range from about 5'7" to over six feet. Parameters are given on the audition guidelines, but there are always exceptions.

[Mel Johnson]

It's one of those topics though that as soon as you think you have the info, an AD changes or a need changes and all of sudden what was, isn't anymore.

 

This Fact of Company Life must be repeated and repeated and repeated for as long as it takes.

[oliveoil34]

Boston lists their height minimums and maximums with every audition notice. 5'4" used to be the minimum but I'm not sure if that is still true.

 

 

You would think that they wouldn't do that for fear of missing out on a great dancer. Adriana Suarez, one of Boston's best dancers back in the day, stands at 4'11". (I don't know what her official bio lists, but that's her height).

 

I'm pretty sure she is taller than 4'11". She was hired by Bruce Marks in 1989 and his height requirements (if he even had height requirements in 1989) where/are very different than the current AD who prefers 5'4" and above.