Trainee Division

2026-2027 Season
Kristina Windom, Trainee Manager

Acceptance by invitation only

Ballet West Academy’s Trainee Division was created in 2009 by Ballet West artistic director Adam Sklute for the purpose of extending a dancer’s formal training, post-graduation. Designed as a post-secondary training program, the Trainee follows a schedule similar to that of the main company with training in the first half of the day and the possibility of rehearsing with the main company in the second.

Trainees perform in select performances with Ballet West & Ballet West II, tour with Ballet West for Children, and maintain a consistent training schedule to be prepared for an ever-changing dance world.

It is the intent of the Academy Director, faculty, and artistic staff of Ballet West Academy to provide the highest caliber training to ensure that each dancer is prepared to take their place in an ever-changing dance world. The Trainee Division provides dedicated training of 20+ hours per week, in addition to rehearsal hours and performances with the company.

Trainees participate in Ballet West and Ballet West II rehearsals and tour with Ballet West for Children around the state. They perform in Ballet West’s The Nutcracker, the Ballet West Family Series, and select Company Productions. Trainees learn repertoire in company rehearsals with artistic staff and guest repetiteurs. Trainees also perform in Academy productions with recent repertoire including George Balanchine’s Who Cares, and Divertimento No. 15, and new works by Francisco Gella.

Repertoire

Performed repertoire by the Ballet West Academy Trainees includes:

  • Symphony in C
    George Balanchine

  • Allegro Brillante
    George Balanchine

  • Who Cares
    George Balanchine

  • Divertimento No. 15
    George Balanchine

  • Western Symphony
    George Balanchine

  • Square Dance
    George Balanchine

  • Second Before the Ground
    Trey McIntyre

  • Airs de Ballet
    Lew Christensen

  • Pas de Cinq
    August Bournoville

  • Lark Ascending
    Bruce Marks

  • Kingdom of the Shades, La Bayadère
    Petipa

  • S.T.I.C.H.I.N.G
    Francisco Gella

  • An Arrangement for 15
    Michael Waldrop

2026-2027 Trainees

  • Malia Bell

  • Connor Blank

  • Ella Chang

  • Isla Clark

  • Jack Concordia

  • Quinn Culhane

  • Claire Davis

  • Mae DeBerard

  • Robert Eberly IV

  • Carina Fulop

  • London Hausman

  • Millicent Huang

  • Jack Kaspar

  • Bryce Keene

  • Evangeline Kragt

  • Brooke Lambert

  • Cole Lovelady

  • Juliette Mamalian

  • Vaughn Mathis

  • Isabella McCool

  • Anna McKinney

  • Lila Neal

  • Zeinab Ntombifuthi Kone

  • Elizabeth Ringold

  • Collin Stephens

  • Denny Teolis

  • Emery Tooehy

  • Kyren Watson

  • Cecilia Zintl

Wellness

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Ballet West Academy is committed to nurturing the student. Through sponsorship with Intermountain Health, we have access to a team of providers, including sports psychologists, nutritionists, physical therapists and athletic trainers. There is an on-site wellness provider at the Jessie Eccles Quinney Ballet Centre who is available to all Academy families as a reference and connection to healthcare providers in the surrounding areas.

Career Support

Ballet West Academy faculty support Trainees in the next step of their career including audition support, references, and reviews of professional and collegiate opportunities.

The FEQBWA is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students in the Professional Training Division, including Trainee students. Administered through the Student Exchange Visa Program, students can obtain an M-1 visa.

International Students Welcome

Student Visa Information

Dress Code

Uniforms may be purchased at each campus or from the Ballet West Boutique.

  • Leotard: So Danca in Gray with BWA logo
    Skirt: Gray
    Tights: So Danca A45 in Theatrical Pink or skin tone
    Shoes: So Danca SD16C canvas split sole ballet shoe. The color should match the tights
    Hair: Hair should be worn in the Academy Bun Style (tutorial here: https://vimeo.com/326914427 )
    For Contemporary: Black leggings & Black Socks
    For Performances: Skin tone leotard

  • Shirt: So Danca in White with BWA logo
    Tights: Wear-Moi in Grey Hildago with nude dance belt
    Belt: Waist Belt
    Socks: Freed in White
    Shoes: So Danca SD16 canvas split sole ballet shoe in White
    Hair: Hair should be neatly groomed
    For Contemporary: Black, form fitted athletic pants & black socks

Ballet West Boutique

2026-2027 Pricing

2026 Yearly Tuition

$8500

  • 2026-2027 Season

  • Monthly Installments: $944.44

  • Non-refundable deposit: $472.22

  • Registration Fee: $45

  • No performance or costume fees

FINANCIAL AID

2026 Optional Housing

$725-$775

per month, per student

  • Only available for students 16+

  • North Park Apartments, a 28-unit apartment complex, is situated in downtown Salt Lake City. It is near bus and light rail and is 1.4 miles to the Ballet Centre.

  • Lease Term: August 1, 2026 - May 31, 2027

  • New Tenant Deposit: $750

LEARN MORE ABOUT OUR HOUSING

Important Dates

2026-2027 Academic Calendar

Start of 2026/2027 Academic Year
August 10, 2026

End of the 2026/2027 Academic Year
May 22, 2027

Academic Year

Trainees in Performance
October 6-7, 2026

All Campus Contemporary Showcase
March 11-13, 2027

Upper School Spring Showcase
May 19-22, 2027

Performances

Labor Day - September 7, 2026
Fall Break - October 15 - 17, 2026
Thanksgiving Break - November 23 - 28, 2026
Winter Break - December 21 - January 2, 2027
MLK Jr. Day - January 18, 2027
President's Day - February 15, 2027
Spring Break - March 28 - April 3, 2027

Studio Closures

Artistic Leadership & Trainee Faculty

  • Adam Sklute

    ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, BALLET WEST

  • Evelyn Cisneros-Legate

    DIRECTOR, BALLET WEST ACADEMY

  • Kristina Windom

    PRINCIPAL FACULTY AND TRAINEE MANAGER

  • Katherine Lawrence

    PRINCIPAL, BALLET CENTRE & TROLLEY CORNERS CAMPUSES

  • Catherine Batcheller

    PRINCIPAL FACULTY AND ARTISTIC ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

  • Jeff Rogers

    PRINCIPAL FACULTY AND DIRECTOR OF ACADEMY MEN’S PROGRAM

  • Michael Waldrop

    FULL-TIME FACULTY & CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM MANAGER

  • Natalie Desch

    INSTRUCTOR AT BALLET CENTRE AND TROLLEY CORNERS

Learn about our faculty

Trainees are selected by audition and exclusively at the invitation of Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute. There are no in-person open auditions for the Trainee Division at this time. Offers are typically extended through participation in Ballet West Academy’s Summer Intensive and year-round programs.