Company Experience | Ages 16+

New this summer! Flexible enrollment options to fit your family’s needs.

Session 1 | June 8-18

Session 2 | July 13-24

Elevate your training with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School’s rigorous Company Experience Workshop, designed by professionals for the pre-professional dancer. 

Now entering its thirteenth year, the workshop offers a two-week immersive bridge into the next step in dancers’ journeys. Over two weeks of intensive rehearsal and mentoring in both classical and contemporary repertoire from PBT company members (including many alumni of the program), PBT Company’s Rehearsal Directors, as well as PBT Faculty and guest artists, Company Experience dancers gain the skills they need to move confidently into their futures as professional dancers.

What to Expect

On the first day of the program, dancers participate in an audition process to be cast in three distinctly different types of pieces reflective of the PBT company and repertoire: a classical piece, a contemporary piece and a new work created specifically for Company Experience dancers. 

During the program, dancers follow a daily schedule allowing them to immerse themselves in the daily life of a PBT company artist. By the end of the first week, dancers have learned nearly all of the choreography and repertoire for the program and they begin the cleaning process. The last week of the program focuses on finessing the details for the culminating performance on the final day of the program. We look forward to inviting families to this showing to see their dancers’ hard work shine!

2026 Company Experience Faculty

*Please note: This is a full faculty roster for Sessions 1 & 2, company artists subject to change.

PBT Company Rehearsal Directors:

Steven Annegarn
Barbara Bears

PBT Company Dancers:

Hannah Carter, Principal Artist
Tommie Lin Kesten, Principal Artist
JoAnna Schmidt, Soloist Artist
Madeline Gradle, Corps de Ballet
Matthew Griffin, Corps de Ballet
Madison Russo, Corps de Ballet

PBT School Faculty:

Eun Young Ahn
Marjorie Grundvig
Raymond Rodriguez
Christine Schwaner

DAILY SCHEDULE

*Example provided from 2025

9:15-10:45 a.m.
Technique Class

11 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Classical Repertoire

12:30-2 p.m.
Contemporary Repertoire

2-3 p.m.
Lunch

3-4:30 p.m.
New Choreography

4:30-6 p.m.
New Choreography

HOUSING

Housing during the summer is provided in partnership with Chatham University. Located only 3.5 miles away from the studio, dancers are shuttled to and from the studios for all of their classes. Our Residential Advisors are on site 24/7 with our dancers during the entirety of the program.

MEALS

For dormitory students, all meals are included in the cost of housing. Monday-Saturday, this includes breakfast in the dining hall, catered lunch at the PBT studios, followed by dinner at the dining hall. Sundays differ slightly, with brunch and dinner served in the dining hall.

*Please note students may sign up to participate in the lunch program upon registration. This includes dancers not residing at the dormitory. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Program Dates

Session 1 | June 8-18
Session 2 | July 13-24

Audition Information

Dancers are encouraged to attend an in-person audition during our 2026 National Audition Tour. Dancers unable to join us for an in-person class may send us their audition video. To view audition and video requirements, please visit our Auditions page.

Deadlines

Dancers accepted to the program will have three weeks from the date of their acceptance to register for the program. Specific deadline dates will be clearly indicated in the acceptance letter.

Tuition

$2,000

Housing

Provided in partnership with Chatham University. $2,200 per session.

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Eligibility: Merit-based scholarships will be awarded at the discretion of our auditioning faculty and will be communicated to students in their acceptance letters. There is no application process for merit-based scholarships–any auditioning student will be considered for merit-based scholarships.

Need-based financial aid is available via application for dancers whose household income is less than 300% of the federal poverty guidelines for their household size. Dancers who do not meet this requirement are not eligible for financial aid and will not be considered.

Process: Dancers interested in need-based financial aid should apply upon acceptance to the Company Experience program. A link to the application form will be included in all acceptance letters. This short form will require a few pieces of information about the dancer’s household, as well as the inclusion of verifying documentation, such as a W2 form or similar documentation.

Deadlines: Dancers applying for financial aid should register for the CE program by the deadline given in their acceptance letter. Applying for financial aid will come additionally, and no payments would be required until after notice of financial aid is received/accepted.

All financial aid applications will be reviewed collectively following the completion of the audition tour. Decisions regarding financial aid will be announced by March 10. Dancers will have a two-week window from the date of their financial aid notification to accept their award or withdraw from the program.

Dress Code

Option 1 Identifying Females

Attire Requirements: White leotard, black leotard, white wrap skirt, white practice tutu

Attire for classes and rehearsals: Any solid color leotard and pink or flesh colored tights for technique and pointe classes. Repertoire will include requirements of both pointe shoes and flat ballet shoes.

Option 2 Identifying Males

Attire Requirements: Form fitting white and black shirts, black tights, grey tights, black ballet shoes, white socks, white ballet shoes

Attire for classes and rehearsals: Any solid color tights and solid color T-shirt (no design or writing), white socks and white or black shoes. All tights must be full length.   

Please refer to the Company Experience Resource Site in your email for additional information.