Conservatory

Pre-Professional Program

CityDance Conservatory trains young dancers ages 7–19 for professional careers. We offer world-class instruction in ballet, contemporary, and commercial dance forms from renowned faculty across our locations in North Bethesda at the Music Center at Strathmore, in Rockville, and the soon-to-open Falls Church studio. Our students train across these levels:

• Young Training Program (Ages 7–10)
• Pre-Conservatory (Ages 10–12)
• Pre-Professional Conservatory (Ages 13+)

Conservatory students have won YAGP Hope and Grand Prix awards at New York City Finals and have received scholarships to prestigious summer programs including Nederlands Dans Theater, Batsheva, and The Royal Ballet. Alumni have studied at Juilliard, the School of American Ballet, the John Cranko School, and the Royal Ballet School and are now performing with companies such as Wayne McGregor, the Royal Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre, among others.

Pre-Professional Program Description:
CityDance Conservatory’s Pre-Professional Program offers intensive training for dancers aged 13-19, preparing them for college dance programs, apprenticeships, and professional careers. Admission is by audition, either via an in-class evaluation or group audition.
Upon acceptance into the program, students are placed in either the Classical Track or Contemporary Track. The majority of their weekly technique classes will focus on their chosen track, while also including training in other genres. Students train intensively with 8+ technique classes per week across four to six days per week. Their schedules are designed to challenge them in their technical training while expanding their artistic abilities through rehearsal and performance.

Classical Track – offered at our North Bethesda/Rockville and Falls Church Locations

• Vaganova-based ballet and pointe classes
• Individual variations coaching
• Classical ensemble rehearsals
• Pas de Deux
• Boys’/Men’s classes
• Character, conditioning, contemporary and jazz

Contemporary Track – offered at our North Bethesda/Rockville Locations

• Modern and contemporary technique classes
• Jazz, tap, and hip-hop training
• Vaganova-based ballet classes
• Individual solo coaching
• Original and re-staged contemporary ensemble rehearsals
• Improvisation, choreography/composition, partnering workshops

Performance Opportunities:
Conservatory training includes year-round performance opportunities, including our own presentations as well as through partnerships across our region and nationally. Classical Track students perform variations and ensemble works, re-staged by our faculty, as well as original contemporary works. Contemporary Track students perform works from professional dance companies, set on them by current company artists, and new commissions by guest artists and our Choreographer-in-Residence, Robert J. Priore. All students also have opportunities to choreograph and present their own work under faculty mentorship in an annual Student Choreography Concert.
Students can expect 2–6 hours of rehearsal per week, and additional individual coaching throughout the week for their solos and classical variations, ensuring they are fully prepared for all performance opportunities.

2024–2025 Performances include:

• National Dance Day (Kennedy Center)
• Conservatory Winter Concert (Strathmore)
• Nutcracker (Strathmore)
• Haydn’s Creation in partnership with Choral Arts (Kennedy Center)
• Student Choreography Concerts (Strathmore)
• Conservatory Annual Concert (Harman Hall)
• Dancing in Pixels (Virtual Reality Dance Films)
• Summer Intensive Showcases (Strathmore)

Competitions:
Conservatory students may be invited to participate in select competitions as an extension of their training across solos, variations, and ensemble works at prestigious events such as Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and New York City Dance Alliance (NYCDA). Participation is by invitation and is at the discretion of the artistic team.
While competitions offer valuable performance experiences, they are considered an additional component, not a replacement, for core program elements.

Guest Artists and Master Classes:
Weekly Master Classes: All pre-professional students attend a Saturday Master Class featuring a roster of world-class artists from our region and beyond.
Guest Artists in Residence: Throughout the year, guest artists and faculty are in residence to teach, coach, and set works on the students.

Student Support Services:
CityDance provides tailored college and career support for rising and graduating seniors. Services include:

• Application Assistance: Help with college applications, summer intensives, apprenticeships, and professional opportunities.
• Senior Solo Coaching: 10 hours of solo creation or classical variation re-staging with filming and coaching.
• Résumé & Photo Support: Professional photoshoots and résumé creation for auditions.
• Internships: Seniors are offered internships in marketing, concert management and production, administration, and costuming to gain real-world professional experience, as well as high school credits.

Summer Intensives:
CityDance Conservatory Summer Intensives (ages 9–19) offer rigorous training in ballet, contemporary, modern, and jazz under world-class faculty and guest artists across June, July, and August. Learn more about summer here.

Conservatory Studies Program (Ages 9–18)
Conservatory Studies is a year-round program designed for students aged 9–18 seeking rigorous training without the full-time commitment of the Conservatory track. Students in this track take three to seven classes per week and only perform in the spring concert. Studies classes are offered at our North Bethesda/Rockville and Falls Church locations.