Dance School

See and learn with ballet’s best

Scholarships generously provided by Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi and Mary & Richard Puckett

The USA IBC Dance School, to be held in conjunction with the 12th USA International Ballet Competition, June 10-24, 2023, provides the opportunity to both study with leading teachers and watch top dancers from around the globe perform.

The two-week session is geared toward intermediate to pre-professional ballet students ages 12-20 who have had a minimum of four consecutive years of ballet training, including 6 to 12 months of pointe for girls. Students receive elite training and have the opportunity to perform at the end of a challenging and fun-filled intensive.

Audition classes with scholarship opportunities scheduled for February 25th!

. Click here to learn more!

Course Offerings and Curriculum

Ballet, Contemporary, Pointe, Variations, Pas De Deux, Repertoire, Jazz, Lectures, Master Classes

Important Dates & Sample Schedule

  • March 31: Deadline to Apply
  • April 7: Second Round of Applicants Notified 
  • April 14: Deposit and Application Part 2 Due
  • May 5: Transportation Form Due
  • May 12: Final Payment Due 
  • June 9: Arrival at Dance School
  • June 24: Departure from Dance School 

SAMPLE WEEKDAY

SAMPLE WEEKDAY:

Breakfast

7:30-8:45

Ballet Technique

9:00-10:30

Pointe/Variations

10:45-11:45

Lunch

12:00-1:00

Contemporary/Jazz/Modern

1:00-2:30

Partnering/Choreography

2:30-4:30

Break and Dinner

4:30-6:00

Shuttles to Evening Performance

6:00-7:00

Evening Competition Performance

7:30

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES

WEEKEND ACTIVITIES:

Master classes

Lectures

Ice cream social

Vendor Fair

Optional Church Service

Competition Performances

Awards Gala Ceremony

Application

Applications are closed 

Age requirement includes students ages 12 to 20 years old as of June 10, 2023.

A minimum of 4 years of ballet required (a minimum of 6 months to 1 year of pointe for girls).

Photos:

(Size: JPG no larger than 64MB per photo)

  • Headshot
  • 1st Arabesque (away from barre)
  • Tendu à la seconde

Fee:

  • $75 (non-refundable)

    Video Audition:

     

    Tuition

    On-Campus Tuition – $2,500

    • Classes with renowned faculty and accompanists
    • Housing in Belhaven University Residence Halls
    • 3 meals a day
    • Tickets to USA IBC evening performances
    • Transportation to and from the airport, evening performances, and activities
    • Vendor Fair
    • Meet the competitors

    Off-Campus Tuition – $1,500

    (for students who live within a 60-mile radius of Jackson, MS)

    • Classes with renowned faculty and accompanists
    • 1 meal a day (lunch)
    • Tickets to USA IBC evening performances
    • Transportation to and from evening performances and activities
    • Vendor Fair
    • Meet the competitors

    Six tuition scholarships, generously provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, will be made available to residents of Mississippi. Click here for more details.

    Information and FAQs

    Questions may be addressed to Madalyn Burke, USA IBC Dance School Administrator

    ids@usaibc.com

    Dance Facilities

    All dance school classes will be held in Belhaven University’s state-of-the-art Bitsy Irby Visual Arts and Dance Center.

    Housing

    All On-Campus students will stay on Belhaven University’s campus. Students will stay in double occupancy rooms in Lakeview Hall.  Male access cards will not permit them on female halls and vice versa for all female students.

    Counselors will stay in the Residence Halls with students. 

    Campus Security and Student Policies

    Belhaven University Security Department provides a safe and secure campus 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

    Belhaven University Policies must be honored by all USA IBC Dance School Participants at all times.

    Dining Information and Medical Clinic

    Students will enjoy three meals a day served at Belhaven University’s Bailey Dining Commons in the McCravey-Triplett Student Center. Students will have a buffet-style experience and are allowed to try multiple meal options. Off-campus participants will receive lunch only.

    A medical clinic is available to all dance school participants on a daily basis and is staffed with physicians, licensed nurses, and physical therapists.

     Applications and Payment Timeline

    • March 2, 2023: Applicants notified of selections (who submitted by February 16, 2023)

    • March 31, 2023: Application Part 1 extended deadline. $75 application fee (non-refundable) and video audition due

    • April 7, 2023: Applicants notified of selections (who submitted by March 31, 2023)

    • April 14, 2023: Application part 2 due and $500 deposit (or full payment) 
    • May 12, 2023: Full tuition payment due ($1500 off-campus and $2500 on-campus)

    Accepted applicants may pay in installments, as listed above,
    or make full payment with Part II of their application.

    No refunds of tuition payments will be issued

      Audition and Scholarships

    An audition will be held on February 25, 2023, at the Mississippi Arts Center. To participate in the audition, dancers are required to complete Part I of the dance school online application. Participation in the audition will take the place of submitting an online audition video. Applicants who have already submitted their video are encouraged to attend for scholarship opportunities. Six tuition scholarships, generously provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Mississippi, will be made available.  Click here for details on the audition. 

    Other forms of scholarships will be given at the discretion of the USA IBC Dance School Director.

     Dress Code, Packing List, and Rules

    DRESS CODE

    Classroom Dress

    LADIES

    • Black leotards-one piece, modestly cut
    • Pink tights-to be worn under the leotard
    • Pink ballet slippers and black or tan character shoes (character shoes are optional)
    • Chiffon dance skirt (permissible only in some classes) and a character skirt (optional)
    • Two pairs of pointe shoes are suggested
    • Black footless tights or tightly fitted black capri-length jazz pants (to wear over leotard in modern & jazz)
    • Jazz shoes (no sneakers)
    • Hair neatly pulled up in a bun

    GENTLEMEN

    • White short-sleeved t-shirt and/or leotard
    • Black tights
    • White socks
    • Black or white ballet shoes
    • Jazz shoes (no sneakers)

    Theater Dress

    Theater attire should be dressy and modest. This includes slacks, dresses, skirts, nice shirts and blouses.

    Campus Dress

    Clothing worn around campus is casual but modest.  A cover-up should always be worn over dance clothing when not in a studio.

    Click for Packing List and Rules

    Roommate Requests

    Students will have the opportunity to request a roommate during Part 2 of their application. Roommate requests will be honored if requested mutually by two accepted students who are less than two years apart in age.

    Travel Details

    Students are required to arrive on the Belhaven University campus between 8 AM and 4 PM on Friday, June 9, 2023 for move-in and student orientation in the evening.

    At the end of the USA IBC Dance School, students must depart from campus prior to 12 PM on Saturday, June 24, 2023.

    Transportation from the Jackson-Evers International Airport to Belhaven University’s campus is available for each student arriving on Friday, June 9, 2023 and from Belhaven University’s campus to the airport for students departing the morning of Saturday, June 24, 2023. Students arriving late or departing early are responsible for their own transportation.

    Detailed information will be available in the coming months.

    Class Placement

    Students will be pre-placed in levels based on their video audition. All faculty level placement decisions are FINAL.

    Counselors

    Counselors are responsible for the personal and practical needs of students during the 2023 USA IBC Dance School. They ensure students are comfortable on campus, facilitate weekend and evening activities, assist in transportation to and from performances and off campus activities, provide moral support and enforce rules for the duration of the school. The role of Dance School Counselor is suited to an energetic, positive individual with strong communication skills. For a full description of counselor responsibilities see below.

    Each counselor applicant must agree to a background check. Dance and Resident Life experience is preferred. All applicants must be at least 21 years of age by June 10, 2023. Counselors live on campus with students in the Residence Halls. They receive three meals per day and may take dance school classes (as the schedule allows) in addition to attending evening performances.

    Join our mailing list for USA IBC updates, make a donation, or contact us.

    I am looking for..