Summer Intensive
Our summer intensive offers serious dance students extraordinary opportunities to train, rehearse, and perform alongside the professional dancers of Carolina Ballet.
RUTH S. SHUR SUMMER INTENSIVE
Registration is now open for dancers of all ages and experience levels.
Developing Excellence | June 22-July 25, 2026
Carolina Ballet commits to the well-being of our students personally, technically and artistically by offering classes taught by some of the most knowledgeable professional dancers and ballet masters in the country. The curriculum is based on the shared history of the teachers’ careers which span working with such companies as the NYC Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Béjart Ballet of the 20th Century and of course the 27 year history of Carolina Ballet.
Our Audition tour dates and links are now available below.
Schedule
Example of daily schedule, all subject to change.
January 3, 2026 Washington, DC 2:30-4:00 Ages: 12-22
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/washington-dc-1326-230/
January 4, 2026 Raleigh, NC 12:00-1:00 Ages 12-14
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/raleigh-nc-1426-1200/
January 4, 2026 Raleigh, NC 1:00-2:00 Ages 15-22
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/raleigh-nc-1426-100/
January 4, 2026 All Regions Virtual 2:00-3:00 All Ages
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/all-regions-virtual-1426-200-est/
January 11, 2026 New York, NY 2:00-5:00 Ages: 12-22
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/new-york-ny-11126-200/
January 17, 2026 Pittsburgh, PA 12:00-1:30 Ages: 12-22
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/pittsburgh-pa-11726-1200/
January 17, 2026 Seattle, WA 2:30-4:00 Ages: 12-22
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/seattle-wa-11726-230/
January 18, 2026 Chicago, IL 11:30-1:00 Ages: 12-22
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/chicago-il-11826-1130/
January 24, 2026 Charleston, SC 1:00-2:30 Ages: 12-22
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/charleston-sc-12426-1230/
January 25, 2026 Raleigh, NC 1:00-2:00 Prep 9-11 & Ages 12-14
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/raleigh-nc-12526-100/
PREP: https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/prep-raleigh-nc-12526-100/
January 25, 2026 Raleigh, NC 2:00-3:00 Ages 15-22
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/raleigh-nc-12526-200/
January 25, 2026 All Regions Virtual 3:00-4:00 All Ages
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/all-regions-virtual-12526-300-est/
January 31, 2026 Raleigh, NC 12:00-1:00 Prep 9-11 & Ages 12-14
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/raleigh-nc-13126-1200/
PREP: https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/prep-raleigh-nc-13126-1200/
January 31, 2026 Raleigh, NC 1:00-2:00 Ages 15-22
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/raleigh-nc-13126-100/
January 31, 2026 All Regions Virtual 2:00-3:00 All Ages
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/all-regions-virtual-13126-200-est/
February 7, 2026 Raleigh, NC 12:00-1:00 Prep 9-11 & Ages 12-14
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/raleigh-nc-2726-1200/
PREP: https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/prep-raleigh-nc-2726-1200/
February 7, 2026 Raleigh, NC 1:00-2:00 Ages 15-22
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/raleigh-nc-2726-100/
February 7, 2026 All Regions Virtual 2:00-3:00
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/all-regions-virtual-2726-200-est/
March 1, 2026 Video Audition Deadline All Ages
https://cbsi.wufoo.com/forms/video-audition-2026-all-regions/
Session A: June 22 – July 25 (5 weeks)
Session B1: June 22 – July 11 (3 weeks)
Session B2: July 6 – July 25 (3 weeks)
Session C1: June 22 – July 4 (2 weeks)
Session C2: July 13 – July 25 (2 weeks)
Session A: $3,600
Session B: $2,290
Session C: $1,940
Classes and rehearsals are held Monday through Saturday, offering up to six hours of intensive daily training. The curriculum centers on ballet technique and extends to pointe, variations, men’s class, modern, jazz, character, hip-hop, contemporary, Pilates, yoga, partnering, and body conditioning; each designed to strengthen and enhance a solid classical foundation.
Repertory rehearsals, guided by Carolina Ballet company ballet masters and choreographers, provide dancers with valuable opportunities to develop artistry, musicality, and performance presence. Students also participate in a lecture series exploring topics such as dance history, music appreciation, and dancer health and wellness.
Classes are held at the Carolina Ballet studios and NC State University.
TBA
Resident students stay on NC State’s campus in comfortable dorms, just steps from campus amenities and NCSU’s state-of-the-art studios. Classes and rehearsals take place at both NC State and Carolina Ballet studios, with transportation provided. Raleigh—known as a “city within a park”—offers museums, galleries, restaurants, and a wealth of cultural attractions within walking distance.
– Guest Artist: TBA
– Master classes taught by ZALMAN RAFFAEL, Artistic Director of Carolina Ballet/CEO
– Fourth of July celebration
– Final Performances at Fletcher Opera Theater
– Weekend activities and excursions
– Apprentice program
Past guest faculty has included:
– Ashley Bouder, Principal dancer, New York City Ballet
– Megan Fairchild, Principal dancer, New York City Ballet
– Olga Kostritzky, World renown ballet teacher/mistress
– Suki Schorer, former principal dancer, New York City Ballet & Brown Foundation Senior Faculty Chair, SAB
– Michael Vernon, Chair of the Department of Ballet, Indiana University
*Please note that highlights are dependent upon the student’s session, class placement, and boarding status.
Is there a scholarship or financial aid?
Yes. Scholarships are determined at the time of audition and are awarded by merit. There is not a separate application for scholarships.
How much pointe work is there?
Pointe is required and you will have pointe class six days a week.
Will there be a placement class when I arrive?
Yes, you will be re-evaluated week one and again week three.
Is living on campus at NCSU required?
No.
Levels
All levels have ballet, pointe, variations, modern/contemporary, jazz, Pilates, yoga, stretch, conditioning, and physical therapy injury prevention seminars.
Preparatory Division:
Ages 9-12
Non-pointe dancers with minimal ballet experience
Level 1:
Ages 10-12
Non-pointe dancers and/or dancers almost on pointe. Includes pre-pointe class.
Level 2:
Ages 12-15
Ballet dancers who have just started pointe work or with minimal years on pointe. Level 2 focuses on variations and pointe work in center.
Level 3:
Ages 12-16
Includes pas de deux class.
Level 4:
Ages 14-20
Includes pas de deux class and dance history class.
Summer Trainee:
Our highest level is selected through district evaluations at the discretion of the Director of SI with the CBSI Artistic Staff. In addition to specialized classes, Summer Trainees also have the opportunity to rehearse and perform with Carolina Ballet dancers during the final performance and work closely with Carolina Ballet’s Artistic Director/CEO Zalman Raffael. From this elite group, a small selection of dancers may be asked to return for the upcoming Carolina Ballet season as company apprentices.
Men:
Includes men’s class with a focus on men’s technique, weight conditioning, and pas de deux at least two times a week.
Carolina Ballet is a leading American arts organization, presenting both classic ballets and new works by contemporary choreographers. Since 2019, Artistic Director/CEO Zalman Raffael has guided the Company, which has staged over 100 world premieres and founded the School of Carolina Ballet in 2018. Since 1998, Carolina Ballet has grown from a $1.2 million budget with sixteen dancers in three programs to a $12 million budget with 48 dancers in eight programs, including the cherished holiday tradition, The Nutcracker.
This program is an exceptional opportunity for aspiring young dancers, ages 9-11, to enjoy a summer intensive training experience concurrent with Carolina Ballet’s pre-professional summer intensive. Focus on early training is considered essential to realize full potential as a dancer and to prepare a student for the strength necessary to dance en pointe.
Classes are intended to enhance technique, develop artistic qualities, and build on skills, with emphasis on correct alignment and posture. The program will include a fun and enriching exploration of the history of ballet, story ballets, famous dancers, and ballet terminology, along with the chance to meet Carolina Ballet dancers and find out how they fell in love with, and started their training in classical ballet.
CLASSES MONDAY THROUGH FRIDAY, FROM 9:00AM-3:00 PM. NO BOARDING IS PROVIDED FOR STUDENTS IN THIS PROGRAM.
An introduction to many of the aspects of the Carolina Ballet’s pre-professional summer intensive. In addition to level appropriate and attentive instruction in ballet technique, supplemental classes in jazz, modern, choreography, and variations are offered. Each week they will focus on a different story ballet within Carolina Ballet’s extensive repertory. Additional studies will include dancers health, injury prevention, and strength and flexibility classes.
Zalman Raffael – ARTISTIC DIRECTOR/CEO
Margaret Severin-Hansen – DIRECTOR OF SUMMER INTENSIVE
Michael Vernon – GUEST FACULTY
Olga Kostritzky – GUEST FACULTY ARTIST IN RESIDENCE/ GUEST BALLET MASTER
Jan Burkhard – CHAIRMAN OF FACULTY AND BALLET MASTER
Pablo Javier Perez – ARTISTIC ADVISOR AND BALLET MASTER
Debra Austin – BALLET MASTER
Marin Boieru – BALLET MASTER
Richard Krusch – BALLET MASTER
Alyssa Pilger – FACULTY
Amanda Gerhardt – FACULTY
Ayla O’Day – FACULTY
Courtney Schenberger – FACULTY
Ivan Avila – FACULTY (HIP-HOP)
Kiefer Curtis – FACULTY
Lindsay Purrington – FACULTY
Rachel Robinson – FACULTY
Sydney Chopp – FACULTY (CONTEMPORARY AND YOGA)
Taylor Ayotte – FACULTY
AUDITION AND APPLICATION
Audition Video/DVD
If you cannot attend a scheduled audition, you may email a YouTube video link with the application form to cbsi@carolinaballet.com
Headshot Examples:
First Arabesque Examples:
DEADLINE: Audition videos must be emailed no later than March 1st, 2026.
In the Center
- Adagio
- Pirouette either from 5th or 4th
- Petite allegro
Barre
- Pliés
- Tendu
- Développé
All students ages 12 and up are required to show pointework at their current level in the audition video. All students ages 15 and up are required to show pointework for BOTH barre and center in the audition video.
