Pittsburgh Ballet Theater is seeking scholarship students: Is your child interested?

Would your young child love to study dance with the expert teachers at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater (PBT)? If your family would qualify for PBT’s need-based scholarship program, consider registering your child to audition for the Community Youth Scholarship Program on May 1 at 5:30 p.m. at the company’s studio at 2900 Liberty Avenue in the Strip District.

Kids between ages 5 and 9 can audition to receive a scholarship to dance with the PBT School for the 2024 – 2025 school year. No prior dance experience is required. (Click here for details on the scholarship program, including financial eligibility information.)

At the Placement Day audition, children will take a dance class for evaluation. At the same time, parents and caregivers will attend a presentation to learn about ballet, PBT and the scholarship program.

Kids can wear fitted athletic clothing (like a leotard and tights) or opaque leggings and a t-shirt. Socks or ballet shoes are recommended (kids cannot wear outside shoes or dance in bare feet). And hair should be pulled up and secured away from the face.

Established in 2013, the Community Youth Scholarship program is designed to expose children to dance at an early age through need-based scholarships for kids with talent and drive. The scholarships focus on students from ages 5 through 9, because this is a pivotal stage to begin ballet training. PBT has awarded 86 scholarships since kicking off the program, with each scholarship covering year-round tuition, including summer training, as well as clothing, pointe shoes and any other costs incurred at PBT School.

After this year’s May 1 audition, kids will be chosen for the program and classes will begin this summer. Students can take summer dance camp during the week of June 17 or the week of August 12. This summer camp and the first year of PBT training will take place at PBT’s satellite location at Hope Academy for the Arts at East Liberty Presbyterian Church.

After the first year, students will be evaluated for continued training at PBT studios in the Strip District.