Academy
Academy 6
Academy Level 6 gives young dancers the opportunity to develop in a nurturing atmosphere that will groom them to become professional dancers.
More Information
Academy Level VI dancers are select individuals who are at a crucial point in their development. This progressive level of training allows a young female or male artist the opportunity to mature before entering the demanding work of a professional company. The dancers for the Academy Level VI will be chosen from the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, Summer Advanced and Professional Programs, and interested international candidates.
Academy Level VI dancers will be involved in daily semi-private classes taught by the artistic staff, principal faculty members, and guest master teachers. They will have up to 30 hours of instruction during the week, Monday to Saturday. These classes are designed to enhance their level of technique and artistry. The classes will include a daily technique class, pointe, men’s, variations, pas de deux, modern, jazz, contemporary, and repertoire. The dancers will follow the Company’s daily schedule from 9:30-6:10 with a common lunch break. This will allow for rehearsal with the Company from 3:10–6:10 pm, as needed, along with learning a separate repertory. This schedule is designed to allow the dancers to work with the professional Company and also have outside means of employment.
There will be several opportunities to perform with the Atlanta Ballet Company in many of their larger productions. Academy Level VI dancers will be a large part of our educational commitment to the community with involvement in outreach initiatives. These young adults are on the verge of becoming professional dancers and this is their first step to realizing Atlanta Ballet’s mission and place in the community.
All enrolled students are required to participate in the Spring Concert. Rehearsals begin in January 2027.
*Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education does not accept transfer credits/hours.
Enrollment Information
Academy Level 6 is the Academy’s highest level of professional training, designed for exceptional dancers preparing to transition into professional careers. Admission is highly selective and intended for students at a pivotal stage in their artistic and technical development. Dancers are selected from Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education, the Summer Advanced and Professional Programs, and qualified local, national, and international applicants.
Students train in an intensive, noncompetitive, nurturing environment that promotes technical excellence, artistic maturity, and professional readiness. Following a schedule that mirrors the professional company, Academy Level 6 dancers receive instruction from Monday through Saturday.
Training includes daily classical ballet technique, pointe, men's class, variations, pas de deux, character, modern, and repertory, led by Atlanta Ballet's artistic staff, Academy faculty, and distinguished guest master teachers. Students also follow the Company's daily schedule, allowing opportunities to rehearse with Atlanta Ballet from 3:10–6:10 p.m., as needed, while continuing to study Academy repertory. This structure provides an authentic professional training experience while offering flexibility for academic studies and outside employment.
Academy Level 6 dancers may perform alongside Atlanta Ballet in major productions throughout the season and play an important role in the organization's educational and community engagement initiatives. Students perform in Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker, in Atlanta Ballet 2’s family ballets Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella, Snow White, and The Swan Princess, and in larger classical productions such as Coppélia, Don Quixote, Giselle, and La Sylphide. These experiences cultivate not only performance excellence but also a deeper understanding of the responsibilities and impact of a professional artist.
Academy 6 dancers are also provided with assistance in placement within Atlanta Ballet 2, and other national and international companies, and college admissions.
Michael C. Carlos Dance Centre
Kelly Tonina Cooper, Centre Administrative Director
404.873.5811 x1225
Registration Fee
Early (Current CDE families that register by May 3): $35
Regular (All families, May 4 - Aug 9): $50
Late (All families, Aug 10 onward): $75
Annual Tuition
$6,805 (Includes performance fees.)
Payment Options
1 Installment: $6,503.50 (5% tuition discount applied; valid thru May 3)
2 Installments: $3,402.50 per installment (1st due at registration, 2nd due by January 1st; available thru Aug. 31)
10 Installments: $680.50 per installment (1st and last installments due at registration)
Dress Code
Uniform leotards are exclusively available at the Atlanta Ballet Boutique, along with shoes, tights, and other dance supplies. Questions? Contact the boutique.
Credit Requirements
29.75 hours per semester
Optional: add 1.75 hours