Colburn School — Trudl Zipper Dance Institute (TZDI) - video audition for — Dance Academy

Recorded Video
Date: Aug. 11, 2026

Video Requirements:

In this section Toggle Dance Academy Auditions for the Dance Academy Summer Intensive 2026 and the 2026–27 Dance Academy Dance Academy Summer Intensive Dance Academy Faculty Coming Soon: A New Home for Dance Dance Dance Faculty Toggle Register with Colburn Dance Scholarships Student Resources and Policies Toggle Youth / Adult Programs Toggle Why Colburn? Auditions for the Dance Academy Summer Intensive 2026 and the 2026–27 Dance Academy The Colburn Dance Academy is a rigorous, audition-based pre-professional ballet training program that offers a focus on the Balanchine Style of ballet. Training is highly individualized and provides an education that aims to shape dancers as thinkers, artists, and performers with genuine and moving voices. Our faculty is comprised of the highest caliber teachers who hail from companies and experiences worldwide, including New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, L.A. Dance Project, Los Angeles Ballet, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Classes outside of daily ballet technique include pointe, variations, partnering, contemporary, modern, rotating specialty classes, artistic inquiry, and wellness seminars. Dancers have opportunities to learn and perform masterworks, participate in a student choreography workshop, and work with their fellow students from the Music Academy in a shared performance of live music and dance on stage together. Colburn’s beautiful campus lies in the cultural heart of downtown where students are just a walk from major theatres and museums that will enhance their artistic education through class cultural excursions. Students use their Dance Academy education to launch the next stage in their journey, joining world-class dance companies and esteemed college programs after Colburn. Our holistic artistic education and small class size allows for each dancer to develop in their own way, through mentorship and personalized guidance that nurtures their unique gifts and prepares them for their next step. Attending the Colburn Dance Academy requires a high level of commitment and passion. We suggest applicants to have studied ballet for a minimum of four years. We train students ages 14–17 in the summer and year-round program. The Dance Academy is for dancers who turn 14 before the start of the year-round program, while the summer intensive audition will accept eligible dancers aged 13. Dancers may audition at 12 for the summer intensive but their applications will require a letter of recommendation from a current faculty member and dancers must be prepared to take the full 90-minute audition class on pointe. Dancers who are recovering from injury and would like to audition, should reach out to [email protected] to discuss options. Colburn Dance Academy Summer Intensive 2026: June 16–June 28 Colburn Dance Academy Year-Round Program 26-27: August 2026–May 2027. Audition registration is through Danceapply.com from November 1, 2025. Register to audition In-person audition dates: San Diego Sunday, January 18, 2026 3–4:30 pm San Elijo Dance and Music Academy, San Marcos Registration begins at 2 pm. Dancers may begin warming up in the studio at 2:30 pm. Los Angeles Sunday, January 25, 2026 3–4:30 pm The Colburn School 200 S Grand Avenue Registration begins at 2 pm. Dancers may begin warming up in the studio at 2:30 pm. Pre-registration for both in-person auditions and video submissions are required along with a $25 registration fee. Audition Process ToggleIn-Person ToggleVideo Audition Video auditions will be accepted for the Colburn Dance Academy Summer Intensive through March 1. We recommend sending video auditions ahead of our first in person audition on January 18, if possible. Dance Academy Year-Round video applications will be accepted through August 11, but in person auditions are preferred Please note that students are encouraged to send in their videos as early as possible to be considered for the limited number of spots in the 2026–27 Colburn Dance Academy. Videos should be uploaded to a privacy-enabled video sharing service including YouTube, Vimeo, Dropbox or other similar platforms, and emailed to [email protected] with the password. Videos should include the following content with a preferred limit of 15 minutes in length. Video Audition Requirements All students must include the following: Barre – the following combinations to one side: Plié Tendu Rond de Jambe Adagio Grand Battement Center floor work- the following elements to one side: Adagio Priouettes both en dehors and en dedans Petit allegro Grand allegro (include tour en l’air if applicable) *Dancers who train en pointe should wear pointe shoes and include a diagonal turning combination

Women's Dress Code

Female identifying students: solid color leotard (optional skirt), pink or skin tone tights, pointe shoes

Men's Dress Code

Male identifying students: black or grey tights and white t-shirt

Audition Description

Dance Academy Year-Round video applications will be accepted through August 11, but in person auditions are preferred Please note that students are encouraged to send in their videos as early as possible to be considered for the limited number of spots in the 2026–27 Colburn Dance Academy.

Associated Programs

Dance Academy
Updated: Feb. 14, 2026
    logo

About

Resources

Follow Us

Sign up for BalletScout