RWBS - Professional Division

What are they looking for at the audition?
A lot of factors go into selecting students such as talent, musicality, flexibility and artistry of movement. Students must, in the opinion of the teaching staff, possess the talent, aptitude and commitment necessary to pursue a professional dance career.

What is a Workshop?
Our Workshops gives students the chance to see what a class is like at the RWB School while complementing their training. Students are not assessed during Workshops, so the atmosphere is relaxed and fun. It also enables teaching staff to interact with the students and give them some feedback about their work.

Parents and teachers are welcome to observe Master Classes.

The RWB School tries to allow dancers to be as relaxed as possible in order to do their best.

Most students will experience some nervousness during an audition, and the presence of a parent can sometimes add to that. It’s also easier for students to focus if there are no parents or other observers in the room.

When will we be notified of the results of the audition?
Students who are accepted for Summer Session will receive a letter in the mail within one or two days of their audition. We try to send out the rest of the results as soon as possible after the auditions, but bear in mind, the tour is going to 11 cities in October and 6 in January, so processing may take some time. In most cases, allow approximately two to three weeks after the audition.

Why doesn’t the artistic staff give assessments after the audition?
Although we know it’s always nice to have some feedback, we see anywhere from 500-800 students during the audition tour, and it is virtually impossible to give an assessment on each student. Artistic staff who watch the auditions simply indicate whether the student is accepted or not.

Why aren’t the results given the day of the audition, in person?
Students may be anxious the day of the audition, particularly if they are younger. The RWB School prefers to send our results by mail, so that parents can receive the news first and discuss it with their child at a time of their own choosing. Results are addressed to the parents unless the student is 18 or over.

Why do students have to come to Summer Session first?
Although the one-hour audition is a good start, it is difficult for artistic staff to make a complete assessment during this short time. For this reason, accepted students come to Summer Session, essentially a four-week audition wherein artistic staff can work with the students on a daily basis and get to know their work habits and personality better. This helps the artistic staff better determine whether the students have the talent and physique necessary to be successful.

It also allows the student time to assess whether the RWB School is a good fit for them. They will be able to meet the rest of the staff and have the experience of taking class with us on a regular basis. In the event that they are accepted, students are able to make an informed decision about attending the full-time program.

How many students are accepted?
We do not have a quota to fill, so numbers vary from year to year (depending on how many students audition, etc.). We accept roughly 100 new students to Summer Session, out of the 500-800 we see on tour.

How many students are in the full-time Professional Division program?
Typically, there are between 95-115 students in the Fall/Winter program. About 60 of those are returning students; the rest are new students accepted from Summer Session.

Are any scholarships available for the summer?
Every year, Investor’s Group awards one $2,000 scholarship to a student in each province and territory. (**available to Canadian students only) This is a partial scholarship and does not completely cover the summer fees. Recipients are chosen by the RWB School artistic staff and no application is necessary.

Students who are of Polish ancestry are eligible for the Nijinski Scholarship. This scholarship was established in 1984 by Casimir Carter, a founding member and first secretary of the Winnipeg Ballet Club and dancer with the RWB Company from 1939-43 and 1946-49. This is a partial scholarship and does not completely cover the summer fees. Recipients are chosen by the RWB School artistic staff and preference is given to Manitoba students. Applications are available at the audition or from the RWB School Office.

All students can apply for financial aid. They will receive an application with their summer package. Financial aid is allocated based on talent and need.

What is the cost of summer school?
Tuition fees vary depending on age and are available by calling the RWB School Office. The cost of residence is the same for all students, regardless of age, and covers room, board and three meals a day. Recreational activities (optional) organized by residence are extra and range from a few dollars to about $30, depending on the activity.

If my child is accepted and doesn't end up coming for the summer, does this affect his/her possible reacceptance the following year?
No. However, if students were accepted last year it does not automatically mean they will be accepted the following year. The window of opportunity tends to get smaller as students get older, simply because their bodies can change a lot over a year or two, sometimes dramatically. Also, as students get older it can be harder for them to fit into our program (see answer to question below).

Do you accept older kids (ages 15, 16+)? If so, how many?
There are always more students in the younger age groups, as more kids in this age group tend to audition. We do accept students in the older age category, but it can prove very challenging for them to fit into our program. If they are 16, for example, they may be placed in a level with students who have already been in our program for four or five years already; new students who are older often have a lot of "catching up" to do.

Photo: Bruce Monk