top of page

PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM +
LOUISVILLE BALLET YOUTH ENSEMBLE

AGES 12-18, by placement

Levels

A program for students with a serious interest, 
and a commitment to, a career in classical ballet

Students invited into the Pre-Professional Program at The Louisville Ballet School aspire to a high standard of excellence and professionalism. The goal is to inspire a passion for dance and encourage students to realize their individual potential through the attention offered by world class faculty. Students’ dance education in this program includes men’s and women’s technique class, pointe work, variations, pas de deux and repertoire, as well as the opportunity to train and perform in complementary dance disciplines. All Pre-Professional students are members of the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble, the performing division of the Pre-Professional Program. Expectations in technique and artistry are clearly communicated to students and regular assessments guide each student’s progress through the ten-year program. The Pre-Professional Program is for students who exhibit the technical, emotional and mental readiness along with a serious interest in, and a commitment to, a career in classical ballet and is by invitation only. Classes are held at the Downtown Studios and **St. Matthews Studios.  

Please note: participation in Spring Dance Festival and Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble is required by all Pre-Professional students. Click here for a summary of yearly expenses to be expected within The Louisville Ballet School’s Pre-Professional Program.

Questions? Email the Pre-Professional Program Manager, Nicholas Bentz, at nbentz@louisvilleballet.org
New students wishing to register for the 2024-2025 are asked to attend a placement class for level placement.

Level One + Junior LBYE

$1065 per semester ($266.25 per month with 4 Monthly Payments)

Additional Fees include:
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Annual Membership Dues: $300 (Fall only)
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Performance Fee: $175 (Fall only)
Regional Dance America Southeast Festival Fall & Spring Deposits:
Estimated at $325 for Fall and $150 for Spring (Optional)

 

Level One students are expected to attend ballet class a total of three times a week and the ladies will participate in a separate pointe class. Level One students will also learn and perform classical ballet repertoire as members of the Junior Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble. Level One students will attend Modern and Conditioning to fulfill their elective requirements. These electives are included in

Pre-Professional tuition fees. Students wishing to enroll in any additional electives will receive a 25% discount.

Day
Time
Class
Instructor
Location

Monday

6:30 - 8 pm

Technique

Tawnee Thompson

St. Matthews

Monday

8 - 8:30 pm

Pointe

Tawnee Thompson

St. Matthews

Tuesday

4:30 - 6 pm

Technique 

Tawnee Thompson

St. Matthews

Wednesday

4:30 - 5:30 pm

Modern D

Lauren Frederick

St. Matthews

Thursday

4:45 - 6:15 pm

Technique

Tawnee Thompson

St. Matthews

Thursday

6:15 - 6:45 pm

Pointe

Tawnee Thompson

St. Matthews

Thursday

7 - 8:30 pm

Junior LBYE Rehearsal

Tawnee Thompson

St. Matthews

Saturday

9 - 9:55 am

Conditioning

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Saturday

10:30 am - 12 pm

Junior/Apprentice LBYE Warm-Up Class

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Saturday

12 - 4:30 pm

LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Level Two + Apprentice LBYE

$1065 per semester ($266.25 per month with 4 Monthly Payments)

Additional Fees include:
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Annual Membership Dues: $300 (Fall only)
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Performance Fee: $175 (Fall only)
Regional Dance America Southeast Festival Fall & Spring Deposits:
Estimated at $325 for Fall and $150 for Spring (Optional)

 

Level Two students continue to build on the technique developed in Level One and the ladies will continue their pointe work. Level Two students will also learn and perform classical ballet variations and repertoire as members of the Apprentice Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble. Level Two students will attend Modern 4 and Conditioning to fulfill their elective requirements. These electives are included in Pre-Professional tuition fees. Students wishing to enroll in any additional electives will receive a 25% discount.

Day
Time
Class
Instructor
Location

Monday

6:15 - 7:45 pm

Technique

Lexa Daniels

Downtown Studios

Monday

7:45 - 8:30 pm

Pointe

Lexa Daniels

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

5:30 - 6:30 pm

Modern E

Lauren Frederick

St. Matthews

Thursday

6:30 - 8 pm

Technique

Amber Wickey

St. Matthews

Thursday

8 - 8:30 pm

Pointe

Amber Wickey

St. Matthews

Friday

6 - 7:30 pm

Technique

Lexa Daniels

Downtown Studios

Friday

7:30 - 8:45 pm

Apprentice LBYE Rehearsal

Lexa Daniels

Downtown Studios

Saturday

9 - 9:55 am

Conditioning

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Saturday

10:30 am - 12 pm

Junior/Apprentice LBYE Warm-Up Class

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Saturday

12 - 4:30 pm

LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Level Three + LBYE

$1110 per semester ($277.50 per month with 4 Monthly Payments)

Additional Fees include:
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Annual Membership Dues: $300 (Fall only)
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Performance Fee: $175 (Fall only)
Regional Dance America Southeast Festival Fall & Spring Deposits:
Estimated at $325 for Fall and $150 for Spring (Optional)

 

Level Three students continue to build on the technique developed in Level Two and will also learn and perform classical ballet variations, repertoire, and pas de deux as Ensemble members of the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble. Level Three students will attend Modern and Conditioning to fulfill their elective requirements. These electives are included in Pre-Professional Level tuition fees. Students wishing to enroll in any additional electives will receive a 25% discount.

Day
Time
Class
Instructor
Location

Monday

6 - 7:30 pm

Technique

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Monday

7:30 - 8:30 pm

Pointe

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Tuesday

6 - 7:30 pm

Technique

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Tuesday

7:30 - 9 pm

LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

4:30 - 6 pm

Modern F

Theresa Bautista

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

6 - 7:30 pm

Technique

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

7:30 - 8:30 pm

Pointe

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

7:30 - 8:30 pm

Men's Class

Nicholas Bentz

Downtown Studios

Thursday

6 - 7:30 pm

Technique

Daniel Scofield

Downtown Studios

Thursday

7:30 - 9 pm

LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Friday

6:30 - 9 pm

Overflow LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Saturday

9 - 9:55 am

Conditioning

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Saturday

10 - 11:30 am

Ensemble Warm-Up Class

Rotating Instructor

Downtown Studios

Saturday

12:00 - 4:30 pm

LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Level Four + LBYE

$1132.50 per semester ($283.13 per month with 4 Monthly Payments)

Additional Fees include:
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Annual Membership Dues: $300 (Fall only)
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Performance Fee: $175 (Fall only)
Regional Dance America Southeast Festival Fall & Spring Deposits:
Estimated at $325 for Fall and $150 for Spring (Optional)

 

Level Four is the consolidating year of training before students move to a more rigorous training program and schedule. Level Four students will continue variations, repertoire, and pas de deux as members of the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble. Level Four students will attend Modern. Musical Theater Jazz, Contemporary, and Conditioning to fulfill their elective requirements. These electives are included in Pre-Professional Level tuition fees.

Day
Time
Class
Instructor
Location

Monday

6 - 7:30 pm

Technique

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Monday

7:30 - 8:30 pm

Pointe

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Tuesday

6 - 7:30 pm

Technique

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Tuesday

7:30 - 9 pm

LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

4:30 - 6 pm

Modern F

Theresa Bautista

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

6 - 7:30 pm

Technique

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

7:30 - 8:30 pm

Pointe

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

7:30 - 8:30 pm

Men's Class

Nicholas Bentz

Downtown Studios

Thursday

6 - 7:30 pm

Technique

Daniel Scofield

Downtown Studios

Thursday

7:30 - 9 pm

LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Friday

4:30 - 6 pm

Musical Theater Jazz C/
Contemporary

Daniel Scofield +

Pete Lay /
Nicole Caruana

Downtown Studios

Friday

6:30 - 9 pm

Overflow LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Saturday

9 - 9:55 am

Conditioning

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Saturday

10 - 11:30 am

Ensemble Warm-Up Class

Rotating Instructor

Downtown Studios

Saturday

12 - 4:30 pm

LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Level Five + LBYE

$1132.50 per semester ($283.13 per month with 4 Monthly Payments)

Additional Fees include:
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Annual Membership Dues: $300 (Fall only)
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Performance Fee: $175 (Fall only)
Regional Dance America Southeast Festival Fall & Spring Deposits:
Estimated at $325 for Fall and $150 for Spring (Optional)

 

Level Five students move into a more rigorous and demanding training program and schedule, as indicated by the six classical ballet classes per week. Level Five students will also continue variations, repertoire, and pas de deux as Senior members of the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble. Level Five students will attend Modern, Musical Theater Jazz, Contemporary and Conditioning to fulfill their elective requirements. These electives are included in Pre-Professional Level tuition fees.

Level Six + LBYE

$1132.50 per semester ($283.13 per month with 4 Monthly Payments)

Additional Fees include:
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Annual Membership Dues: $300 (Fall only)
Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble Performance Fee: $175 (Fall only)
Regional Dance America Southeast Festival Fall & Spring Deposits:
Estimated at $325 for Fall and $150 for Spring (Optional)

 

Level Six students continue to consolidate their training in preparation for moving into the Louisville Ballet Trainee experience that is comprised of Levels 7 & 8. Level Six students will also continue variations, repertoire, and pas de deux as Senior members of the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble. Level Six students will attend Modern, Musical Theater Jazz, Contemporary, and Conditioning to fulfill their elective requirements. These electives are included in Pre-Professional Level tuition fees.

Day
Time
Class
Instructor
Location

Monday

4 - 6:15 pm

Technique

Christy Corbitt Krieger

Downtown Studios

Tuesday

4:30 - 6 pm

Technique

Natalia Ashikhmina

Downtown Studios

Tuesday

7:30 - 9 pm

LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

4:30 - 6 pm

Modern F

Theresa Bautista

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

6 - 7:30 pm

Technique

Nicholas Bentz

Downtown Studios

Wednesday

7:30 - 8:30 pm

Men's Class

Nicholas Bentz

Downtown Studios

Thursday

5:30 - 7:30 pm

Technique

Christy Corbitt Krieger

Downtown Studios

Thursday

7:30 - 9 pm

LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Friday

4:30 - 6 pm

Musical Theater Jazz C/
Contemporary

Daniel Scofield +

Pete Lay /
Nicole Caruana

Downtown Studios

Friday

6:30 - 9 pm

Overflow LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Saturday

9 - 9:55 am

Conditioning

Brienne Wiltsie

Downtown Studios

Saturday

10 - 11:30 am

Ensemble Warm-Up Class

Rotating Instructor

Downtown Studios

Saturday

12 - 4:30 pm

LBYE Rehearsal

Downtown Studios

Join us on mobile!

Download the “The Louisville Ballet” app to easily stay updated on the go.

QR Code

​© The Louisville Ballet School 2025/26

Follow us

Google Play Badge
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
bottom of page