Prospective Students
AUDITION FOR THE HARVARD BALLET COMPANY
Stay tuned for the Fall 2010 introductory meetings and audition!
ABOUT US
Harvard Ballet Company is a student-run organization at Harvard College performing both classical and contemporary ballet.
With room for all skill levels, Harvard Ballet Company provides students an opportunity to perform works of world famous choreographers, choreograph on Company members, and explore the administrative side of a ballet company. The Company also provides its members with a fellowship of students who share a common interest in the arts. If you love dance, Harvard Ballet Company is the right place for you.
The Company holds an open audition at the beginning of the school year. Dancers of all disciplines and skill levels are encouraged to attend.
Harvard Ballet Company holds a weekly ballet class on Friday taught by our resident teacher, Tai Jimenez, former principal dancer of the Boston Ballet and former member of Dance Theater of Harlem.
Harvard Ballet Company performs twice a year at the best dance venues on campus. Our repertory is mixed and includes classical and contemporary ballet, modern dance, contemporary dance, and jazz. Please visit the "Performances" page to see some of the professional quality productions that Harvard Ballet Company has recently showcased.
As Harvard Ballet Company is a student-run organization, members can run for a position on the Board of Directors each year. A new Board is nominated each December. Joining the Board of Directors gives members an opportunity to explore arts administration on a smaller scale exposing them to new aspects of the ballet and develop skills for a career after graduation.
Please see our Q&A page to find answers to commonly asked questions. We encourage you to utilize this website to learn more about the Company's history and its future. If you still have any questions about Harvard Ballet Company, feel free to contact us via e-mail at harvardballetcompany@gmail.com.
If you are visiting Harvard and would like to arrange to meet with a Company member or take class with the Company, please e-mail us at harvardballetcompany@gmail.com and we would be happy to make accommodations for you.
Prospective Students Q&A
Q: Is there an audition?
A: Yes. But it's nothing to stress out about! HBC is a very friendly community, and we welcome people with a range of technical backgrounds. There will be a separate audition for the individual pieces of our fall and spring productions. Although we cannot guarantee that everyone will be cast in every performance, we do our best to provide performing opportunities to as many people as possible.
Q: What does "a range of technical backgrounds" mean?
A: A number of our dancers danced with professional companies (Los Angeles Ballet, New York City Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre) before coming to college. We also have dancers who have had previous training but were never on the professional track. We include a variety of pieces in our performances and strive for both quality and inclusiveness.
Q: How much of a time commitment is HBC? Will I be able to balance dancing with academics?
A: HBC and the Dance Department offer plenty of opportunities to dance. You can choose how deeply you want to be involved in the dance community and build your own program that suits your level of commitment. Some students only take class on campus a few times a week while others will take all the dance classes available through Harvard, take open classes at nearby studios, and perform in all of our shows. Many students discover that they love dancing at Harvard and they learn to balance their academic pursuits and their artistic pursuits.
Q: How often do you take class at Harvard?
A: The Dance Department offers advanced ballet classes Monday and Wednesday and modern classes on Tuesday and Thursday. Company class is held on Fridays and taught by Tai Jimenez, former principal dancer with Boston Ballet. There are also classes offered every morning and evening at Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, which is located in a beautiful old church right next to Harvard Yard. A number of dancers also enjoy taking class at Green Street Studios in Central Square. It is possible to arrange your schedule so that you can take class every day but not in any way essential to having a valuable and enjoyable dance experience at Harvard.
Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre: http://www.ballettheatre.org/
Green Street Studios: http://www.greenstreetstudios.org/
Q: Is it possible to have a dance career after Harvard?
A: Yes. Several of our alumni are pursuing careers in choreography. There are also several Harvard alumni in professional dance companies. Madalyn Ho '08 dances with Paul Taylor II and Elizabeth Waterhouse '02 dances for William Forsythe. Merritt Moore '11 took a leave of absence after her sophomore year to dance with Zürich Ballet and Joanna Binney '08 now dances with Jose Mateo Ballet Theater.
