OBT School Summer Programs
Oregon Ballet Theatre School, 720 S Bancroft Street, Portland, OR 97239
About
OBT School Summer Programs include a wide range of dance training such as ballet technique, men’s technique, pointe, pre-pointe, pirouette classes, variations, repertory, and ballet repertory. Students also take character, modern/contemporary, contemporary dance, jazz, flamenco, hip hop, Irish step, improvisation, conditioning, Pilates, yoga, strength training, and stage acting, along with seminars in makeup, health, mental strength and nutrition, and dance history. Additional classes include Pre-Ballet, Creative Movement, Primary Ballet, pas de deux, NIQUE, batterie, partnering, and Nutcracker preparation.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: 2026 Summer Senior Intensive offers 6-week, 4-week, and 2-week sessions from June 22 to July 31; the Summer Junior Intensive runs as three separate full-day weeks (9:00 AM–4:00 PM).
• Price: 2026 Summer Senior Intensive tuition ranges from $1,226.66–$3,530.00 depending on session length; housing ranges from $1,380.00–$4,080.00; Summer Junior Intensive tuition is $626 per week.
The Summer Senior Intensive is a full-day program for students ages 12 and older and is by audition only, with classes in multiple dance styles plus seminars in makeup, health, mental strength and nutrition, and dance history. OBT School offers a Junior Intensive for students ages 8–15, which is a full-day program from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is described as for young dancers eager to immerse themselves in dance and take their ballet training to the next level. Students new to OBT School are placed in a training track by the faculty on the first day of classes based on an assessment of current training that matches the curriculum.
OBT School’s curriculum incorporates classical ballet traditions with evidence-based modern training practices and provides professional training for students who pursue ballet either professionally or recreationally. Pre-Ballet and Creative Movement for ages 3–5 introduce basic ballet vocabulary and class etiquette through instruction that fosters a love of dance, and Primary Ballet serves as a bridge between Pre-Ballet and Level 1 for ages 7 and above. Level 3 students begin pointe work, Levels 4 and 5 Professional & Demi include pas de deux, variations, and advanced contemporary work, and Level 6 Professional & Demi includes partnering, variations, NIQUE, and improvisation and is described as helping students meet national standards.
Summer Senior Intensive faculty includes OBT School’s year-round professional faculty, members of Oregon Ballet Theatre’s artistic staff, dancers from Oregon Ballet Theatre, and various guest teachers. Guest faculty include Sofiane Sylve, current Artist-in-Residence with National Ballet of Canada and former principal dancer with Dutch National Ballet, New York City Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet, and Harper Watters, principal dancer with Houston Ballet. Lucy Wild is a Registered Dietitian, MS, LDN, and wellness support is also provided by Wellness Coach Lauren Reins.
The leadership team includes Dani Rowe (OBT Artistic Director), School Director Katarina Svetlova, Executive Rehearsal Director Lisa Kipp, OBT2 Program Director Dominic Walsh, and multiple OBT School Principal Faculty members such as Grace Shibley, Elise Legere, Jason Davis, Joseph Wyatt, Eva Burton, Leonora Lima, Lauren Flower, Charlotte Nash, and Bailey Shaw. Additional faculty include Melissa St. Clair for composition and improvisation, Josie Moseley for modern and Limón, hip-hop instructor Jeff George, flamenco instructors Nela Mcquire and Brenna McDonald, curriculum consultant and faculty member Kate Robbins, wellness coach Lauren Reins, OBT Company Members, and distinguished guests. School Director is listed as Katarina Svetlova.
OBT2 is described as a select group of dancers at the top level of the school who may also work with Oregon Ballet Theatre’s professional company. Dancers who aspire to join OBT2 must attend the Summer Intensive for at least the first 4 weeks of the 2026 program, with 6 weeks recommended, and admission to OBT2 is based solely on invitation from the Artistic Director and School Director. OBT2 marked its first official year with the 2016/17 season.
Supervised student housing for the Summer Senior Intensive is fully chaperoned with triple security (key for building entry, elevator, and room) and uniformed 24-hour campus security. Room and board include twin beds with mattress, sheets, pillows, blankets, towels, breakfast and dinner daily, linens and towels, wireless internet access, air conditioning, a TriMet transportation pass, and weekend excursions, and students provide their own lunches and personal supplies such as soap, shampoo, and laundry detergent. Common areas in the residence hall are cleaned by custodial staff, and housing reservations are made on a first-come basis and require payment in full or a non-refundable advance deposit of one-quarter of the total housing price.
A limited number of financial and merit scholarships are available for the 2026 Senior Summer Intensive, with TADS applications due February 9 and scholarship decisions sent March 3. The program’s mission is to share meaningful, high-quality dance experiences with students, families, and communities, to inspire children and adults to use their bodies in new and different ways through dance, and to connect with the community by removing physical and cultural barriers and providing greater access to dance.
Last updated June 28, 2026.
• Ages: 3–18 years old
• Schedule: 2026 Summer Senior Intensive offers 6-week, 4-week, and 2-week sessions from June 22 to July 31; the Summer Junior Intensive runs as three separate full-day weeks (9:00 AM–4:00 PM).
• Price: 2026 Summer Senior Intensive tuition ranges from $1,226.66–$3,530.00 depending on session length; housing ranges from $1,380.00–$4,080.00; Summer Junior Intensive tuition is $626 per week.
The Summer Senior Intensive is a full-day program for students ages 12 and older and is by audition only, with classes in multiple dance styles plus seminars in makeup, health, mental strength and nutrition, and dance history. OBT School offers a Junior Intensive for students ages 8–15, which is a full-day program from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM and is described as for young dancers eager to immerse themselves in dance and take their ballet training to the next level. Students new to OBT School are placed in a training track by the faculty on the first day of classes based on an assessment of current training that matches the curriculum.
OBT School’s curriculum incorporates classical ballet traditions with evidence-based modern training practices and provides professional training for students who pursue ballet either professionally or recreationally. Pre-Ballet and Creative Movement for ages 3–5 introduce basic ballet vocabulary and class etiquette through instruction that fosters a love of dance, and Primary Ballet serves as a bridge between Pre-Ballet and Level 1 for ages 7 and above. Level 3 students begin pointe work, Levels 4 and 5 Professional & Demi include pas de deux, variations, and advanced contemporary work, and Level 6 Professional & Demi includes partnering, variations, NIQUE, and improvisation and is described as helping students meet national standards.
Summer Senior Intensive faculty includes OBT School’s year-round professional faculty, members of Oregon Ballet Theatre’s artistic staff, dancers from Oregon Ballet Theatre, and various guest teachers. Guest faculty include Sofiane Sylve, current Artist-in-Residence with National Ballet of Canada and former principal dancer with Dutch National Ballet, New York City Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet, and Harper Watters, principal dancer with Houston Ballet. Lucy Wild is a Registered Dietitian, MS, LDN, and wellness support is also provided by Wellness Coach Lauren Reins.
The leadership team includes Dani Rowe (OBT Artistic Director), School Director Katarina Svetlova, Executive Rehearsal Director Lisa Kipp, OBT2 Program Director Dominic Walsh, and multiple OBT School Principal Faculty members such as Grace Shibley, Elise Legere, Jason Davis, Joseph Wyatt, Eva Burton, Leonora Lima, Lauren Flower, Charlotte Nash, and Bailey Shaw. Additional faculty include Melissa St. Clair for composition and improvisation, Josie Moseley for modern and Limón, hip-hop instructor Jeff George, flamenco instructors Nela Mcquire and Brenna McDonald, curriculum consultant and faculty member Kate Robbins, wellness coach Lauren Reins, OBT Company Members, and distinguished guests. School Director is listed as Katarina Svetlova.
OBT2 is described as a select group of dancers at the top level of the school who may also work with Oregon Ballet Theatre’s professional company. Dancers who aspire to join OBT2 must attend the Summer Intensive for at least the first 4 weeks of the 2026 program, with 6 weeks recommended, and admission to OBT2 is based solely on invitation from the Artistic Director and School Director. OBT2 marked its first official year with the 2016/17 season.
Supervised student housing for the Summer Senior Intensive is fully chaperoned with triple security (key for building entry, elevator, and room) and uniformed 24-hour campus security. Room and board include twin beds with mattress, sheets, pillows, blankets, towels, breakfast and dinner daily, linens and towels, wireless internet access, air conditioning, a TriMet transportation pass, and weekend excursions, and students provide their own lunches and personal supplies such as soap, shampoo, and laundry detergent. Common areas in the residence hall are cleaned by custodial staff, and housing reservations are made on a first-come basis and require payment in full or a non-refundable advance deposit of one-quarter of the total housing price.
A limited number of financial and merit scholarships are available for the 2026 Senior Summer Intensive, with TADS applications due February 9 and scholarship decisions sent March 3. The program’s mission is to share meaningful, high-quality dance experiences with students, families, and communities, to inspire children and adults to use their bodies in new and different ways through dance, and to connect with the community by removing physical and cultural barriers and providing greater access to dance.
Last updated June 28, 2026.
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