High School Program

The PBTS High School Program consists of Part-Time and Full-Time students.

Admission to the program is by invitation only, following a scheduled audition. Schedule auditions through the school office at 412-281-6727.

Part-time students attend classes weekday afternoons plus Saturdays. Full-time students attend classes weekday mornings and afternoons plus Saturdays.

The High School Program curriculum may include: Ballet Technique, Pointe, Variations, Partnering, Men’s Class, Repertoire, Character, Contemporary Dance, Modern Dance, Jazz, and Pilates Mat classes.

High School Students enrolling full-time with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School may enroll in the “PPS Program” (Formerly, the Schenley Program)–a partnership between the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School and the Pittsburgh Public Schools. This program enables the serious dance student to train intensively at the PBTS studios six days per week while attending a local Pittsburgh Public school for academic subjects. The schedule for the PPS Program student includes ballet instruction in the early morning at PBTS, attending a Pittsburgh Public School for late-morning and early-afternoon academic instruction, then returning to the PBTS for additional dance instruction. Students acquire 2.75 graded credits per year in Dance, Health, and Physical Education from PBTS toward academic grades. The remaining high school academic credits come from the Pittsburgh Public School system.

Some High School students opt to enroll in cyber school programs, as an alternative course of academic study, enabling them to take the Full-time morning and afternoon weekday classes.

Upon Graduation, PBTS High School students often continue on to study in the PBTS Graduate Program.  For information on the Graduate Program click here

Performance Opportunities

At the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, performance opportunities are part of the school philosophy. High School and Graduate Level students perform in the school’s annual Pre-Professional Showcases and Spring Performance. Spring Performance is designed to reflect the student’s journey from Level I to Pre-Professional training. Students perform at the Byham Theater. Throughout the year, some students in the High School and Graduate Levels may also have the opportunity to perform in the PBT Company repertoire at the Benedum Center.

Conditioning Programs

As part of the PBTS Pre-Professional curriculum, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC) Center for Sports Medicine staff may offer student seminars on topics such as stress management, sports psychology, nutrition, and injury prevention.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre enjoys a close relationship with UPMC and offers students the opportunity to use the UPMC Center for Sports Medicine facilities.

PBTS works with UPMC to offer Musculoskeletal Screenings, when possible, for the purpose of evaluating any muscle weakness or loss of motion that may contribute to the dancer sustaining injury. The musculoskeletal evaluation includes assessment of upper and lower extremity, flexibility and strength and is performed by a Certified Athletic Trainer and/or Licensed Physical Therapist. This is often coupled with a physical evaluation focusing on previous injuries and concerns of the dancer. If a potential problem is recognized, the dancer is instructed on ways to work toward correction. The UPMC Center for Sports Medicine is known for its Musculoskeletal Research Center and is the preferred healthcare provider for PBT, the Pittsburgh Steelers and the Pittsburgh Penguins.

Housing for Out-of-Town High School Students

For out-of-town students accepted to the High School Program, PBTS may supply a list of families in the Pittsburgh area who have offered to house students. The list will be limited by the number of families who contact PBTS and offer their home to students; therefore Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School does not guarantee housing availability.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School serves as only a listing source for housing possibilities, and does not endorse or recommend any family on the list. Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School does require a home-visit by two PBTS staff members, a Criminal Record Clearance and a Child Abuse Clearance from any family who would be listed as a possible housing source. It is the responsibility of the student’s parents to contact and secure safe and affordable housing for their son or daughter.