Pre-Professional Program
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, performance opportunities with the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble, as well as the opportunity to train and perform in complementary dance disciplines. 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 Director of The Louisville Ballet School, Christy Corbitt Krieger, at ccorbitt@louisvilleballet.org
Class schedule information posted is for the 2024 – 2025 School.
Click here to register!
New students wishing to register for the 2024-2025 are asked to attend a placement class for level placement.
Junior Program
Level One
$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 3 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 |
| Monday** | 6:30 – 8:00 pm | Technique | Tawnee Thompson |
| 8:00 – 8:30 pm | Pointe | Tawnee Thompson | |
| Tuesday** | 4:30 – 6:00 pm | Technique | Tawnee Thompson |
| Wednesday** | 7:30 – 8:30 pm | Modern 3 | Lauren Frederick |
| Thursday** | 4:30 – 6:00 pm | Technique | Tawnee Thompson |
| 6:00 – 6:30 pm | Pointe | Tawnee Thompson | |
| 6:45 – 8:15 pm | Junior LBYE Rehearsal | Tawnee Thompson | |
| Saturday | 9:00 – 9:55 am | Conditioning | Brienne Wiltsie |
| 10:30 am – 12:00 pm | Junior/Apprentice LBYE Warm- Up Class | Brienne Wiltsie |
**St. Matthews Studios
Elective Add-Ons
Weekly Elective Class $206.25 per semester (includes 25% Complementary Program discount)
Pre-Professional 1 students are invited to enroll in a weekly Hip Hop and Musical Theater Jazz 2/Tap 2 classes on Wednesdays at the St. Matthews Studios.
| Class | Day | Time | Instructor | Location |
| Hip Hop 2 | Wednesday | 5:30 – 6:30 pm | BeeBee Patillo | St. Matthews |
| Musical Theater Jazz/Tap 2 |
Wednesday | 6:30 – 7:30 pm | Daniel Scofield | St. Matthews |
Capacity of 12 students.
Level Two
$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 |
| Monday | 6:15 – 7:45 pm | Technique | Lexa Daniels |
| 7:45 – 8:30 pm | Pointe | Lexa Daniels | |
| Wednesday** | 6:30 – 7:30 pm | Modern 4 | Lauren Frederick |
| Thursday** | 6:30 – 8:00 pm | Technique | Addison Mathes |
| 8:00 – 8:30 pm | Pointe | Addison Mathes | |
| Friday | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Technique | Lexa Daniels |
| 7:30 – 8:45 pm | Apprentice LBYE Rehearsal | Lexa Daniels | |
| Saturday | 9:00 – 9:55 am | Conditioning | Brienne Wiltsie |
| 10:30 am – 12:00 pm | Junior/Apprentice LBYE Warm- Up Class | Brienne Wiltsie |
**St. Matthews Studios
Elective Add-Ons
Weekly Elective Class $206.25 per semester (includes 25% Complementary Program discount)
Pre-Professional 2 students are invited to enroll in a weekly Hip Hop and Musical Theater Jazz 3 classes on Wednesdays at the St. Matthews Studios.
| Class | Day | Time | Instructor | Location |
| Hip Hop 2 | Wednesday | 5:30 – 6:30 pm | BeeBee Patillo | St. Matthews |
| Musical Theater Jazz 3 |
Wednesday | 7:30 – 8:30 pm | Nicholas Gray | St. Matthews |
Capacity of 12 students.
Level Three
$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 5 and Conditioning to fulfill their elective requirements. These electives are included in Pre-Professional Level tuition fees.
| Day | Time | Class | Instructor |
| Monday | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Technique | Brienne Wiltsie |
| 7:30 – 8:30 pm | Pointe | Brienne Wiltsie | |
| Tuesday | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Technique | Brienne Wiltsie |
| Wednesday | 4:30 – 6:00 pm |
Modern 5 |
Theresa Bautista |
| 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Technique | Brienne Wiltsie | |
| 7:30 – 8:30 pm | Pointe | Brienne Wiltsie | |
| 7:30 – 8:15 pm | Men’s Class | Phillip Velinov | |
| Thursday | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Technique | Daniel Scofield |
| Saturday | 9:00 – 9:55 am | Conditioning | Brienne Wiltsie |
| 10:00 – 11:30 am | Ensemble Warm-Up Class | Rotating Instructor |
Level Four
$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 5, Contemporary, and Conditioning to fulfill their elective requirements. These electives are included in Pre-Professional Level tuition fees.
| Day | Time | Class | Instructor |
| Monday | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Technique | Brienne Wiltsie |
| 7:30 – 8:30 pm | Pointe | Brienne Wiltsie | |
| Tuesday | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Technique | Brienne Wiltsie |
| Wednesday | 4:30 – 6:00 pm |
Modern 5 |
Theresa Bautista |
| 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Technique | Brienne Wiltsie | |
| 7:30 – 8:30 pm | Pointe | Brienne Wiltsie | |
| 7:30 – 8:15 pm | Men’s Class | Phillip Velinov | |
| Thursday | 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Technique | Daniel Scofield |
| Friday | 4:30 – 6:00 pm | Contemporary | Nicole Caruana |
| Saturday | 9:00 – 9:55 am | Conditioning | Brienne Wiltsie |
| 10:00 – 11:30 am | Ensemble Warm-Up Class | Rotating Instructor |
Senior Program
Level Five
$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 5, Contemporary and Conditioning to fulfill their elective requirements. These electives are included in Pre-Professional Level tuition fees.
Level Six
$1132.50 per semester ($283.13 per month with 4 Monthly Payments)
Additional Fees include:
Spring Dance Festival Fee: $175 (Fall only)
LBYE Annual Membership Dues: $295 (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 5, Contemporary, and Conditioning to fulfill their elective requirements. These electives are included in Pre-Professional Level tuition fees.
| Day | Time | Class | Instructor |
| Monday | 4:00 – 6:15 pm | Technique | Christy Corbitt Krieger |
| Tuesday | 4:30 – 6:00 pm | Technique | Natalia Ashikhmina |
| Wednesday | 4:30 – 6:00 pm |
Modern 5 |
Theresa Bautista |
| 6:00 – 7:30 pm | Technique | Nicholas Bentz | |
| 7:30 – 8:15 pm | Men’s Class | Phillip Velinov | |
| Thursday | 5:30 – 7:30 pm | Technique | Christy Corbitt Krieger |
| Friday | 4:30 – 6:00 pm | Contemporary | Nicole Caruana |
| Saturday | 9:00 – 9:55 am | Conditioning | Brienne Wiltsie |
| 10:00 – 11:30 am | Ensemble Warm-Up Class | Rotating Instructor |
Dress Code
The student dress code maintains the tradition and aesthetic of classical ballet and allows instructors to see the full lines of the students’ bodies. As such, all students must wear the required uniform colors and styles. View the Uniform Page for more detailed uniform requirements for each level. Required styles and colors are reasonably priced and are available for purchase through The Louisville Ballet School.