School of American Ballet Auditions Come to Downtown

Here’s the chance for South Tampa ballet students to spend the summer in New York City in one of the most famous classical ballet schools in the world.

Auditions for the School of American Ballet’s 2012 Summer Course will take place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Jan. 22 at the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts, 1010 N. W.C. MacInnes Pl.

Auditions are for intermediate and advanced ballet students, ages 12 to 18 as of July 31, 2012. All students should bring a copy of their birth certificates and girls must bring pointe shoes to the audition.

The times are as follows:

• 3 - 4.30 p.m. for 12-14 years of age
• 4.30 - 6 p.m. for 15-18 years of age                                  

Students should arrive one hour in advance of their audition to register. Optional preregistration for the audition is also available on the SAB’s website at www.sab.org/summercourse.

The application fee is $25 for those who prepay online and $35 the day of the audition.

During the next two months, more than 2,000 aspiring ballet dancers in 20 cities will vie for the 200 spots in the SAB’s five-week summer program.

Students invited to the SAB’s Summer Course will attend classes in New York City from June 25 to July 28.

For more information, visit www.sab.org or call either the School of American Ballet at 212-769-6600 or the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts at 813-222-1263.