Milwaukee Ballet’s Pre-Professional Program Prepares Dancers for a Career in Ballet and Beyond

When Milwaukee Ballet company artist Amanda Lewis was a teenager, she found herself at a pivotal moment, realizing she needed more extensive training to pursue a professional career. Her first choice was Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy’s Pre-Professional Program. “The program had the most experience I could find,” she says, referring to the variety of class offerings and the high-caliber faculty led by Tatiana Jouravel-Malinkine, head of Academy & Pre-Professional divisions. Her decision quickly paid off: Lewis spent one year with the Rolando Yanes Pre-Professional Program and was promoted to Milwaukee Ballet II (MDII) for two seasons before joining the main company as an apprentice in 2023. This pipeline isn’t uncommon for pre-professional program (PPP) students—25 percent of MBII artists are alumni of the program, and more than 60 percent of Milwaukee Ballet’s dancers were promoted from MBII. 

Creating versatile artists is a key focus of Milwaukee Ballet’s summer intensives and yearlong programs. Beyond ballet, students take contemporary, jazz, flamenco, African, musical theater, Pilates, hip hop, and more, which prepared Lewis for learning diverse repertoire as a company member. “In this climate, ballet dancers are having to be able to do everything, specifically a lot of contemporary work,” she says. “Having this type of exposure was crucial for me.” 

The program’s diversity of dance styles has also attracted competition and convention dancers who want to increase their proficiency in classical ballet while continuing their training in other genres. Through the PPP, they gain the necessary skills to succeed in ballet-centric roles but aren’t limited to one dance form. 

PPP students are part of a thriving arts community, perform repertoire by renowned faculty, and receive individualized coaching. Lewis recommends Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy’s Pre-Professional Program to dancers who have outgrown their home studios and “are looking to make the most of their education and build their own personal artistry.”

Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy’s Pre-Professional Program

Program size: Two cohorts of no more than 25 dancers each. Most students progress on a two-year track.
Age range: Most PPP students are 15–21 years old. Intended for high school graduates or high school students with virtual or alternative academic arrangements.
Performance opportunities: Three dedicated showcases (in late fall, early spring, and end of school year) in the Baumgartner Center’s WE Energies Foundation Performance Studio. Students also have the opportunity to audition for roles in Milwaukee Ballet main-stage productions throughout the season and may be invited to perform and understudy for MBII productions.
Tuition: $7,848 for the 2026–27 school year (nine monthly payments of $872), plus a one-time $100 registration fee. Includes all classes, rehearsals, costumes, and performance participation. Scholarships and financial aid are available.
Room/board: Not included. Students must secure their own housing, food, transportation, dance attire, and shoes.
Daily schedule: Around eight hours of daily training and rehearsal time. Sample schedule includes: 8:15–9:15 am, Pilates (select days); 9:30–11 am, ballet; 11:15 am–12:15 pm, pointe or pas de deux; 12:15–1 pm, lunch break; 1–2 pm, repertoire; 2:15–3:15 pm, style class (jazz, contemporary, dance history, etc.).
Alumni: Aside from joining MBII or Milwaukee Ballet, other alumni have joined companies and esteemed programs around the U.S., including Charlotte Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Indianapolis Ballet, Minnesota Ballet, Portland Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, School of American Ballet, University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and Butler University, as well as Queensland Ballet and European ballet companies. Graduates have worked with Disney and Universal Studios; in other commercial dance or musical theater avenues; and even as freelance flamenco artists. 
Additional opportunities: Mental health workshops in partnership with New Insights Training and Consulting and its licensed psychologists; nutrition workshops with a licensed dietitian; physical therapy services in partnership with Froedtert Sports Medicine and the Medical College of Wisconsin; career seminar and dance history courses. 
Important dates for 2026: March 14: 2026–27 PPP in-person audition; April 16 and 17: Experience Days (advanced registration required); May 1: PPP video audition deadline; May 8: Students will be contacted with their acceptance and registration materials by this date; June: Online applications for financial assistance for 2026–27 will be available; August 1: Registration deadline. (September tuition is due at the time of registration.)

For more information, contact the school’s programs manager, Alyx Johnson: ajohnson@milwaukeeballet.org.