Académie Auditions
3rd & 4th Grade Académie Auditions Reopen for 25/26 Academic Year
Auditions for the 2025-2026 academic year have been reopened for incoming 3rd and 4th-grade students and will take place on July 12, 2025.
JULY 12 AUDITION REQUIREMENTS:
- Incoming 3rd-grade students do not need previous dance training. Basic flexibility, rhythm, and coordination are evaluated. Enthusiasm and a genuine interest in dance are major factors in the tryout process. Incoming 4th-grade students must have one year of formal ballet training.
- Continuation in the program will be based on the student’s progress in classical ballet. Focus, physical ability, attendance, and/or behavior will be evaluated through ballet progress, assessments, and report cards.
- All female students should wear a solid-colored leotard or one-piece swimsuit, no tights for 3rd grade, pink tights for 4th grade, and hair in a bun. All male students should wear fitted bottoms or shorts with a fitted T-shirt. All students should have their hair neat and off of the face.
JULY 12 REGISTRATION PROCESS:
Students entering the 3rd and 4th grades will audition on Saturday, July 12, beginning at 10 a.m. They will be assigned to a group of 10, and the audition will take approximately 20 minutes. Parents must remain in the building during the audition.
To register your incoming 3rd or 4th-grade student, download and complete the appropriate form linked below. Please email the completed form to Joy Elpedes at jelpedes@nfballet.org by Thursday, July 10, at 2 pm., along with a 4x6 photo. Additional resources are also available in the section below.
For a complete list of FAQs, a virtual tour link, and other helpful details, please click the "View Académie Resources" button below.
Trainee, Company & Pre-Professional Auditions
25/26 Season Auditions Are Now Closed
COMPANY/PPP & TRAINEE AUDITION DATES & REGISTRATION:
Auditions are now closed for the Company/PPP and Trainee 2025-2026 season. Please check back during Spring 2026 for next season's audition information.
- NFB’s Trainee Program auditions are designed for students in the 6th grade and up with at least three years of training.
- Company auditions are open to students entering the 8th grade and up with at least six years of formal training. Additionally, female dancers must have two years on pointe to audition for the NFB Company.
- Pre-Professional Program auditions are for advanced students with at least six years of classical ballet training. Female dancers should have at least three years of experience on pointe.
Auditions are by appointment only and held at the NFB Studios in downtown Fort Walton Beach. Pre-registration, an audition fee, and a 4x6 headshot of the dancer are required. For additional audition information, please click the Resources button.
Professional dancers wishing to audition for demi-soloist, soloist, and principal guest artist positions should contact NFB Artistic Director Todd Eric Allen to schedule an audition. Dancers may also send a headshot, a bio, a few dance pictures, and four short video clips of both classical and contemporary/modern works.