Canton Ballet Company

Students in the Preprofessional (advanced) Division have earned their placement in this level with hard work, determination, and discipline. The amount of time spent in a level depends solely on the student's individual improvement and is determined by the Artistic Director and her staff.

Apprentices

The bridge between student and preprofessional is in the apprentice level. The position of apprentice offers a special learning opportunity to Canton Ballet students. A dancer is invited to be an apprentice when his or her technique reaches a certain level, when the student becomes serious and when there is a certain standard of emotional maturity. An ability to accept and concentrate on corrections is important as well as self discipline and an ability to work for oneself.

During the first year apprentices learn rehearsal skills, what it means to attend rehearsals and how to understudy a part. They are offered a number of opportunities to learn roles that they might one day be called upon to perform. This is a vital part of their education. They observe more advanced dancers at work and are able to learn and practice roles far beyond their level of experience. In addition one or more performing opportunities are offered to begin the development of stage presence and style.

By the second year of apprenticeship, dancers know rehearsal behavior and are developing an understanding of the necessary performance quality and knowledge of how to learn choreography, an art in itself. During that year, performance opportunities may be expanded providing that the technical development is keeping pace with the rest.

Apprentices may dance with the corps de ballet but usually in the most inconspicuous places. They spend most of their time understudying corps de ballet and demi-soloist roles.

Understudies

Understudies are experienced in the ways of the company and beginning to show their potential as performers.  As a member of the Corps de Ballet they dance the main group parts. They understudy demi-soloist and soloist roles.

A Company Member

Two to three years of work at the lower levels is generally needed to become a company member.  Dancers are made members of the Canton Ballet Company when their technical development reaches a high standard. At this stage they are cast in group dances and progress to demi-solo work as their technique and artistry grows.

Company membership comprises four categories of dancers: principal dancers dancing the main roles, soloists dancing the next most important roles, demi-soloists dancing with two to four other dancers and the corps de ballet doing group dances.

From the roster of company members, dancers are selected to dance specific roles based upon their technical and artistic abilities.