Classical Variations Intensive

July 28-August 2, 2025
Ages 15-21
Audition Required
Summer Housing Available!

School of Philadelphia Ballet’s Classical Variations Intensive (CVI) offers a unique opportunity for serious dancers to deepen their understanding and performance of classical variations. This one-week intensive is designed for pre-professional dancers who seek to refine their technical abilities and artistic expression through focused study of some of the most iconic solos in ballet history.

Men’s classes and coachings will be led by Davit Karapetyan, School Director. Guest faculty to be announced.

Daily technique classes, combined with the intensive study of variations, will challenge dancers to improve their strength, control, and precision.

Students will study multiple variations throughout the week, with an emphasis on both the technical and performance aspects necessary to bring these classical works to life on stage. Dancers will delve into the history and character of each piece, approaching each variation through the lens of musicality, character expression, and artistry. This program is ideal for dancers preparing for national and international ballet competitions.

Select students may be invited to attend School of Philadelphia Ballet’s Pre-Professional Program, Trainee, or Philadelphia Ballet II for the following year.

2025 Summer Program Auditions

School of Philadelphia Ballet offers live, virtual, and video auditions for dancers ages 12-21*. Learn more and register at the link below.

REGISTER TO AUDITION

Students only need to audition once to be considered for the Summer Intensive Program, Summer Intensive / New Jersey, Classical Variations Intensive, and Company Experience with Angel Corella.

Current SPB Students: Current School of Philadelphia Ballet students can register without audition. Information will be available in December 2024.

Meet Our Faculty

Davit Karapetyan

Director, School of Philadelphia Ballet

Davit is an acclaimed performer and dance educator, and was appointed Director of School of Philadelphia Ballet beginning with our 2022/2023 season. He previously served as Co-Artistic Director of the Pennsylvania Ballet Academy for five years, preceded by over a decade as a principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet.

Born in Yerevan, Armenia, Karapetyan received his training at the Armenian School of Ballet and the Schweizerische Ballettberufsschule in Zurich, Switzerland. His extensive experience includes 12 years as a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet, and six as a soloist with the Zurich Ballet. Karapetyan served on the jury for Prix de Lausanne in 2018, and has been a guest teacher with San Francisco Ballet, Boston Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet and more.

Davit has performed principal roles in Helgi Tomasson’s 2004 Nutcracker (Nutcracker Prince and King of Snow), Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella (Prince Gillaume), John Cranko’s Onegin (Onegin), among others, and created principal roles in Helgi Tomasson’s On a Theme of Paganini, Caprice, and On Common Ground.

“Throughout his career, Davit has continually distinguished himself both as a performer and a teacher of ballet’s next generation. His wide range of experience, depth of knowledge, and passion for ballet education make him the ideal candidate to lead the School boldly into the future.” – Philadelphia Ballet Artistic Director Angel Corella.

Guest faculty to be announced. Read more about School of Philadelphia Ballet’s leadership and acclaimed faculty at the link below.

VIEW SPB FACULTY

Program Schedule

Approximately thirty (30) hours of instruction.

CVI Residence Program Move-in: Sunday, July 27, 2025*
Program Begins: Monday, July 28, 2025
Program Ends: Saturday, August 2, 2025
CVI Residence Program Move-out: Saturday, August 2, 2025*
*Students attending consecutive programs are not required to move-out between programs. Learn more about our Summer Residence Program here.

Student Housing

Summer housing is available for students in the Summer Intensive Program, Classical Variations Intensive, and Company Experience with Angel Corella. Learn more about our Summer Residence Program at the link below.

Summer Residence Program

Registration and Tuition Information

Registration opens on January 1, 2025!

Tuition information coming soon.

Scholarship Opportunities

Scholarship opportunities are not available for the Classical Variations Intensive.

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Summer Intensive

Advanced, high-caliber ballet instruction from June 26th – July 28th.

Faculty

Meet our school’s highly respected roster of dance educators as well as our lineup of renowned guest instructors.

Meet the Ballet

Philadelphia Ballet comprises a team of dedicated professionals—each one devoted to bringing you the most thrilling and inspired works ballet has to offer.