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.
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.
School of Philadelphia Ballet’s Summer Intensive Program is taught by School of Philadelphia Ballet faculty and world-renowned guest artists. Learn more about School of Philadelphia Ballet’s leadership and faculty at the link below.
Guest faculty to be announced.
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.
One-Time Registration Fee: $80*
Program Tuition: $875
*Dancers attending more than one summer program need only pay one (1) Registration Fee.
Scholarships are not available for the Classical Variations Intensive.
Paying in Full:
Payments in full can be made by credit card or check. Families paying in full by March 1, 2025, receive a 5% discount on tuition payments.
Paying in Installments:
Upon Registration: One-Time Registration Fee; 1st Tuition Installment; 1st Housing Fee (as applicable)
March 15, 2025: 2nd Tuition Installment; 2nd Housing Installment (as applicable)
April 15, 2025: 3rd Tuition Installment; 3rd Housing Installment (as applicable)
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.