Auditions

National Selection

The National Selection is held annually for children aged 9 to 11 who live in Brazil or abroad and do not need to have any knowledge of dance and is divided into two stages.

► Pre-Selection: In the first stage, the Institution's professionals visit public schools, NGOs, social projects, and dance schools (according to the School's schedule) or via video. This ensures a democratic process that sparks interest in dance. They also assess physical and artistic abilities such as flexibility, stage projection, posture, and body type. Candidates with the greatest potential are selected to participate in the second stage, which is held in person at the School in Joinville.

► Selection: In the final stage, all pre-selected children meet for the final test. Candidates are evaluated in two ways. The first is a medical-physiotherapy assessment, in which physical therapists, doctors, and physical education teachers analyze posture, structure, and physical and motor skills, heart and respiratory rate, body mass percentage and somatotype, strength, musculature, and joints. The second assessment is artistic-musical and cognitive, in which dance professionals, musicians, and teachers evaluate the candidates' technical and artistic skills, musicality, stage projection, and intellectual performance.

It's the combination of all these professional data that leads us to the children most qualified at this time to study and develop in the Vaganova method, applied at the Bolshoi School. After all these tests are completed, we publish the list of approved candidates via our website and social media.

Special Call

Another way to enter the Bolshoi School is through the Special Call, intended for dancers with dance experience aged 11 and older. The process also occurs in two stages and can be completed in person or via video, depending on the institution's schedule.

► Pre-Selection: In the first phase, candidates participate in a classical ballet class, with barre and center exercises, where technical level, balance, musicality, turns, jumps and elasticity are evaluated, in addition to the use of pointe shoes for girls.

► Special Call: In the second phase, successful candidates come to the Bolshoi School headquarters (on a previously scheduled date), where they participate in five days of classical dance classes, joining a group specifically tailored to their age. During this period, physical therapy evaluations are performed, analyzing muscles, joints, and possible postural deviations, in addition to assessing specific skills for classical ballet. On the final day, the candidate is evaluated by a panel of Bolshoi School professors. After the process is completed, the list of successful candidates is published on the institution's official channels.

Why participate in the process?

Joining the Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for many children. There, students learn discipline and responsibility, and they develop professionally. Ballet requires a great deal of discipline, focus, and perseverance, which contributes to the child's professional development, as well as understanding their role in society, becoming a more conscientious and prepared citizen for life. The program lasts eight years, and, on average, children spend six hours a day at the school, including curriculum activities and rehearsals. First-year students have few rehearsals because they are just beginning to develop their performing skills, but they already participate in a four-hour schedule of classes ranging from classical dance to popular and Brazilian dances, gymnastics, and theoretical subjects on music and art. Furthermore, the children receive a 100% free scholarship, including complementary meals (snacks and lunch), uniforms, school transportation, and, of course, training to become professional dancers. Housing and regular education are covered by the family.