For the first time, the Ballet Theatre of Phoenix will offer a pre-professional program for dancers this fall.

Jennifer Cafarella Betts is the theater’s director and owner. She says ballet companies are not hiring as many dancers due to the pandemic. She says the theater wants to give dancers a place to train during this challenging time.

Cafarella Betts says the dancers need a place to train to audition for ballet companies. The dancers in the pre-professional program could have days as long as seven hours. 

Cafarella Betts says the Ballet Theatre of Phoenix will help the dancers with solos and create audition videos. It will also help dancers with resumes and letters of reccomendations. 

She also says the program is by audition only and is for dancers 15 years and older.