Pre-Professional Summer Intensive 2025
July 14 – August 1, 2025
Application Process begins January 2025.
$25 Audition Fee
The City Ballet of San Diego Summer Intensive is known world wide as one of the finest programs of its kind. Each summer students come from all over the globe to study with our world famous guest artists and our resident faculty. The program is designed to provide superlative training for serious students at the beginning, intermediate, and advanced levels.
The three-week Intensive is open to intermediate and advanced pre-professional students ages 11-24 with three graded levels. There are limited spaces in each level. Admittance is by audition only. Studio Company and Apprentices for the upcoming season are chosen at the Intensive. Classes include ballet technique, pointe, variations, Pilates, jazz, and contemporary. The Intensive culminates in a free public performance.
Resident Faculty
- Artistic Director: Steven Wistrich
- Resident Choreographers: Elizabeth Wistrich and Geoff Gonzalez
- Company Members: Lucas Ataide, Arianna Gonzalez, and Natalie Test
Guest Faculty
Indiana Woodward
July 14 -18

Indiana Woodward was born in Paris, France and began her dance training at the age of ten at the Yuri Grigoriev School of Ballet in Venice, California. Ms. Woodward began studying at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, during the 2010 summer course and joined the school as a full-time student in the fall of 2010. In August 2012, she became an apprentice with NYCB and a full member of the company in December of the same year. She was promoted to the rank of soloist dancer in February 2017, and to principal dancer October 2021. With New York City Ballet, Indiana has performed in numerous productions. dancing choreography by George Balanchine, Marius Petipa, August Bournonville, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, William Forsythe and Lauren Lovette amongst others. She has also performed the roles of Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, the Sylph in La Sylphide and Sugarplum Fairy and Dewdrop in The Nutcracker. Indiana has performed all over the world with NYCB and as a guest in events and galas. Ms. Woodward has been featured on the cover of Pointe Magazine and has been the face of NYCB in print on numerous occasions. Indiana has been critically acclaimed for her sparkling, other worldly presence on stage and the depth and power of her characters as well as her exceptional musicality. Ms. Woodward is a recipient of the 2016 Lincoln Center Emerging Artist Award, as well as the Clive Barnes Foundation Award of the same year. In 2010, she won first place at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive and was invited to perform at the Bolshoi academy Gala in Moscow at the age of 15.
Ashley Bouder
July 21 – 25

Ashley Bouder was born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, and began her ballet training at the age of six at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet with Marcia Dale Weary. After attending the 1999 Summer Program at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, she was invited by SAB to continue her training during the Winter Session. As a student, Ms. Bouder performed featured roles in George Balanchine’s Dances Concertantes and Stars and Stripes for the School of American Ballet’s 2000 Annual Spring Workshop. Ms. Bouder was named an apprentice with New York City Ballet in June 2000 and became a member of the corps de ballet that October. She was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2004, and in January 2005, Ms. Bouder was promoted to principal dancer.
Daniel Ulbricht
July 28 – August 1

Daniel Ulbricht was born in St. Petersburg, Florida, and began his dance training at the age of 11 at the Judith Lee Johnson Studio of Dance, studying with Lenny Holmes. He also studied at Les Jeunes Danseurs with Javier Dubraq and attended the Chautauqua Summer Dance Program, training with Jean Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride. In 1999, Mr. Ulbricht was invited by the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, to continue his training during their Winter Program. As a student at SAB, Mr. Ulbricht performed with New York City Ballet as a Jester in Peter Martins’ The Sleeping Beauty. In December 2000, he became an apprentice with New York City Ballet and in November 2001 he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. In January 2005, Mr. Ulbricht was promoted to the rank of soloist and principal dancer in May 2007. Mr. Ulbricht is the Creative Director of NYCB’s Family Saturdays program. Additionally, he serves as artistic advisor to Manhattan Youth Ballet and is the artistic director of the New York State Summer School for the Arts in Saratoga Springs, NY.
Auditions
Auditions are accepted by video or in person at City Ballet School.
In-person auditions at City Ballet School must be pre-arranged by email. Please contact the school at school@cityballet.org to arrange a date and time for your audition. You will need to bring all of the items listed below except for the video.
For video auditions, submit the following items to: school@cityballet.org
- Fill out the Application (above) completely and submit in PDF format.
- A photo in 1st Arabesque on pointe.
- A letter of recommendation from your current ballet instructor.
- Submit a 10-minute digital video (such as a YouTube link), containing;
- One side only of each barre exercise (plies, tendus, adagio, grand battement)
- Center work (tendus, pirouettes, petit allegro, grand allegro)
- Pointe work (either at the barre or in the center) or a variation from the classical repertoire on pointe
- Pay the $25 non-refundable audition fee. (Payable at the link above.)
- To hold a spot in the program, send a $325 non-refundable deposit check (personal or cashier’s check) to:
City Ballet – PO Box 99072 – San Diego, CA 92169
Important: Auditions are accepted before the deposit is received; however, we cannot hold a spot in the program without a deposit.
You may also mail all of the above materials and send audition by DVD to the mailing address above.
We will send you an email confirmation when we receive your audition. When the results of your audition are ready, we will notify you by email and send you an email registration packet with further instructions.
Audition Fee
There is a non-refundable Audition Fee of $25 payable at the link above, or by check included with audition materials when mailed.
Tuition
Tuition for the three-week Summer Intensive Program is $1,500 for the Advanced and Intermediate II Levels, and $1,200 for the Intermediate I Level.
A $325 non-refundable tuition deposit must be received for a spot to be held in the program. Balance of tuition is due June 1 and is non-refundable.
Tuition payments accepted by personal check, cashier’s check, or cash only.
Housing
Students are responsible for their own housing during the Summer Intensive. Students 18 years of age and over may stay at local Youth Hostels. Reservations need to be made directly with the selected hostel.
City Ballet of San Diego recommends California Dreams Hostel. Their Pacific Beach location is 743 Emerald St, San Diego, CA 92109, within walking distance to City Ballet’s studios. Call 619-832-1127 or email PBreservations@californiadreamshostel.com to reserve housing for 3 weeks during the Summer Intensive.
Class Schedule
Classes are held Monday through Friday, beginning at 9:00 am and finish at 3:00 pm, followed by two hours of rehearsal until 5:00 pm, in preparation for the performance at the end of the program.
Location
All Classes are held at City Ballet School, located in the Pacific Beach area of San Diego at 941 Garnet Avenue (alley entrance).
For more information email school@cityballet.org
Ballet at Twilight
The Summer Intensive culminates in a free public performance, Ballet at Twilight, performed by all of the student participants in the program.
Friday, August 1, 2025 at 8:00 pm
Epstein Family Amphitheater
UC San Diego
9500 Gilman Drive
La Jolla, CA 92093



City Ballet of San Diego adheres to San Diego County’s Health and Human Services Agency COVID-19 protocols.
We highly recommend full COVID-19 vaccination for all students.
Questions?
If you have questions or would like additional information, please contact City Ballet School Office by email at school@cityballet.org.