The School of Ballet Arizona has spent 37 years teaching generations of future ballet professionals in the United States. Now students from overseas will have the opportunity to study under the guidance of Ballet Arizona’s heralded school and artistic staff.
The School of Ballet Arizona has received Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP) status, which will allow non-immigrant foreign exchange students to prepare for a career as a professional dancer. This announcement makes The School of Ballet Arizona one of fewer than 25 ballet programs in the country with SEVP designation, and the only program in the Southwest.
The rigorous process of achieving SEVP status requires schools to submit testimonials from former students turned professional dancers and detailed syllabi that outline the curriculum. The SEVP designation embraces the Ballet Arizona tradition of diversity under the direction of The School of Ballet Arizona Director Carlos Valcárcel and internationally-celebrated Ballet Arizona Artistic Director, Ib Andersen.
“We are thrilled to welcome students from across the world and to teach the next generation of ballet professionals,” Valcárcel said. “The SEVP designation validates the competitiveness of our program, which is on par with the schools of the largest ballet companies in the country.”
The School of Ballet Arizona will begin admitting foreign exchange students immediately. Five overseas students have been notified of their acceptance. Applications for Summer Intensive and Studio Company programs are currently being reviewed.
For more information about The School of Ballet Arizona, visit balletaz.org/school/about.
