Pre-Professional Division

For dancers who are ready to take ballet seriously, our Pre-Professional Division provides the focused training, mentorship, and performance experience needed to prepare for the next stage of their dance journey.

Designed for dedicated dancers ages 12 and older with prior ballet experience, this division is for students who have a genuine passion for ballet and are committed to consistent, high-quality training. Whether a dancer dreams of joining a professional ballet company, pursuing dance in college, attending prestigious summer intensives, or simply becoming the strongest artist they can be, our program provides the individualized guidance to help them reach those goals.

Unlike large programs where dancers can easily become one of many, our conservatory-style approach allows every student to be personally mentored. We intentionally keep our program small so our faculty can truly understand each dancer’s strengths, challenges, learning style, and long-term aspirations. Every correction, every class, and every opportunity is purposeful and tailored to the individual.

A Training Program Built for Serious Dancers

As dancers progress through the Pre-Professional Division, training expands beyond technique classes to include pointe work, variations, partnering opportunities, conditioning, contemporary, jazz, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), and performance coaching. Students also can audition for the Studio Company and participate in rehearsals and productions through Gulf Coast Ballet Theater, allowing them to apply their training in a professional rehearsal environment while developing artistry, confidence, and stage experience.

Our curriculum is designed to develop dancers who are not only technically strong but also intelligent artists capable of adapting to the demands of today’s professional and collegiate dance environments.

Faculty with Real-World Experience

Our faculty brings decades of professional performing and teaching experience, along with nationally recognized certifications and strong connections throughout the dance industry. Through personalized instruction, guest artists, master classes, and ongoing mentorship, we help each dancer build the technical excellence, artistry, and confidence needed to pursue their individual goals—whether that’s a professional career, collegiate dance program, or personal achievement.

Faculty Bios

Is This Program Right for You?

The Pre-Professional Division is intended for motivated dancers with previous ballet training who are ready to commit to a structured conservatory curriculum. Placement is determined through an audition or evaluation to ensure each dancer enters the level that best supports their current ability and future development.

If you’re looking for intentional training, personal mentorship, and a program that prioritizes quality over quantity, we’d love to meet you.

To schedule an audition, call (727) 448-0044 or email info@gulfcoastdancenter.com.

Age 12+ by audition/placement

Required weekly classes (6):

• Tuesday
  • Jazz 4:  6-7pm
  • Contemporary 4:  7-8pm
• Wednesday
  • Ballet 4:  5-6:30pm
  • Pointe 4:  6:30-7:30pm
• Thursday
  • Ballet 4 & 30 mins pointe:  5:30-7:30pm
• Saturday – Ballet 4/5:  10-11:30am
• Optional Class:
  • PBT (conditioning & strengthening) – Saturdays at 9-10am
  • $10 drop in or $30/monthly auto.

Program Tuition: 

• • $490/monthly – 32 hours of dance
  • $35 annual registration fee

Dress Code for Level 4:

Girls:

• • Ballet – French Blue Nikolay leotard (any style), pink tights, pink ballet slippers, and hair in a bun.  Optional: french blue ballet skirt, black ballet skirt, or fitted black dance shorts.  Saturday you may wear any color leotard or ballet skirt.
  • Jazz – Black or french blue leotard, pink/flesh/black tights, flesh toned jazz shoes, and hair up.  Optional: black dance shorts over tights or black leggings.
  • Contemporary – dance wear the same as jazz except you will dance barefoot or in socks.

Boys:

• • Ballet – Black or white fitted dance top, black tights, and black ballet slippers.  Saturday can wear a colored fitted dance top, black tights, and black ballet slippers.
  • Jazz – Black or white fitted dance top, black tights, leggings or jazz pants, and black jazz shoes.
  • Contemporary – Black or white fitted dance top, black dance bottoms, and barefoot.

Age 14+ by audition/placement

Required weekly classes (8):

• Monday
  • Ballet 5:  4:30-6pm
  • Pointe 5:  6-7pm
• Tuesday
  • Jazz 5:  5-6pm
  • Ballet 5 (on pointe):  6-7:30pm
• Wednesday
  • Ballet 5 (on pointe):  4-5:30pm
  • Contemporary 5:  5:30-6:30pm
• Thursday (Option 1) – **Adult Ballet 4/Pro (& Ballet 5):  7:30-9pm
• Saturday
  • **PBT (Option 2) – 9-10am
  • Ballet 4/5:  10-11:30am
• Must select Option 1 or 2:
  • The dancers have the option to attend a Thursday night class late or attend an early Saturday morning class.  Some students may need the time to study or are not early morning dancers.

Program Tuition:  

• • $590/monthly – 42 hours of dance
  • $35 annual registration fee

Dress Code for Level 5:

Girls:

• • Ballet – Light Navy Blue Nikolay leotard (any style), pink tights, pink ballet slippers, and hair in a bun.  Optional: Light navy blue ballet skirt, black ballet skirt, or fitted black dance shorts.  Thursday and Saturday you may wear any color leotard or ballet skirt.
  • Jazz – Black or light navy blue leotard, pink/flesh/black tights, flesh toned jazz shoes, and hair up.  Optional: black dance shorts over tights or black leggings.
  • Contemporary – dance wear the same as jazz except you will dance barefoot or in socks.

Boys:

• • Ballet – Black or white fitted dance top, black tights, and black ballet slippers.  Saturday can wear a colored fitted dance top, black tights, and black ballet slippers.
  • Jazz – Black or white fitted dance top, black tights, leggings or jazz pants, and black jazz shoes.
  • Contemporary – Black or white fitted dance top, black dance bottoms, and barefoot.

We offer personalized one on one coaching to assist our dancers to reach their dance goals.  This is a tailored time to work on the continued improvement of the dancer’s technique, to work through steps that may be causing the dancer issues, coaching and rehearsing solos, and to assist in the creation of audition videos for college, summer intensives, or career opportunities.

Privates are only available for dancers ages 9 to Adult.  You do not have to be a current GCD student to take privates.  Please call 727-448-0044 to schedule a private.

Privates – $85/hour