The Philadelphia Youth Ballet Junior Ensemble

The Philadelphia Youth Ballet (PYB) Junior Ensemble is an initiative for developing dancers (Ballet 1/1X through Ballet 4/4X). It is designed to provide additional performance opportunities with a lower weekly time commitment than a full Philadelphia Youth Ballet ensemble membership. The program focuses on building artistry, confidence, and performance skills in a supportive, professional environment, exposing dancers to ballet, contemporary, and theater dance pieces.

PYB Junior Ensemble members perform in The Nutcracker, their own Spring Concert, and the Annual Spring Showcase.

Nutcracker

All Philadelphia Dance Academy ballet students age 6 and older have the opportunity to audition for our annual production of the Nutcracker. Philadelphia Youth Ballet members must participate in the Nutcracker. Most Nutcracker rehearsals are held on Saturday afternoons (typically 1:30pm – 6:30pm) from early September through mid-December (we are off Thanksgiving weekend). We have an occasional Sunday afternoon rehearsal for some dances. Students may not miss more than 1 rehearsal.

Philadelphia Youth Ballet Junior Ensemble Premier Spring Concert

The Philadelphia Youth Ballet Junior Ensemble Premier Spring Concert at Christ Church Neighborhood House will feature classical repertoire and original works by The Philadelphia Dance Academy Staff.

Mandatory virtual parent meeting on Wednesday, August 12 from 7:00-8:00p
Mandatory First Rehearsal for PYB Junior Spring Concert: Sunday, January 3
No Rehearsals: January 17, February 14, March 7, March 21, or March 28
Mandatory In-Studio Dress Rehearsal: Sunday, April 4
Mandatory In-Theater Tech Rehearsal: Saturday, April 10 (late morning/early afternoon)
PYB Junior Ensemble Premier Spring Concert: Saturday, April 10 (late afternoon/early evening)
Weekly Rehearsals: Sunday afternoons (tentatively from 1:00-4:00p), 1–2 hours per week from January–April.
Rehearsals will be held in-studio at the Old City location.
Students may have one rehearsal absence.
The PYB Junior Ensemble Participation fee is $500. The PYB participation fee is in addition to the Nutcracker fee and will be automatically charged on Saturday, January 3, 2027. This fee includes a digital download of the Spring Concert. It does not include digital photographs.

Annual Spring Showcase

At the end of each school year, PYB Junior Ensemble presents excerpts from classical story ballets as part of The Philadelphia Dance Academy’s Spring Showcase.

FAQs

How old do you have to be to join the PYB Junior Ensemble?

What are training requirements?

Prospective PYB Junior Ensemble members are required to enroll in Ballet 1/1X, 2/2X, 3/3X, or 4/4X for the 26-27 school year.

Prospective PYB Junior Ensemble members are required to enroll in Theater Dance and/or Contemporary dance in addition to their required ballet classes for the 26-27 school year.

Prospective PYB Junior Ensemble members are also required to train at PDA over the summer.

Ballet 1/1X, 2/2X, 3/3X and 4/4X must complete a minimum of two weeks of intensive summer training at PDA.

PYB Junior Ensemble Members will rehearse on Sunday afternoons, 1- 2 hours per week, January–April, with three mandatory rehearsals:

January 3 (first in-studio rehearsal for Premier Spring Concert)
April 4 (in-studio dress rehearsal)
April 10 (in-theater tech before performance)

How do you become a PYB Junior Ensemble member?

Annual auditions occur each summer on the same day as our annual Nutcracker audition. Dates are posted at least one year in advance. Auditions are typically the last weekend in August at the Old City studios. Please be sure to fill out both the Nutcracker and PYB Junior Ensemble audition forms.

The 2026 audition dates are August 23. Audition forms are due by August 15 and can be found at the bottom of this page.

Who should audition for the PYB Junior Ensemble?

Serious, dedicated dancers in Ballet 1/1X, Ballet 2/2X, Ballet 3/3X and Ballet 4/4X who love to perform and are willing to commit to the PYB Junior Ensemble Sunday rehearsal schedule, required technique classes per week, and year-round training.

These dancers are also looking to build their individual growth in artistry, confidence, and performance skills in a supportive, professional environment.

IMPORTANT: Membership in PYB Junior Ensemble is a year-long commitment. Students may not miss more than one Nutcracker rehearsal or one rehearsal in the spring (after Winter Break, PYB Junior Ensemble returns to Sunday afternoon rehearsals to prepare for their Spring Concert). A respectful attitude is expected at all times.

What are benefits of joining the PYB Junior Ensemble?

PYB Junior Ensemble members learn a varied repertoire of classical ballet, contemporary, and other styles, which allow them to develop the versatility. These dancers will also gain experience with new choreography, collaborative rehearsals, and an additional stage performance. As Junior Ensemble members, students learn the intrinsic reward of working together towards a common goal and seeing the results of their hard work and discipline in each successful performance.

What is the membership/performance fee?

PYB Junior Ensemble annual membership fee is $500 and is charged at the beginning of January. The PYB Junior Ensemble Premier Spring Concert tickets will be $30 each.

The $400 Nutcracker fee is an additional cost.

The performance/membership fee covers: the cost of costumes, backdrop and prop rentals and purchases, theater rental, theater technical staff, professional guest artists/choreographers, program design and printing, faculty for weekly rehearsals and community events, and the digital download of the Premier Spring Concert. A photo fee is not included in the PYB Junior Ensemble fee.

Philadelphia Youth Ballet Junior Ensemble 26/27 Audition Form

26/27 PYB Junior Ensemble Rehearsal Schedule