Pre-Professional Program

(AGES 8-18) BY AUDITION / INVITATION ONLY

Auditions are coming up August 13 – 15 for NOBA’s 2026-2027 Pre-Professional Program! 

2026 – 2027 School Year (Pre-Professional Program only)
August 29, 2026 – May 16, 2027

AUDITION LOCATION: Lyons Rec Center, 624 Louisiana Ave.

𝘕𝘰𝘵𝘦: 𝘴𝘵𝘶𝘥𝘦𝘯𝘵𝘴 𝘮𝘶𝘴𝘵 𝘤𝘩𝘦𝘤𝘬 𝘪𝘯 𝟷𝟻 𝘮𝘪𝘯𝘶𝘵𝘦𝘴 𝘱𝘳𝘪𝘰𝘳 𝘵𝘰 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘴𝘵𝘢𝘳𝘵 𝘵𝘪𝘮𝘦 𝘰𝘧 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘢𝘶𝘥𝘪𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘱𝘭𝘢𝘤𝘦𝘮𝘦𝘯𝘵 / 𝘦𝘷𝘢𝘭𝘶𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘥𝘢𝘺.

Following the auditions, both returning, and newly accepted students must attend a mandatory placement & evaluation class as follows:

PLACEMENT DAY
SAT | AUG 15 
9:30am-3:15pm* 

*Call times for placement day will vary depending on the dancer, if accepted. 

To audition, students must be the minimum required age of eight (8) by September 1, 2026, and be no older than 18 or a senior graduating high school no earlier than May 2027. 

Students ages 8-18 are accepted by audition/invitation only and placed in the appropriate program or track by NOBA faculty and staff based on both on current skill level and age. Upon acceptance and track placement, students must be able to commit to regular, consistent and on-time attendance on all days of the required weekly schedule for the track in which they are placed. 

Online registration is required for the audition. 

ABOUT THE PROGRAM:  

This unique and highly specialized, tuition-free program provides motivated, talented and focused students ages 8 -18 with intensive instruction in ballet, body conditioning, pointe, modern and repertoire, plus workshops in other dance forms such as hip hop, jazz and West African dance, and unprecedented opportunities to study and even perform with world-renowned artists through the Master Artist Series. 

Following mandatory orientation sessions on August 29, 2026, classes and activities will be held weekly between September 8, 2026 – May 16, 2027, at NORD partner locations throughout the New Orleans area as well as Tulane University’s McWilliams Hall, depending on track/level. Accepted students also perform in NOBA’s exciting annual productions of The Nutcracker Suite and Spring Concert Evening of Dance. 

Teaching faculty includes highly qualified local instructors and select students will receive training with NOBA Master Artists in Residence, such as guest faculty  Sumayah McRae (Juilliard graduate, former dancer on Broadway as well as with companies such as Parsons Dance and BattleWorks, and featured dancer with CHER for over 13 years) and Emily Wagner (former Armitage Gone! Dance soloist), and many more.  

Students are also offered unique opportunities such as special master classes with NOBA Main Stage artists, performances on local and national stages, and deeply discounted tickets to NOBA Main Stage performances. 

FAQ’s, Information & Important Dates: 

Students ages 8-18 are accepted by audition/invitation only and placed in the appropriate program or track by NOBA faculty and staff based on both on current skill level and age. Upon acceptance and track placement, students must be able to commit to regular, consistent and on-time attendance on all days of the required weekly schedule for the track in which they are placed.  

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 2026 - MANDATORY STUDENT & PARENT/GUARDIAN ORIENTATION | DEADLINE TO REGISTER FOR THE  2026-27 ACADEMIC YEAR PRE-PROFESSIONAL PROGRAM (if accepted):   

Location: Elleonora P. McWilliams Hall*, 70 Newcomb Circle, New Orleans, LA 70118 

(Third Floor dance studios) 

Mandatory Orientation Day – Saturday, August 29, 2026  

9:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.* 

*Attendance at Orientation Day is required for both returning and newly accepted Pre-Professional Program students; call times will vary depending on placement level / track.  

QUESTIONS? Have questions about NOBA’s Pre-Professional Program or need assistance? E-mail mwhite@nobadance.com or call 504.522.0996 x 213.

THANK YOU TO OUR GENEROUS SPONSORS