Kaatsbaan Cultural Park Announces 2026 Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive Auditions

Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, Tivoli, NY is pleased to announce auditions for the Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive (KBI), January 16–18, 2026. In-person auditions will take place January 16–17 at Gibney Studios, located at 890 Broadway, New York, NY 10003, in Studio 5-2. An additional audition will take place in Tivoli at Kaatsbaan (120 Broadway, Tivoli, NY 12583) on January 18, 12:00–1:30 PM.

Auditions will last an hour and a half and be led by Kaatsbaan’s Artistic Director, Paloma Herrera. Kaatsbaan co-founders and faculty members, Kevin McKenzie and Martine van Hamel, will also be in attendance.

Please arrive with enough time to check-in. There will be no waiting area inside the building for parents. Please plan to drop dancers off and return at the end of the audition. Girls should wear a solid color leotard, pink tights, and should have both flat and pointe shoes. Boys should wear black tights and a white shirt.

For more information and to register to audition at Gibney Studios on January 16 or 17, please visit here. Click here to register for an audition at Tivoli on January 18.

Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive(KBI) is a unique training program designed for young dancers between the ages 13 and 18 to develop exceptional technical skills, artistic refinement, and a sophisticated approach to repertoire, with the ultimate goal of preparing attendees for a career in the arts. KBI 2026 will take place June 22, 2026–August 15, 2026.

The program is divided into four two-week sessions: The first runs from June 22 to July 4, the second from July 6 to July 18, the third from July 20 to August 1, and the fourth from August 3 to August 15.

Situated on 153 acres of rolling countryside, Kaatsbaan is a sanctuary for artists seeking inspiration and tranquility. Their campus offers an idyllic environment for focused practice and relaxation.

Dancers will have access to world-class dance studios equipped with sprung floors, large windows, barres, and mirrors, creating an optimal learning environment.

Kaatsbaan offers options for either onsite boarding (limited availability) as well as day students in the beautiful Hudson Valley in Upstate New York.

Joining the Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive means becoming a part of a vibrant artistic community. You’ll have the chance to interact with fellow dancers, choreographers, and visiting artists, creating lasting connections in the dance world.

To be eligible for KBI, participants must be between the ages of 13 and 18 during the session(s) they attend, be available for the entire duration of the chosen session, and be fully immunized in accordance with New York State Immunization Requirements for School Attendance. Participants are also strongly urged to be up to date on COVID-19 immunization as defined by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and must have a minimum of two years of prior training in pointe work.

Please reach out to balletintensive@kaatsbaan.org with any questions.

Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive, Photo courtesy of Michelle Tabnick PR