Academy Newsletter: September 2025

We’ve loved having dancers from our Preparatory, Community, Young Dancer, Advanced, and Professional Training Divisions back in class, and we can’t wait to welcome Children’s Division dancers back to the studio next week.

It’s not too late to register! If you have friends who would like to join us for an inspiring year of dance, please encourage them to visit our website or reach out to chat with an Academy staff member.

Academy newsletters will be delivered to your inbox at the beginning of each month, and they’re a great way to stay in the know on all things happening at Cincinnati Ballet and with our Academy community. Read on to learn more about what’s in store for the Academy this fall!

Audition to join the cast of the dazzling regional premiere of The Great Gatsby inspired by F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic novel. Brought to you by Septime Webre, the choreographer behind The Wizard of Oz and ALICE (in wonderland), don't miss this opulent and glamorous journey into New York's jazz age.

Young Performers Audition for The Great Gatsby
Friday, September 12, 2025
5:45-7:00 PM: Dancers 4’5” to 5’0”

Dancers must be 8 or older on the day of the audition and currently enrolled in the Otto M. Budig Academy to be eligible. Please visit the link below for more information. We hope to see you there!

We’re thrilled to start the new season welcoming two new faculty members to our Academy community.

Isabella Smith originally hails from Omaha, Nebraska, and has relocated to Cincinnati to dance as a company artist with DE LA Dance Company. Prior to Cincinnati, Isabella danced professionally in both Florida and Chicago. With a huge passion for education and over six years of teaching experience, Isabella is overjoyed to join the faculty of the Otto M. Budig Academy and to help our dancers grow!

Ciarán Barlow was born and raised in Philadelphia and trained with Dallas Ballet Center, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing Arts, Avant Chamber Ballet, and Cincinnati Ballet’s Professional Training Division. Now a second year member of Cincinnati Ballet’s Second Company - CB2, Ciarán has enjoyed performing in company productions and is eager to share what he’s learned in the studio and onstage with Academy students.

Please join us in extending a warm welcome to these new instructors!

The Otto M. Budig Academy welcomed our ninth Professional Training Division class to the studio last month. This year’s class represents 16 different states and includes returning Trainees alongside new dancers, joining us from our Summer and Collegiate Intensives and our national audition tour. We’re pleased to officially introduce our 2025-2026 Professional Training Division class!

2025-2026 Trainees: Naomi Baldwin, Gianna Brace, Sarah Beth Burt, Sydney Caggiano, Ellie Carlson, Kaytlan Carvajal, Claire Daley, Angelina DeCarlo, Sophie Dragomire, Ava Evans, Julia Fanazini, Isabella Horn, Abigail Hull, Cailyn Jackson, Taylor Johnson, Rebecca LaSalle, Hollie Montgomery, Evelyn Nelson, Grace Nelson, Lauren Palmer, Eli Petraccia, Rebecka Rundkvist, Gracie Salkowski, Sofia Sanchez, Zoe Shemet, Katie Stuckenschneider, Graciela Urdaneta, and Emma Waddell.

Save the Date! The Professional Training Division's performance season kicks off with a Fall Studio Showcase on Saturday, October 4, 2025. Tickets will be available soon, and we invite any and all from our Academy community to attend!

General Communication
When in doubt, the best way to communicate with the Academy team is by:
Email: cbacademy@cballet.org
Phone: 513.562.1111
Please leave a message if you reach our voicemail!

Absence Reporting
To report absences and schedule make-up classes, please use one of the following channels:
Absence Form: https://form.jotform.com/252095557244158
By Phone: 513.562.1111 (Option 1)

Remind
The Academy uses Remind to share short reminders and alerts via text, push notification or email. To adjust your settings or resubscribe, learn more HERE. To update who receives these notifications, please contact us!

Subscribe to Academy Emails
Many major Academy communications (newsletters, program announcements, audition notices, and more) will come your way via CB's email platform. Please click HERE and ensure the “Academy Youth Classes and Programs” box is checked for your email.

As you settle into the routine of a new Academy year, here’s a handy checklist to help ensure dancers are ready for class!

Getting Ready
Uniform: Do I have the Academy uniform on for my specific level?
Tights or Leggings: Do I have pink or flesh-tone tights on or black leggings? Tights should be footed and worn under the leotard and over the feet.
Hair: Is my hair neatly groomed, away from my face, and securely fashioned to my head in a bun or twist (for all dancers with hair longer than chin length)?
Cleanliness: Is my attire clean and free from runs, snags or holes? Am I free of body odor? Have I removed any perfumes, oils or lotions?
Jewelry: Have I removed and left at home all jewelry and watches (small earrings are permitted)?
Cover Ups: Do I have something to wear over my dance attire for travel to and from the studio?

Packing Your Dance Bag
Ballet Shoes: Do I have my ballet shoes in my bag? Do my ballet shoes match my tights (pink shoes with pink tights or flesh-tone shoes with flesh-tone tights)? If I wear leggings, do I have white shoes with white socks or black shoes with black socks?
Pointe Shoes: If I have pointe classes, are my pointe shoes in good condition with elastic and ribbons sewn?
Other Items: If I have a class in another discipline, do I have the appropriate shoes and attire? Do I have a yoga mat and Theraband If I have Pre Pointe or Conditioning?
Water Bottle: Do I have water in a spill-proof container?

Before You Leave
Do I feel sick? If you feel sick, please stay home!

Need a new uniform? Purchase leotards, skirts, dance shirts, or leggings in our Uniform Shop. Other items like dance shoes and tights can be purchased at local dancewear retailers.

We’re thrilled to kick off the third season of our Student Performance Ensemble this month! This performance-focused program is designed to provide dancers in the highest levels of our Academy with exclusive performance opportunities. Participants will showcase their talents through classical and contemporary pieces specially crafted for the Ensemble, which is curated and led by Sirui Liu, Principal Dancer for Cincinnati Ballet and Associate Principal, Ensemble for the Otto M. Budig Academy.

Registration is now open for enrolled students in Young Dancer Division 3 and the Advanced Division!

For our younger dancers and families, we hope you’ll join us for this season’s Ensemble Showcases in December and May. We can’t wait to see them shine!

Did you know you can bring Cincinnati Ballet to your school?

For over 30 years, Cincinnati Ballet's CincyDance! program has been bringing free dance experiences to Cincinnati public, private and charter schools. Our goal is to reach every second-grade student in the Greater Cincinnati area, and we'd love to visit your school!

Free dance residencies are available to all Cincinnati area PreK and 2nd Grade classrooms. To learn more or submit an inquiry, please visit us at the link below.

The Kaplan New Works Series
September 12-20, 2025
Aronoff Center for the Arts

Be up close and personal with Cincinnati Ballet’s dancers in this imaginative showcase of creativity. The Kaplan New Works Series features world premieres from contemporary artists Yoshihisa Arai, Andonis Foniadakis, and Andrea Giselle Schermoly, along with exciting new choreography by audience favorite, Caroline Dahm. Performed in the intimate Jarson-Kaplan Theater at the Aronoff Center for the Arts, this annual series is a must-see celebration of innovation and artistry.
Seats are limited — secure yours today!