Bellevue's ballet academy and the official school of International Ballet Theatre. Vaganova-based training from a first class at twenty months to the Professional Division, with a place on IBT's stage along the way.
Register for 2026 | 2027The International Ballet Academy specializes in professional dance training while keeping the classical traditions of dance and theater alive. Students learn ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz and character from a faculty trained at the Vaganova Academy, the Paris Opera, New York City Ballet and the Royal Ballet School, and go on to careers with the world's great companies.
The Children's Program opens the art form to the very young. Primary and Preparatory students follow the Vaganova method level by level, and the Professional Division trains dancers who mean to make ballet their career. Teens and adults join open classes with no requirement but the desire to dance.
See the programs
IBA is IBT's official preparatory school. Every student can dance in Stars of Tomorrow at Meydenbauer Theatre, Preparatory students audition for roles in IBT's season, and the Professional Division performs in every production.
The IBT seasonAges 13 to 18. The Professional and Pre-Professional divisions, by audition, for dancers pursuing a career in classical ballet.
Professional ProgramAges 9 to 16. Eight levels of Vaganova ballet with jazz, character, flamenco and modern, by placement audition.
Preparatory ProgramAges 7 to 9. A first formal ballet class at the barre, plus jazz. No audition required.
Primary ProgramTwenty months to 7 years. Creative movement, music and first ballet positions, grouped by age.
Children's ProgramAges 12 to adult. Drop-in ballet, character, flamenco, jazz, tap, modern and floor barre.
Open classesThe Summer Intensive, the Summer Dance Program and children's dance classes, July and August.
Summer programsClass schedules, the semester calendar and the academy's holidays and closures for 2026 | 2027.
See the scheduleVera Altunina and a faculty drawn from the Vaganova Academy, New York City Ballet, the Paris Opera and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
Meet the facultyFour light-filled studios at 11211 Main St. in downtown Bellevue, available for rehearsals, classes, workshops and shoots.
Rent a studio