If you're sixteen and dreaming of a company contract, your path looks radically different than if you're seventeen and considering a college dance program. The ballet world offers no single roadmap to success—and choosing between intensive pre-professional training and a four-year university degree is one of the most consequential decisions a young dancer will make.
Two programs, one in Brooklyn and one in Columbus, Ohio, illustrate this divide perfectly. Neither is "better" in absolute terms. What matters is where you are in your training, what kind of dancer you want to become, and what risks you're prepared to take.
Brooklyn Ballet: Pre-Professional Training in a Diverse Borough
Founded in 2002, Brooklyn Ballet is a nonprofit organization offering pre-professional and community dance training. Unlike the fictional "Brooklyn Ballet School" sometimes misattributed in online sources, the actual institution is younger, smaller, and more eclectic than its Manhattan counterparts—and deliberately so.
What Sets It Apart
Genre fusion. Brooklyn Ballet has made a name for itself through projects that blend classical ballet with hip-hop, house, and African dance traditions. Its Brooklyn Nutcracker, performed annually at the Kings Theatre, reimagines Tchaikovsky's score with digital projection and culturally diverse choreography. For dancers interested in expanding what "ballet" can mean, this is rare territory.
Accessibility mission. The organization runs significant outreach and scholarship programs, including tuition-free training for students from low-income backgrounds. This commitment to equity distinguishes it from the prohibitively expensive private studios that dominate NYC's elite ballet pipeline.
Training structure. The pre-professional division serves students roughly ages 8–18, with classes in classical ballet technique, pointe, variations, men's technique, and contemporary dance. Class sizes tend to be smaller than at major Manhattan conservatories, allowing for more individualized correction.
Who It's For
Brooklyn Ballet suits the dancer who wants rigorous classical training without the hyper-competitive, often homogeneous environment of a top-tier feeder school. It is not, however, a direct pipeline to major ballet companies in the way that the School of American Ballet or Miami City Ballet School can be. Graduates have gone on to university dance programs, regional companies, commercial dance, and multidisciplinary performance careers—but those seeking a straight line to American Ballet Theatre or New York City Ballet will likely need supplemental training or a later transfer.
Ohio State University: A BFA in Dance With Contemporary Strengths
At The Ohio State University, the Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance is a four-year university degree housed within one of the largest and most respected dance departments in the United States. Here is the first thing to understand: this is not a ballet conservatory program disguised as a BFA. It is a contemporary-leaning dance education with ballet as one essential pillar among many.
What Sets It Apart
Contemporary and somatic focus. OSU Dance is nationally recognized for its investment in contemporary modern dance, choreography, dance science, and somatic practices such as Body-Mind Centering® and Alexander Technique. Students take ballet regularly, often from excellent teachers, but the pedagogical center of gravity is modern and postmodern dance.
Research and interdisciplinary opportunities. As a major research university, OSU offers dance students access to cutting-edge motion-capture labs, dance-for-camera courses, study-abroad programs, and double majors. This intellectual breadth is simply unavailable at a pre-professional ballet academy.
Performance and choreography. BFA students perform in faculty works, guest artist residencies, and self-produced concerts. The department brings in significant choreographers each year, and seniors typically mount full thesis productions. For dancers who want to make work, not just execute it, this environment is ideal.
Post-graduation pathways. OSU alumni dance with contemporary companies (Gallim Dance, Doug Varone and Dancers), found their own ensembles, pursue MFAs, or transition into dance therapy, arts administration, and education. The degree provides a safety net that pre-professional academy training does not.
Who It's For
Ohio State's BFA is designed for the dancer who wants four years of structured growth, academic exploration, and contemporary training. It is an excellent choice for students who value a college experience, need time to mature physically and artistically, or whose interests extend beyond classical ballet repertory. It is generally not the right fit for someone determined to enter a classical ballet company by age 19 or 20.
How to Choose: A Side-by-Side Comparison
| Factor | Brooklyn Ballet (Pre-Professional) | Ohio State University (BFA in Dance) |
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