SEASON 2024-2025
“Because it offers a smaller environment, at JBA there is room for more feedback and out of this improvement should be inevitable. I feel JBA is a nurturing, loving place which is the kind of atmosphere needed to enable a dancer to fulfill their full potential. Aside, the JBA training program offers the wealth of top-class professionals - teachers, choreographers and coaches - whom they bring in to work with the dancers”.
“On completion of my final Antwerp year, I auditioned for JBA and I realized that two years of further training and performing with them would greatly improve not only my contemporary vocabulary but also my classical technique.”
“Having followed JBA on social media and heard very positive reports about it through a mutual friend, I auditioned and was accepted. What struck me forcibly at the audition was the personal feedback from both Alain and Altea: this strong focus on the nurturing of the individual dancer has been confirmed in the short time I have spent with JBA.”
“Although my reasons initially were because of the large repertoire JBA offers, as well as the chance to work with so many choreographers and coaches, in the short space of time I have spent in Antwerp I fully appreciate JBA’s healthy work environment. It is safe here to learn from my mistakes and not be judged on them. Moreover I feel the JBA teachers get to know the talents (and faults) of all their dancers and to work with each one of them in an individual fashion. I hope during my period here to become ‘an aware dancer with a mature way of moving’, to pick up and assimilate new styles very quickly and also to release tension ‘to let go‘ and express my enjoyment in dancing.”
“I knew that I wanted to continue my training at JBA after seeing Dance Europe’s film of the rehearsals for their production of Cinderella. I felt inspired by the passion, artistry and attention to detail of JBA and I feel that JBA will help me develop and grow into a dancer who can reach the audience through artistry and passionate storytelling. Furthermore, the support and career guidance of the teaching faculty is invaluable.”
“During a summer dance course in Prague, I had heard about JBA from another JBA dancer and this made me aware of what Europe had to offer. At the same time I graduated at age 17 and did not feel ready to dive into a full-time career. I am also aware that companies today hesitate in signing up young dancers with so little experience. What JBA offers - strong training in different choreographic styles, performing experience, personal coaching in a small supportive environment - the two years in Antwerp is an ideal transition period for me!”
“The JBA program was a further choice because of the diverse repertoire offered during a two-year course. I hope to learn more about myself here, to become stronger mentally as well as physically and to discover what I really like and wish to dance.”
I look greatly forward to learn many new styles from different choreographers and I hope to develop further both as a dancer and an artist. JBA offers a very personal atmosphere - it has a limited amount of participants and it is an encouraging and nurturing environment.
Through the various works and experiences I will have at JBA, I hope to grow into an expressive and joyful artist. I also hope to gain a deeper understanding of myself, with the help from artists at JBA who will objectively point out my strengths and weaknesses
Joining Junior Ballet Antwerp I feel sure, will help me bloom as an artist. It’s a healing place to be as you are helped to develop as an individual without judgement. Another reason is because of the unique repertoire, which is a reflection of what i dream of performing. David Dawson’s work for example with its unique lines and expression!
I had my eyes set on Junior Ballet Antwerp, having seen that the program has a reputation for the standard of dancers they produce. JBA dancers are encouraged to be unique to themselves and to ‘expand their strengths’ while being helped personally with weaker issues. This was enhanced after my JBA audition and left me inspired. I hope and feel sure that I will be pushed and challenged in all aspects of dance, artistically and technically.
The first time I auditioned for JBA, my application was not accepted which made me understand that I was still too young and inexperienced. I then went on to spending time in Barcelona, studying with a few Cuban teachers who helped in strengthening my technique. As a result, after auditioning again for JBA at the age of 19, I was accepted.
I was interested in joining JBA because I want to gain stage experience as it is so essential for an emerging dancer/ artist. The repertoire JBA offers also aligns with the genre I aspire to dance.
Everyone at Junior Ballet Antwerp seemed to shine, I thought the teachers’ instructions were very accurate and wonderful so from that moment on, I wanted to join JBA. Now that I am here I want to improve not only my classical technique but also learn neo-classical ballet and contemporary dance, so I can prepare myself fully for future auditions.
I was drawn by the teachers’ compassionate approach and dedication, their enthusiasm and humane manner for helping young dancers to develop. The performance opportunities and valuable experience on offer at Junior Ballet Antwerp were compelling factors.
I have always held Junior Ballet Antwerp in high regard. I see it as one of the leading junior ballet companies in Europe as I believe it is a highly selective and elite platform for dancers on the verge of entering the professional industry. Aside, JBA replicates the intense performance schedule of a professional company.
I believe Junior Ballet Antwerp will give me security and confidence, as well as prepare me for the future. The program offers great versatility and includes excellent teachers and coaches. Their former dancers have nothing but praise for the personal attention given to each student, which all adds up to make it a great place to learn to become a true professional. This is what I hope to learn during my time with JBA.
This program offers young people the chance to grow, not only as dancers but as individuals because of the very positive and nurturing environment. This, plus the wide variety of dance styles included in the course and the chances to meet so many people - coaches, teachers and choreographers, will without doubt influence my future path in unforeseen ways.
I realised on graduation that I was not yet ready to join a professional company. More and more companies today prefer dancers with experience. For this reason the JBA program is ideal; not only do they offer lots of stage experience, there is the opportunity on their program to learn various styles by working with different choreographers.