Recognizing that arts and academics should not be mutually exclusive, Portland School of Ballet entered into partnership with Portland High School (a National School of Excellence) in 1994 to create CORPS, a performing arts high school program. Students from around the region attend academic classes at Portland High School, where they are granted early release. Today, many schools from around the region recognize the value of the CORPS program and arrange academic schedules to accommodate these accomplished young dancers. These pre-professional dancers then attend Portland School of Ballet for 3 hours daily intensive ballet and enrichment classes.

Portland Public Schools superintendent Dr. James Morse enthusiastically supports this program, saying "I embrace CORPS as an innovative educational collaboration...this program truly creates a performing arts high school for students from any district in Maine"

In addition to their dance training, CORPS students have many performing opportunities, including The Victorian Nutcracker, the PSB Spring performance, and the Year End Student Performance. CORPS dancers perform as part of our community outreach programs; and may be invited to perform with the professional dancers of Portland Ballet Company.

Curriculum offerings include Technique, Pointe, Variations , Modern, Jazz, Conditioning, Anatomy/Kinesiology (taught by OA Centers for Orthopaedics), dance history, nutrition, stagecraft, and audition and resume preparation. High School Transcript credit in Health, Physical Education, and Fine Arts is earned through this innovative curriculum. Tuition assistance for advanced dancers is available through the Lynn Moran Scholarship Fund. Juniors and Seniors are invited to audition to be apprentices in Portland Ballet Company.


Requirements:

Interested students must attend the CORPS audition that takes place in Spring each year. Dancers must also demonstrate acceptance at a nationally competitive summer program, although attendance is not mandatory. CORPS class takes place Monday to Friday from 1:30 - 4:30, 15 hours per week. Dancers may also be expected to attend additional rehearsals on weekends for various performing opportunities. Talented dancers who are not ready for this program may be accepted into the Pre-CORPS program. Please contact us for further information on becoming part of the CORPS pre-professional program.



Pre-CORPS
Pre-CORPS is a level designed to prepare young dancers for the rigors of CORPS. This level meets daily, for a total of 10.5 hours per week, with a focus on refining strength, endurance, and pointe work in preparation for the CORPS program.