PRDC is a six year developmental program that bridges the gap between a young dancer’s recreational training and a professional career — offering an immersive program that seamlessly integrates elite technical instruction with real-world company experience. Dancers engage in rigorous training in company classes while refining their artistry through repertory work and collaboration with professional choreographers and companies. This dynamic approach ensures that PRDC artists graduate not only as highly skilled performers but as versatile professionals that are prepared to meet the demands of a successful dance career.

What Makes PRDC Unique

As an academy PRDC delivers an immersive pre-professional experience through a dynamic curriculum of classical ballet, contemporary techniques, improvisation, composition, professional skill development, and stagecraft. Dancers cultivate both technical mastery and creative expression with a focus on professional-caliber repertory and collaborative projects. 

In addition to working as an academy PRDC operates as a fully functional dance company where pre-professional dancers engage in both performance and leadership capacities — working under the guidance of professionals and in professional environments. From learning company management to going on tour, dancers gain firsthand experience in the inner workings of a professional dance company, refining their skills beyond the studio and stage. This approach ensures that graduates leave PRDC with not only world-class training but also the industry knowledge and professional acumen required for a successful and sustainable career in dance.

Core Strengths of the Program

• Diverse Technical Training – PRDC offers an extensive curriculum that includes classical ballet, contemporary techniques (including Cunningham, Horton, Limon, Humphrey, and release), improvisation, site-specific work, choreography, Ci, and partnering. 
• Artistic Development – Students are encouraged to develop a clear artistic voice through choreographic studies, improvisation, working with successful artists and companies, and performing at the highest levels. They participate in planning repertory, setting choreography, and conceptualizing and realizing performances.
• Professional Experience – PRDC dancers work in professional settings from the start, engaging in performances, touring, guest artist collaborations, and attending dance festivals that provide firsthand industry exposure and networking opportunities.
• Comprehensive Career Preparation – PRDC integrates essential career-building components, teaching dancers not only performance skills but also fundraising, marketing, networking, and production planning. These aspects help dancers build a competitive CV and understand the business of dance.
• Performance-Centric Training – Students are involved in every aspect of performance production, from choreography and lighting design to costuming and touring logistics. By maintaining a consistent repertory, dancers build a portfolio of stage experience far exceeding their peers.
• Academy Structure & Rigorous Schedule – The program follows an academy-style structure with an intensive weekly schedule, including technique classes, partnering, theory-based courses, and rehearsals, ensuring students receive a thorough dance education.