Anna McCowan Johnson Aspirant

Advanced Ballet Training

The Anna McCowan-Johnson Aspirant Program is for passionate students who want to pursue a career as a professional dancer. This post-secondary program provides dancers with specially designed classes in ballet and pointe technique, modern, and classical variations, as well as the opportunity to work with new and established choreographers and to create new work of their own.

Since the Aspirants are in close contact with the RWB Company, they also have the unique advantage of regularly attending Company classes and are frequently cast in full-length classical ballet productions.

Aside from technical training, Aspirants are supported in the preparation of audition photos, videos, applications, and other logistics, and are invited to take part in a variety of lectures on topics such as finances, stress, and anxiety management in collaboration with the Dancers’ Transition Resource Centre.

This close proximity to the Company, in addition to the prestigious training and professional development support, is designed to set students up for a successful career in dance. Several graduates from the program have gone on to perform in renowned ballet companies around the world.

A former RWB Company Member, Company Ballet Master, and instructor in the RWB Professional Division, Program Director Vanessa Léonard applies her vast knowledge and expertise of the art form to her role in teaching the next generation of dancers. See her full profile here.