Mission

NYIBC’s mission is to discover the world's finest young ballet dancers, ages 17 to 24, provide them with an extraordinary educational, mentoring and cultural experience; advance their careers by producing performances in New York City; and promote international understanding and goodwill.

What We Do

NYIBC is a three-week intensive program of artistic education and professional training. Our unique format provides 48 promising young dancers with:

- Exceptional one-on-one teaching and coaching of classical and contemporary repertory.
- Outstanding performance, networking and employment opportunities.


NYIBC offers full scholarships to all 48 participants.


NYIBC's format distinguishes it from all other international ballet competitions. On arrival, the dancers learn what repertory they will dance. During the next two weeks, world-renowned coaches teach all the dancers the same three pas de deux, two classical pas de deux and one contemporary/modern.

The study program is completed the third week when the dancers perform before an audience and the illustrious panel of international judges. After each round, the dancers with the highest scores advance. NYIBC closes with a Gala Performance, danced by medal winners, selected participants, distinguished alumni guest artists.


NYIBC identifies and nurtures promising dancers ages 17 to 24 from all ethnicities and nationalities, providing them with an exceptional opportunity to completely focus on training to perform at their highest artistic level. NYIBC attracts hiring artistic directors and choreographers because they rest assured a dancer who has been trained and mentored at NYIBC can endure the rhythm of work and life in a ballet company. Beyond performance and career advancement opportunities, the dancers form a diverse international company from which lifelong associations are born.

In the words of Dance Critic Robert Johnson: "The kind of one-on-one coaching that NYIBC fosters is an invaluable experience that even some major ballet companies no longer provide." 


As we strive to discover, educate, mentor and showcase the most gifted and engaging dancers from around the world, NYIBC continues to be the premiere program of its kind.