Victoria Academy of Ballet is a dance school in Victoria, British Columbia, offering ballet training and academic learning.
Victoria Academy of Ballet (VAB) is located at 2713 Quadra Street in Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. The Academy's stated mission is to offer outstanding dance training and academic learning opportunities, with an emphasis on dancers' overall health and successful career ambitions. VAB offers homestay accommodation for international and domestic students.
The Academy's teaching approach is rooted in the Cecchetti method, and VAB also uses the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) training method. The Vocational Division's Professional Training Program and Post-Secondary Bridge Diploma Program aim to develop classical ballet dancers with equal prowess in the contemporary genre. Acceptance into Vocational Division programs is by audition only. The BC Ministry of Education recognizes ballet exams taken at the Academy as external courses, allowing students to earn credits toward high school graduation. Each year, students may be selected to take Cecchetti Canada examinations with a recognized examiner.
VAB has custom-built studios described as state-of-the-art, situated in an easily accessible neighborhood in the capital of British Columbia. Listed facilities include sprung dance floors, a large warm-up and pilates area, a student lounge and kitchenette, washrooms, an accessible main level, staff and faculty offices and lounge, a touchless water fountain, and a drop-off and pick-up area.
Admission routes include a Zoom audition, a video audition, admission to the Post-Secondary Bridge Program (diploma), and eligibility for the Professional Training Program (PTP). Acceptance into Vocational Division programs is by audition only.
The Academy holds designations from the Private Training Institutions Regulatory Unit (PTIRU) and the Education Quality Assurance (EQA), both under the umbrella of the BC Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Training. VAB graduates perform worldwide in professional companies such as Oklahoma City Ballet, Orlando Ballet and Royal Winnipeg Ballet.