INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

Victoria Academy of Ballet welcomes students from around the world to join either our VOCATIONAL DIVISION or OPEN DIVISION.

Depending on a student’s career goals they may want to audition for the Professional Training Program or Post-Secondary Bridge Diploma Program to intensively train for a career in dance.

VAB is a hub for students around the globe studying in one of Canda’s most beautiful cities on Vancouver Island, British Columbia.

To find out what program is right for you, please contact us at admissions@vabllet.ca and we are happy to discuss the best option to achieve your dance goals.

Our Host Family Program

At the Victoria Academy of Ballet, all international and domestic visiting students under the age of 19 live with carefully selected and screened host families. The support and understanding of a caring host family provides a smooth transition to a new culture and our demanding dance schedule. Some students are also enrolled in academic secondary school classes or an ESL program, and host parents are adept at managing the routines and responsibilities of our students. Our host families are chosen for their ability to provide a warm and supportive home environment, and for their willingness to treat each visiting student as a member of their family. Each family participates in an intensive orientation program which focuses on cultural understanding and how to help students adjust to a new environment. Our staff assists all students and host families for the duration of the student’s stay, should any issues or emergencies arise. Students are well cared for in comfortable, supportive homes. Victoria Academy of Ballet also provides Custodianship services for international students as required by Citizenship and Immigration Canada.

An Ideal Location

Victoria, the capital of British Columbia, is a thriving city known for its spectacular natural beauty and its vibrant arts community. Situated on the southern tip of Vancouver Island, on the west coast of Canada, Victoria is easily accessible by international airport or ferry. The climate is temperate, with mild winters and summers. Victoria is recognized worldwide as a beautiful and culturally-diverse city. Our studio is located near the city’s centre, conveniently located for easy bus transportation, coffee shops, restaurants and shopping.

The city supports a wide variety of arts, including symphony, opera, art galleries, and professional theatre companies, as well as a world class cultural anthropology museum, and many arts festivals. The professional dance community is strong, and each season, Dance Victoria sponsors performances from world-renownedworld-class companies such as the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada, Ballet BC, Alberta Ballet, Alvin Ailey and Cuban National Ballet.

Victoria is also a thriving centre for post-secondary education. Home to two universities and a community college, students attend from across Canada, the Pacific Rim, and around the world. From the city’s lush gardens, parks and waterways to the nature parks and coastlines that surround the city, Victoria’s natural beauty is unmatched. Victoria is an ideal location for dance students, offering a welcoming and multicultural experience.