The sound of pointe shoes landing on the marley floors and the symphony of Act II of “Swan Lake” fill the studio as ballet dancers move in unison, letting the music guide their movements from one step to the next. In the hallway, dancers peak their heads around the corner to watch the ensemble rehearse for their next performance. 

Some of those dancers are among the seven apprentices recently hired for the 2024-25 performance season at Tucson’s local ballet company, Ballet Tucson. 

Ballet dancers beginning their careers at Ballet Tucson are hired into the apprenticeship program by audition and start dancing in the corps de ballet–the part of the company that specializes in ensemble work. Unlike others in the corps de ballet, however, an apprenticeship is an unpaid position. 

Once the apprentices are hired into the program, they are then observed in group work to determine their probability of moving into the corps.

Margaret Mullen, the artistic director of Ballet Tucson, said the organization focuses on hiring apprentices who bring not only dancing skills but shared values to the company. 

“I will say obviously the given is talent,” she said. “But the not-so-given that we are really focused on, here is someone that is teamwork driven and we are really looking for kind, respectful people.”

Mullen conducts personal interviews with auditionees, which she said is uncommon in ballet companies. Her goal is to learn about a dancer’s temperament, personality and what led them to audition for the company. She said the company needs dancers to be collaborative and motivated to be a part of a bigger picture.

“We really care deeply about the art of ballet and how beautiful and exceptional it can be,” she said. “We invest a lot in creating transformational experiences for our audiences and we really need people that are committed to the work that that requires.”

She also said the company’s limited budget and small scale call for a period of growth. So she hires intentionally, selecting dancers who she thinks have a future in the company. 

“We’re really trying to solidify our place within the community and the importance of dance within Tucson’s art community,” she said. “I think for us, we are looking out as far as who is this group who is going to continue to grow with us, hopefully for years.”

Depending on the circumstances, apprenticeships last about two years, said 24-year-old Malerie Moore, a new apprentice with Ballet Tucson. She said apprenticeship is a transitional phase for the dancers. 

“That’s also for the artistic staff to be giving you a test run to see if you mesh well with the rest of your company dancers and if they see you being able to progress through their company,” she said. 

Moore said it was hard to find a job as a professional ballet dancer after the COVID-19 pandemic because there was a hiring deficit in ballet companies. Throughout her job search, she said she heard positive feedback from friends in Ballet Tucson’s company, so she sent in audition material all the way from her hometown in Kansas City, Mo. She added that she was motivated to audition because of the company’s artistic direction. 

“Margaret obviously being the director of Ballet Tucson,” she said. “She was just such a beautiful dancer, and I remember following her career, so just getting to be under the direction of her and coached by her was something that was really intriguing to me.”

Moore said apprentices at Ballet Tucson have many opportunities. Her training is personalized to strengthen her weaknesses and improve her artistry, she said. That’s not common in ballet companies, as professional dancers are expected to self-correct their technique and artistry. 

Along with training, Moore said apprentice dancers also perform in many programs. The repertoire planned for the 2024-25 season includes performances she has wanted to do for a long time, such as work by award winning choreographers.

“We’re doing Justin Peck’s ‘Pulcinella Variations,’ which we are the second company other than New York City Ballet to ever get the rights to do,” she said. “A lot of bucket-list ballets that people actually want to do in their career, you actually can do at Ballet Tucson.”

Olivia Bellone, a 19-year-old apprentice from New Jersey, said she was also drawn to audition after hearing a friend’s positive experience in the company. 

“I have a friend who is a few years senior to me that came from the same studio as me in New Jersey and she was a demi soloist at Ballet Tucson,” she said. “Every time she came back, I was like, ‘Wow’– this girl is improving.’”

Bellone said her experience so far has lived up to the hype. As she begins her professional career, she said it’s important that the work environment is healthy and the coaching is valuable. 

“It’s been really rewarding to kind of be treated as a professional,” she said, “It’s been really freeing to be trusted with the (repertoire) that they’re giving.”

Recently, Ballet Tucson presented “Footprints at the Fox,” a pre-season show with mainly apprentices performing in-house choreography by eight company members. Bellone said the show helps artistic staff identify the strengths of new apprentices. 

“It was an opportunity for artistic staff to get to know all of the apprentices on stage and see what they are capable of, what their strengths are and how that might reflect upon their casting for the upcoming season,” she said. 

Mullen said “Footprints at the Fox” highlights the apprentices, which is uncommon in the main stage season, as the apprentices perform mainly in the ensemble. 

Still, she said apprentices are typically on stage in every program during the performance season. 

Ballet Tucson’s next program, “Spirit Garden,” runs for four shows from Nov. 1 to Nov. 3, with apprentice appearances in works including Act II of “Swan Lake.” Tickets can be purchased via Ballet Tucson’s website.

Arizona Sonoran News is a news service of the University of Arizona School of Journalism.