Paradosi utilizes an apprenticeship approach to training the next generation of dancers to use their gifts in dance to glorify the Lord and to make Him known.  Paradosi's apprenticeship program is an immersive ballet and ministry training program that puts what dancers learn into practice through first-hand ministry opportunities.   Dancers in the program will be fully immersed into Paradosi's culture and dance style while being mentored to take on greater dance and ministry responsibilities.  Dancers will train and serve along side the Senior Apprentices and Company Artists of Paradosi while receiving more focused instruction and corrections. 

Apprentices will:  Learn and share Paradosi repertoire, participate in gospel focused theological training through our cohort with Western Seminary, participate in prayer and evangelism training, learn how to teach dance in a Christian studio, participate in choreography opportunities, and additional tasks associated with serving in a full-time ministry. 

The Apprentice Program is a two-year vocational dance ministry training program.  Apprentices are typically dancers who are coming right out of high school or college with little to no professional dance ministry experience. As students, Apprentices pay monthly tuition. Apprentices commit to a 10-month formal training seasons each touring year from September through the end of Paradosi's Summer Dance Intensive in late June or early July. Not all Apprentices may tour; touring opportunities with Paradosi Ballet will be by invitation during the season from the Artistic Director.  While Apprentices are students with the ministry, they are still eligible to seek individual missional support while training with the ministry. 

Senior Apprentice positions are open to dancers who have either completed Paradosi's Apprentice Program, have completed another Christian ballet trainee program, have already served with another Christian dance ministry, or have had a dance career with a professional company accompanied with some ministry experience.

Company Artists are dancers who have previously served with the ministry as a Senior Apprentice who have shown a consistent dedication to upholding the mission, vision, and values of the organization.  Company Artists have a heart for Jesus and have expressed a long-term desire to serve with the ministry.  

Company Artists may have opportunities to create choreography, set choreography, teach company class, lead devotions, plan company events, take on administrative rolls, and other opportunities as assigned by the Artistic Director. 

Company Artists are full-time volunteers with the ministry but receive a minimal allowance to help cover ministry related expenses while serving with Paradosi. Company Artists are eligible to seek individual missional support while serving with the ministry. 

Is the audition process different for the different dancer positions? 

• The audition process is the same for the Apprentice Program and other company positions. 
• Placement as an Apprentice or other company positions is at the discretion of the Audition Committee of Paradosi Ballet Company. 

How long is the Apprentice Program? 

• The Apprentice Program is a two-year vocational dance ministry training program. 
• While the Apprentice Program is a two-year program, some dancers may be promoted within the first six-months while others may remain in the program for up to three years.   Each dancer is evaluated on an individual basis throughout each season.
• Apprentices begin their training in September and their year ends on the last day of our summer dance intensive; usually during the last week of June or first week of July.  If an Apprentice is asked to travel during a summer outreach tour, their commitment will be extended to the end of the tour. 

What are the age requirements to audition? 

• Applicants may be 17 when they audition but they must be 18 years of age or older by the start of the next season in order to audition.  
  
• In rare circumstances, exceptions may be made for applicants who are minors that have graduated from high school or earned their GED with parental consent.  

Do Apprentices pay tuition? 

• Yes, as Apprentices are students, they pay tuition. 
• Apprentices also pay a one time Ministry Training and Costuming fee at the beginning of the season which covers their ministry training fees including Western Seminary, Bible study materials, costume, and costume components. 
• Apprentices are also responsible for purchasing their own class dance shoes, leotards, tights, and other dancewear.

Do Senior Apprentices and Company Artists pay tuition?

• No, Senior Apprentices and Company Artists are considered full-time volunteers with the ministry. 
• Senior Apprentices do; however, pay an annual costuming and ministry training materials fee. 

Where do dancers live? 

• Dancers are responsible for finding their own housing. 
• Unmarried dancers are required to live with at least one other member of the ministry for accountability.
• Most of the dancers live in apartments or houses with 1 to 5 other dancers from the ministry to reduce living expenses. 
• If accepted into the ministry, dancers are provided contact information for all of the members of the ministry so they can connect with eachother to find a roommate. 
  

Will I need a car or can I just use public transportation in Tacoma? 

• Yes, a car is necessary due to limited public transportation options in Tacoma and the surrounding region. 

May I attend college while I am with Paradosi? 

• Yes! We have had many members of the ministry take college courses in their free time, mostly online, as their schedule permits.
• Please keep in mind that due to performance schedules, especially in December, we strongly encourage ministry members to not take a full-load of courses while serving with the ministry.  Most dancers who take college courses only take one to two classes at a time. 
  

Will Apprentices perform? 

• Yes! Apprentices dance and minister at churches, retirement homes, assisted living centers, schools, shelters, and other venues throughout the season with the ministry.
  
• At the discretion of the Artistic Director, Apprentices may go on tour.

Are dancers required to attend a church? 

• Yes, all members of the ministry are required to find and attend a local Christian church of their own choosing. 
  

How are dancers supported?

• ALL DANCERS: Dancers need to raise their own support to be in the ministry like a traditional missionary.  Some of our dancers receive direct support from family, friends, businesses, and churches. Other members of the ministry follow Paul’s tentmaker model by working part-time jobs in the evenings and on weekends.  Some dancers teach dance in our school as well as at other local studios while others work in retail, restaurant, or other jobs.  Some pursue both paths of raising financial support. 

• COMPANY ARTISTS:  Company Artist receive a small monthly allowance to help cover some of their volunteer related ministry expenses.    The allowance does not cover a dancers living expenses and they will still need to raise individual support and/or work part-time jobs to cover their living expenses while serving in the ministry.  

What makes Paradosi unique?

• Paradosi is first and foremost a Christian ministry.  We are not about performing but about reaching people for Jesus through our worship.  One of our core values is ministry first, dance second.  That is not to say that we do not pursue excellence in our dancing but rather that we want our hearts to be aligned with God as we worship Him and share His message of hope. We do not dance for applause but rather with the hope that people will no longer see us but rather the love of God in us as we dance. 
• We are intentionally compact to be more mobile.  We found that by intentionally keeping the ministry below twenty-members we can go to more places and do more things as a ministry. 
• We go to the people.  We strongly believe in going to the people verses making them come to us.  We go to large cities and we also go to the small rural towns.  We often dance and share in places that you would never expect to see a ballet company such as homeless shelters, schools, nursing homes, rehab facilities, gyms, fairs, festivals, and street corners.  We dance in large churches and theaters for audiences in the thousands and we dance in small venues and classrooms for just a handful of people.  Every venue no matter the size has value to our Heavenly Father and we are excited to continue partnering with Him in His work wherever He opens a door! 
• We do not want resources to be a hinderance to people encountering the love and beauty of Jesus through the arts. Unless it is a fundraiser, we do not sell tickets to our events as we want everyone to come regardless of their financial circumstances.  We do not look at what we do as a performance but rather as a worship and outreach opportunity.  If we reach one person for Jesus during an event, we consider the program a win for Him!

I am not a United States citizen and I do not have a green card, may I apply to audition for Paradosi?  

• While we would love to accept international applicants, at this time the answer for most audition requests is No.
  
• Paradosi's Apprentice Program is currently not recognized as a Student Exchange Vocational Program so we cannot assist students with obtaining a Student Visa.  In addition, as Senior Apprentice and Company Artist positions are considered Volunteer work, they do not count as an employment opportunity to obtain a Work Visa.   
• With these situations in mind, we cannot assist dancers in obtaining a Visa or Green Card to be in the United States. 
• It is up to the individual applicant to pursue the appropriate visa to be in the US.  

Exceptions for non-US Citizens to Apply:

• If an applicant is already in the U.S. or will be in the U.S. for another purpose on a valid visa, such as but not limited to a student visa to attend a university, they are in the U.S. for employment with a work visa, or they are in the U.S. as a missionary on a religious worker visa, they will be allowed to apply.  In these situations if a position is offered to an individual to join the ministry after their audition, their position in the ministry would be considered "recreational" and cannot be their primary reason for being in the U.S. 
• If a potential applicant is already in the U.S. as a permanent resident with a Green Card, they may apply.
• If an applicant has dual citizenship with the U.S. they may apply.

If you meet one of these application requirements, please contact us before submitting your application to tell us about your situation.  If you do not meet any of these application requirements, we are sorry but we will not be able to process your audition application at this time.  We will periodically reevaluate the requirements for accepting international dancers. 

Please feel free to contact our Director, Larissa Bischoff with any questions that you may have about our Apprentice Program, Company Member positions, the audition process, and other audition opportunities. 

Phone: (253)474-4881

Email: larissa@paradosiballet.org

• Each year Paradosi offers a limited amount of financial aid to students in our Apprentice Program.  
• If you are in need of financial assistance please communicate this with us.  We do not want resources to be the limiting factor in your decision to train and serve with us
• Financial Aid will not be awarded until after auditions