• We require a minimum of one personal reference letter from someone who knows you well
  
• Letters from your pastor, youth group leader, or small group leader are preferred
  
• Letters from a studio owner, dance instructor, teacher, or employer are acceptable
  
• Reference letters should not be from a family member

References should mail their letters to:

Paradosi Ballet Company

4020 S 56th Street, Ste 105

Tacoma, WA 98409

The may also email their letters to: support@paradosiballet.org

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 trainee program that puts what dancers learn into practice through first-hand ministry opportunities throughout the year.   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 evangelism and prayer ministry training, learn how to teach dance in a Christian dance 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 with the ministry 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; however, each dancer is evaluated on an individual basis throughout each season.  Some dancers may take more time and some dancers may take less time to complete the program. 
• Apprentices begin their training in late August or early September (depending on the Fall performance schedule) 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.  

What are the expenses associated with being a Senior Apprentices or Company Artist?

• Senior Apprentices and Company Artists are considered full-time volunteers with the ministry. 
• Senior Apprentices and Company Artists are responsible for their own personal living expenses such as but not limited to housing, transportation, meals, insurance, dance shoes, dance clothing, etc.
• Senior Apprentices are still considered students with the ministry and pledge to cover their Ministry Training Materials and Costuming Fee at the beginning of the season. This pledge covers Bible study books, materials, and performance costume creation and alterations. Senior Apprentices do not pay tuition. 
• Company Artists do not pay any fees or tuition.

Where do dancers live? 

• Dancers are responsible for finding their own housing. 
• Unmarried dancers are requested to live with at least one other member of the ministry for accountability and safety.
• Most 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 who are looking for housing so they can connect with each other 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.  It is not recommended to rely upon public transportation. 
• You may of course choose to use public and private transportation services (taxis, Uber, Lyft) but it may be difficult and expensive to utilize with the studio and performance schedule.  

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 and April-May, we strongly encourage ministry members to only take one or two courses at a time while serving with the ministry. 

Will Apprentices perform? 

• Yes! Apprentices dance and minister at local churches, retirement homes, assisted living centers, schools, shelters, and other venues throughout the season with the ministry as assigned by the Artistic Director
  
• Apprentices may also go on tour by invitation from the Artistic Director

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

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. 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 residency 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 from Non-US Citizens 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, 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 Residency / 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" which means that it 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

• We do not want resources to be a hinderance to an individual training through Paradosi's Apprentice Program. 
• If you cannot afford the requested tuition and 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 with us.
• Financial Aid will not be awarded until after an individual has auditioned and been accepted into the Apprentice Program.