STRIVE is a five-month, mentorship-driven program for serious dance artists ages 17–21 who are preparing to pursue collegiate and professional opportunities. It is not a summer intensive or an
open-enrollment class — it is a structured, selective experience built around individualized mentorship, consistent technical training, and professional preparation.
The program runs from August 31, 2026 through January 28, 2027.
STRIVE is based just outside of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania — within the Greater Philadelphia arts corridor and accessible to dancers from across the region and beyond.
STRIVE operates Monday through Thursday, 9:30 AM to 2:30 PM — four days a week, five hours a day, for five months. The schedule is intentionally designed to mirror the consistency and discipline of a professional environment, while allowing time for recovery, cross-training, and independent preparation outside of program hours.
STRIVE is a comprehensive preparation model, not simply a training schedule. The five-month experience includes:
- Technical refinement and conditioning
- Repertoire and variation coaching
- Mock auditions with individualized feedback
- One-on-one mentorship sessions
- Audition strategy and timeline planning
- Professional development guidance
- Filming and coaching for audition video submissions
Dancers leave STRIVE not only more technically prepared, but more strategically positioned and professionally informed.
Admission to STRIVE is selective. All applicants begin with an initial screening application. Selected applicants are then invited to submit a video audition for further consideration. Enrollment is limited to preserve the mentorship model and the individualized attention central to the program.
Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Early inquiry is encouraged.
STRIVE is for serious dance artists ages 17–21 who are preparing for collegiate dance programs or professional company opportunities, need structured audition preparation and strategic guidance, and are ready to take full ownership of their development in a disciplined, accountable environment.
This is not a recreational program. It is an intentional space for dancers who are ready to engage fully in the process.
STRIVE is co-founded and led by Nathan Bland and Sebastian Vinet — two professionals whose combined careers span performance at the highest levels of the field, decades of teaching, and a shared commitment to developing complete artists. Additional professional mentors and industry instructors contribute current experience and perspective throughout the program.
No program can guarantee acceptance into a company or collegiate program, and STRIVE does not claim to. What we guarantee is preparation — rigorous, individualized, and strategically informed.
Dancers leave with the technical refinement, professional awareness, and audition readiness to pursue opportunities with genuine confidence.
Tuition for STRIVE is $[X] per month for the five-month program. Given the selective cohort size and the level of individualized mentorship provided, this reflects the genuine investment required to deliver the program at the standard we hold ourselves to.
Payment plans are available. Contact us to discuss your situation.
STRIVE does not provide housing directly, but we are happy to assist dancers and families in identifying appropriate options in the Philadelphia region. We encourage early contact if relocation support is a consideration.
Yes — and we encourage it. The four-day schedule is intentionally structured to leave room for recovery, cross-training, and audition activity. STRIVE is designed to support your audition process, not replace your initiative within it.