Company Dancer
Audition Call:
Toledo Ballet invites dancers to audition for our growing professional company Sunday, March 8 from 1-3PM. This audition will take place in our beautiful new home the Toledo Center for Live Arts located at 4747 Heatherdowns Blvd. Toledo, Ohio. Audition participants will have the opportunity to be considered for future company positions while experiencing Toledo Ballet's Company artists in performance, with a complementary ticket to Winter Works included as part of the audition experience. Join us as we continue to build a dynamic company dedicated to artistic excellence, collaboration, and growth. Learn More about our Toledo Ballet Company Dancers
Audition/Application:
Please reserve your audition spot by emailing your materials to eotto@liveartstoledo.com and jbasile@liveartstoledo.com with your first and last name plus “Audition” in the subject line (e.g. “Jane Smith, Audition”). We look forward to meeting you!
Include:
- Resume or CV (.doc, .docx, .pdf files)
- Headshots and dancing photographs (one or more full body photo)
- Video reel showcasing recent dance abilities (recorded within the past 1-3 years)
Job Description
Organization: Toledo Ballet, a member of Live Arts Toledo
Compensation: Paid Company Positions and Unpaid Apprenticeships available after commensurate with abilities and/or experience
Overview:
Toledo Ballet seeks professional ballet dancers (male and female) for the 2026-2027 season. Ideal candidates should have a strong foundation in classical ballet training and performance, coupled with a passion for teaching students of various ages and skill levels: advanced ballet and pointe, as well as introductory level classes.
Under the supervision of Toledo Ballet’s Artistic Director and Head of Curriculum, professional dancers will perform in multiple productions, including three full-length ballets performed with the Toledo Symphony, and a June Showcase. They will also teach at Toledo Ballet studios, with additional hours in community outreach programs with partners such as the Boys and Girls Club of Toledo.
If desired, professional dancers can anticipate mentorship opportunities tailored to their professional goals, covering aspects like production, marketing, finance, and arts administration.
Candidates must be authorized to work in the United States, as no visa sponsorship is available for this position.
Required Qualifications:
- Pre-professional/professional ballet training and performance experience.
- Ability to teach advanced level ballet and pointe using a developmentally appropriate approach.
- Experience working with children.
Preferred Qualifications:
- Familiarity with ABT and other classical ballet teaching methods.
- Prior experience in summer camps or dance studio teaching.
Roles and Responsibilities:
- Perform in three full-length ballet productions and Spring Showcase.
- Teach classes across various age groups and levels (pre-primary through advanced).
- Engage in dance outreach activities and events.
- Assist with rehearsals as needed.
- Ensure instructional consistency with existing curricula.
- Other duties as assigned by Artistic Director.
Expectations:
- Foster a positive environment for Toledo Ballet dancers, families, staff, and faculty.
- Collaborate with the Artistic Director and Head of Curriculum.
- Enthusiasm for personal and professional development.
- Attend faculty meetings and adhere to school policies.
- Maintain professionalism in all interactions as an ambassador of Toledo Ballet and Live Arts Toledo.
- Complete a standard background check.
About Toledo Ballet:
Founded in 1939 by Marie Bollinger Vogt, Toledo Ballet provides high-quality dance education and exceptional performance opportunities across Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. With classes ranging from ballet, jazz, contemporary, tap, and Adaptive Dance, the organization serves hundreds of students annually at all ages and ability levels. Over the decades, Toledo Ballet has maintained the longest-running consecutive production of The Nutcracker in North America. Alongside its educational and community mission, Toledo Ballet produces multiple seasonal productions, summer intensives led by world-class guest artists, and outreach offerings that support accessibility and inclusivity in dance.
About the Artistic Director:
Eric Otto is an accomplished dancer, choreographer, and educator originally from Westchester, New York. He began his training at the age of seven at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City, laying the foundation for a distinguished career in dance.
Mr. Otto has performed with some of the most renowned dance institutions in the United States, including the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, and BalletX. He was an original cast member of Twyla Tharp's Come Fly Away and starred as James in both the Broadway and National Tour productions of Tharp's Movin' Out. His Broadway credits also include The Phantom of the Opera, and he has toured nationally with Twyla Tharp's company.
Throughout his career, Mr. Otto has performed an expansive repertoire, including works by Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, John Cranko, Jiff Kylian, Kenneth MacMillan, and Jerome Robbins. He has had the distinction of performing roles created specifically for him by celebrated choreographers such as Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, Lynne Taylor-Corbett, and Matthew Neenan.
In addition to his performance career, Mr. Otto is a dedicated educator and mentor. He has served as Artist in Residence in Classical Ballet at Skidmore College and as Rehearsal Director for BalletX. His teaching credits include faculty positions at Ballet Academy East and Peridance in New York City, and guest faculty appointments at The Rock School for Dance Education and the Joffrey Academy of Dance in Chicago. He is an ABT® Certified Teacher, having completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 6/7 and Partnering of the ABT National Training Curriculum. As a choreographer, Mr. Otto has been commissioned by institutions including Toledo Ballet, Toledo Symphony, Peoria Ballet, Albany Berkshire Ballet, SaratogaArtsFest, The Bruce Museum, Skidmore College, and Bucknell University.
Currently, Eric Otto serves as the Artistic Director and Head of Curriculum for the Toledo Ballet, where he continues to shape the next generation of dancers through his artistic vision and commitment to excellence.
About Live Arts Toledo
Live Arts Toledo, formerly the Toledo Alliance for the Performing Arts (TAPA), is the region’s hub for live performance, cultural education, and community connection. Bringing together the Toledo Symphony, Toledo Ballet, Toledo Jazz Orchestra, Toledo Symphony School of Music, and Toledo Symphony Youth Orchestras, Live Arts Toledo presents more than 200 nights of programming each year, offering unforgettable experiences that stir the senses and strengthen the cultural fabric of Northwest Ohio.