COLLIDE Summer Internships

Join Deos Contemporary Ballet this summer for our annual COLLIDE Series in beautiful West Michigan. Come dance with us in a healthy and supportive environment that fosters creativity and growth.

Summer Internships will run July 14 - August 3 during Deos Ballet’s annual COLLIDE Summer Series. Interns will work alongside company dancers Monday-Saturday, 10 AM - 5 PM. Applications are due by March 7th. Scroll down for application information:

Looking for company audition information? Click Here: Company Auditions — Deos Contemporary Ballet

Collegiate Choreography Internship 2025 

  • Deos Ballet will accept a total of three collegiate choreography interns who show exceptional promise. 

Choreography Interns will receive: 

  • Valuable feedback from leadership 

  • Coaching, notating and choreographic experience 

  • Daily company class with numerous guest teachers (optional for choreographic interns) 

  • A letter of recommendation from Deos leadership (pending completion of internship and meeting goals) 

  • Professional video and photos of your work, should it be added to COLLIDE Series 25 programming. Rehearsal footage will also be provided. 

  • Opportunity to have your work performed alongside professional choreographers and in front of the Deos Contemporary Ballet audiences 

Housing: 

  • Deos Contemporary Ballet does not provide housing for interns. However, we are happy to help facilitate conversations with potential host homes through our local network. If an intern is interested in housing through a host home volunteer, they should talk with Tess Sinke to begin those conversations 

Choreography Interns will: 

  • Assigned to a rehearsal director/choreographer. Assist with note taking throughout the creation and cleaning process of the piece(s) 

  • Choreograph a 3–5-minute piece on performance interns — this piece will be considered for programming during 1 or more of the COLLIDE 25 performances 

  • Attend Professional Development/Resume lectures with Internship Director 

  • Attend choreography lectures with the Artistic Director/Guest Choreographer 

  • Assist tech crew during tech week and performances 

  • Complete all assignments given by Internship Director 

  • Attend one-on-one meetings with Internship Director 

Tuition: 

  • $300

  • This tuition covers the cost of the lectures as well as the additional lighting design, costumes and theater time to accommodate interns choreographic work performed in COLLIDE. 

  • Tuition must be paid fully by June 9, 2025. Checks should be made payable to Deos Contemporary Ballet and can be sent to our mailing address:

    1595 Galbraith Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546

Collegiate Performance Internship 2025

  • Deos Ballet will accept a total of four collegiate performance interns who show exceptional skill in contemporary ballet.  

Performance Interns will receive: 

  • Valuable feedback from leadership 

  • Mentorship from a seasoned company member 

  • Consideration for performance experience dancing alongside members of the company 

  • A critiqued audition video, resume, cover letter and audition email 

  • PT screenings through Athletico Physical Therapy 

  • Daily company class with numerous guest teachers 

  • A letter of recommendation from Deos leadership (pending completion of internship and meeting goals) 

    Housing: 

    • Deos Contemporary Ballet does not provide housing for interns. However, we are happy to help facilitate conversations with potential host homes through our local network. If an intern is interested in housing through a host home volunteer they should talk with Tess Sinke.  

Performances Interns will: 

  • Be considered for casting in 1 or more company works performed in COLLIDE 2025 

  • Be cast in at least 1 work choreographed by a Choreographic Intern to be performed at outreach performances, with potential to be programmed in 1 or more COLLIDE 25 performances

  • Attend Professional Development/Resume lectures with Internship Director 

  • Be assigned a mentor from the main company who will have weekly meetings with them to review professional materials 

  • Have one on one coaching time with a Rehearsal Director

  • Review resume, cover letter, audition photos and audition reel with Internship Director and mentor 

Tuition: 

  • $300

  • This tuition covers the cost of the lectures and one on one coaching, as well as the additional costumes needed for performance interns. 

  • Tuition must be paid fully by June 9, 2024. Checks should be made payable to Deos Contemporary Ballet and can be sent to our mailing address:

    1595 Galbraith Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546


 High school Internship 2025

  • Deos Ballet will accept a total of two high school interns who show exceptional promise in both performance and choreography.  

High School Interns will receive: 

  • Valuable feedback from leadership 

  • Professional performance experience 

  • Choreographic experience 

  • PT screenings through Athletico Physical Therapy 

  • Daily company class with numerous guest teachers 

  • Mentorship from a seasoned company member 

  • A cover letter, resume, audition email template, audition reel and letter of recommendation for future auditions 

Housing: 

  • Deos Contemporary Ballet does not provide housing for interns. However, we are happy to help facilitate conversations with potential host homes through our local network. If an intern is interested in housing through a host home volunteer they should talk with Tess Sinke.  
     
     

High School Interns will: 

  • Be considered for casting in 1 or more company works performed in COLLIDE 2025 

    Be cast in at least 1 work choreographed by a Choreographic Intern to be performed at outreach performances, with potential to be programmed in 1 or more COLLIDE 25 performances

  • Attend Professional Development/Resume lectures with Internship Director 

  • Assigned a mentor from the main company who will have weekly meetings with them to review professional materials 

  • Have one on one coaching time with mentor from the company 

  • Create resume, cover letter, audition inquiry email, and audition reel with the guidance of mentor and internship director 

  • Choreograph a 3-minute solo on themselves with the guidance of Internship Director. This solo will be filmed as part of their audition reel. It may be chosen to be performed at COLLIDE 25 performances 

  • Assigned one piece of repertoire to notate in rehearsals, with guidance from choreographer/rehearsal director 

Tuition: 

  • $300

  • This tuition covers the cost of the lectures and one on one coaching, as well as the additional costumes needed for performance interns. 

  • Tuition must be paid fully by June 9, 2025. Checks should be made payable to Deos Contemporary Ballet and can be sent to our mailing address:

    1595 Galbraith Ave SE, Grand Rapids, MI 49546


     
     

Audition Information

All interested applicants can send their application to tess@deosballet.com with Internship Application in the subject line. All applicants will be notified of their results the first week of April.

    • Dance Resume

    • Letter of Recommendation

    • Choreographic sampler no longer than 5 minutes. The reel should showcase the following:

      • Contemporary work

      • Balletic work (pointe or flat shoes) 

      • Group work 

      • Solo work 

      • Demonstrated knowledge of principals of musicality

    • Dance Resume 

    • Letter of Recommendation 

    • Audition Reel no longer than 5 minutes including the following: 

      • Contemporary work

      • Balletic work (en pointe, if applicable) 

      • Adagio 

      • Pirouettes 

      • Grand Allegro 

    • Dance Resume 

    • Letter of Recommendation 

    • Audition Reel no longer than 5 minutes including the following: 

      • Contemporary work 

      • Balletic work (en pointe for females) 

      • Adagio 

      • Grand Allegro 

      • Pirouettes 

      • Choreographic Sampler no longer than 3 minutes 

      • Sample of contemporary choreography 

      • Sample of balletic choreography

Header Image: “Water Serpents” from Tess Sinke’s Art of Gold featuring two COLLIDE Series 24 Interns

Photo by Ray Nard Imagemaker