Photos by Ryan Smith Visuals, Olivia Moon & Company Leadership

Junior Apprentice Program

The Junior Apprentice (JA) program is designed for talented high school students ages 14+ who are interested in pursuing dance as a career. This pre-professional group performs separately and alongside Urbanity’s Professional Company, providing each dancer with the invaluable experience of learning the discipline, fortitude, and dedication that is required to be a member of a professional company. Graduates of Urbanity’s Junior Apprentices have been accepted to and attended many of the most prestigious dance training programs in the country including Juilliard, Boston Conservatory, University of Arizona, University of Michigan, Bennington College, Urdang Academy @ the City University of London, Alonzo King's LINES, and more.

Performance Opportunities for JAs

Check out Urbanity 2’s landing page for the most up to date performance calendar.

Urbanity 2 Showcase: Early Spring
Presented by Urbanity Dance, JAs have the opportunity to perform and potentially choregraph for a full evening of contemporary dance composed of distinct works. This is the main performance of the year, taking place in a theatre in Boston with full lighting, tech crew, and professional photography/film.

Urbanity X Residency: Late Spring, Summer, and/or Fall
Company members and JAs have the opportunity to perform choreography set by local and national guest artists. The Urbanity X residency occurs at least once per academic year.

Fall Crawl Performance: Fall
Opportunity to perform work with broader Urbanity Dance faculty in different venues across the Boston South End.

Urbanity Dance Soirée: Winter
Annual fundraising event featuring live modern dance performances from company members, with special focus on JA solos, choreography opportunities, etc.

Local Festivals and Ad-Hoc Events: Year-round
Opportunity to perform in local community events, including but not limited to: Dance Film productions, Urbanity Dance Labs, Mayfair Dance Festival (Harvard Square), ArtBeat Festival (Somerville), Mosaic Dance Inc. (Boston), and more.

JA Benefits

Mentorship Program and Career Panel: Junior Apprentices are high achieving young dancers who are looking to expand their dance training and repertoire and perform with an established dance company in Boston. For this experience to reach fruition, JAs choose a company member (or a couple) to mentor them throughout the season. The goal is for JAs to have an established and experienced dancer and young professional to support their dreams, and provide practical advice and insight to attain their goals. Directors of Urbanity 2 are also at the disposal of the JAs, and are always willing to connect on anything that will enhance their experiences at Urbanity and beyond.

Weekly Company Class: Members participate in a weekly Sunday morning company class (10:00–11:30am) led by nationally and regionally recognized guest artists. Training spans a wide range of styles—including contemporary, modern, improvisation, hip-hop, jazz, ballet, and conditioning—supporting technical growth, versatility, and longevity as a professional dancer.

Performance & Professional Engagements: Junior Apprentices have the opportunity to perform consistently throughout the Urbanity 2 season in curated company showcases, guest artist residencies, Urbanity X platforms highlighting emerging choreographers, and full-scale productions featuring leading Boston-based artists. JAs are also considered for festival performances and regional engagements across New England.

Choreographic Opportunities & Development: Dancers are supported as creators and are given opportunities to present original work in company showcases and select community and local performance contexts, fostering artistic voice and leadership throughout Boston.

Discounted Training & Resource Accessibility: JAs receive significantly reduced rates on Urbanity drop-in classes ($5 per class) and studio space rentals ($5/hour), encouraging continued training, independent creation, and rehearsal access.

Professional Media & Branding: Each season includes a professional company photoshoot with Ryan Smith Visuals, providing high-quality imagery for personal and professional use. Additional promotional photos and video content are generated throughout the year to support dancer branding and visibility.

Industry Networking & Organizational Pathways: A diverse group of professionals, there is much opportunity for JAs to network with established young adults in and out of the dance field. The company offers direct access to a broad network of artists, educators, choreographers, and creative professionals. Dancers may explore teaching opportunities, cross-company collaboration, and deeper involvement within Urbanity Dance’s larger organizational ecosystem.

Community & Culture: The company prioritizes a supportive, artist-driven environment rooted in collaboration, trust, and shared investment. Alongside rigorous creative work, the company cultivates meaningful connection and a sense of belonging—recognizing that sustainable artistry is built through both process and community.