Student and Alumni Accomplishments

Each year, our select group of young dancers attend no fewer than 17 classes each week, totaling more than 20 hours of work. This demanding regimen instills the work ethic necessary for success in the professional dance world.

Alumni have joined a list of companies that include New York City Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and National Ballet of Canada. Others have been invited to prestigious professional trainee programs and university dance programs.

Student Success

Seniors in Colburn Dance programs have been accepted into some of the best universities in the nation. 2025–26 graduates will attend:

• • Barnard College
  • California State University, Long Beach, Dance
  • Columbia University
  • New York University
  • Tulane University, Dance
  • University of California, Berkeley, Film
  • University of California, Los Angeles, Dance
  • University of California, Riverside
  • University of California, San Diego
  • University of California, San Francisco

Previous graduates of the Trudl Zipper Dance Institute have attended the following universities and colleges: 

• • University of Oklahoma, School of Dance
  • Butler University

Professional and Pre-professional Dance Companies

Colburn’s Dance Academy and Youth Dance graduates have joined the following professional and pre-professional dance companies: 

2025–26 

• • Alonzo King Lines Ballet 
  • Ballet Austin, Butler Fellowship Program 
  • Houston Ballet 
  • Nevada Ballet Theatre, Trainee Program 
  • Pacific Northwest Ballet, Professional Division 
  • School of American Ballet, New York 

Previous Dance Academy graduates also have joined following professional and pre-professional dance companies: 

• • American Ballet Theater, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School 
  • Arts Umbrella, Vancouver 
  • Atlanta Ballet II 
  • Ballet Austin, Fellowship Program 
  • Ballet West II 
  • Canada’s National Ballet School, Toronto 
  • Charlotte Ballet, Charlotte, North Carolina 
  • Cincinnati Ballet, Trainee 
  • English National Ballet School, London 
  • Indiana University Jacobs School of Music (Ballet), Bloomington 
  • Los Angeles Ballet 
  • Louisville Ballet, Apprentice 
  • Nevada Ballet Theatre 
  • Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Seattle 
  • Pacific Northwest Ballet, Professional Division 
  • School of American Ballet, New York 

In the News

Artist of the Year 2024 for dance: Sofia Aniceto
The Orange County Register names current Dance Academy student Sofia Aniceto the 2024 Artist of the Year in dance

Meet Pacific Northwest Ballet’s Destiny Wimpye 
Dance Magazine interviews with former Dance Academy student Destiny Wimpye

See a complete list of Colburn student accomplishments

2025-26 Accomplishments

Alumni Posts and Awards