Pre-Professional Program
MDT is so excited to announce the launch of the Pre-Professional Program for the 2026–2027 school year. This program will run from September 10, 2026 through May 28, 2027.
Led by School Director Lauren Post, former dancer with American Ballet Theatre, and MDT’s Artistic Associate Joanna Mednick, former dancer with San Francisco Ballet and Dutch National Ballet, the program is specifically designed to train and develop dedicated dancers who are committed to pursuing a professional or collegiate career in ballet.
Due to limited capacity, this program is reserved for dancers who show exemplary aptitude and potential for careers in professional ballet. MDT staff aims to maintain a personalized and curated environment, therefore this program’s capacity is capped at eight dancers, and entry into this program is by audition only.
Offerings
- Curated technical and artistic coaching, including technique, pointe/variations, and contemporary classes.
- Access to a variety of renowned teachers, from local to guest artists
- Coaching for classical and contemporary variations for annual classical ballet competitions, which may include YAGP, ADC, IBC, and/or Prix de Lausanne competitions. Staff will ensure that each variation showcases students’ technical strengths, develops their confidence, and enhances their artistry.
- Health and wellness seminars with trained professionals, mental coaching sessions with sport psychologists, as well as regular check-ins with physical therapists.
- Professional development sessions that will utilize MDT staff’s wide and international network of professional connections within the dance world to connect and recommend dancers to programs, auditions, and performance opportunities based on their technical strengths, emotional readiness, and artistic styles.
Additional information
Schedule
Here is a sample schedule:
Monday
1:30–3:00 p.m.: Ballet Technique with Lauren Post or Joanna Mednick
3:00–4:00 p.m.: Variations/Competition coaching
Thursday
1:30–3:00 p.m.: Ballet Technique with Lauren Post or Joanna Mednick
3:00–4:00 p.m.: Rotating Contemporary/Choreography/Strength and Conditioning/Professional Development
Pricing
This program is priced at $3,740 annually.
This price is in addition to annual MDT tuition for regular classes and offerings.
Upon acceptance, work study or limited scholarship opportunities may be available depending on circumstance.
Registration
Auditions for the pre-professional program will be held on Saturday, March 7, 2026 from 4–6 p.m. and the registration fee will be $25.
Joanna Mednick will teach Ballet Technique from 4:00–5:30 p.m., and Lauren Post will teach Pointe/Variations from 5:30–6:00 p.m.
Dedicated dancers ages 13 and up are encouraged to audition for the program, but those accepted will need to enroll in MDT’s year-round program in order to attend.
Dancers will be notified of acceptance status within two weeks of the audition date.
For details on pre-professional pricing and the weekly schedule, please click on the registration link below. Please reach out to school@mndance.org if you have any questions.
Faculty biographies
Lauren Post | Director
Lauren Post is an accomplished dancer, educator, and arts leader based in Minneapolis. With 16 years as a member of American Ballet Theatre in New York City, she has performed in over 200 productions worldwide, taking on roles from Corps de Ballet to Principal. As the founder and Artistic Director of CoLab Dance, Lauren has commissioned 15 new works and grown the company into a thriving non-profit, significantly increasing its funding and expanding performance opportunities. She is a certified ballet teacher through ABT's National Training Curriculum, has coached and mentored countless students, and served on the negotiating committee for the American Guild of Musical Artists, where she was an elected advocate for the rights and interests of artists. Lauren holds a certification as a personal trainer and completed the Crossover into Business Program at Harvard Business School.
Joanna Mednick | Artistic Associate
Joanna Mednick was born in San Francisco, California, Joanna Mednick began her ballet training at City Ballet School under the direction of Damara Bennett. At age 14, she was awarded a prestigious Coca-Cola Scholarship to train at the American Ballet Theatre School in New York City. Joanna launched her professional career at age 17 when she joined the San Francisco Ballet as an apprentice. A year later, she was promoted to the Corps de Ballet, where she performed for seven seasons, honing her artistry and technical precision. In 2007, Joanna brought her talents to the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Her exceptional skill and stage presence earned her successive promotions, first to Coryphée and later to Grand Sujet. Over a remarkable 10-year tenure with the company, Joanna performed a diverse repertoire and collaborated with some of the world’s most renowned choreographers. After retiring from her professional career in 2017, Joanna turned her focus to sharing her vast knowledge and experience with the next generation of dancers. Passionate about nurturing young talent, she draws on her rich and varied background to inspire and guide aspiring ballet dancers.
