Inside our Associate Programme: Mbayang and Jude share their experiences
Since its inception in 1948, The Royal Ballet School’s Associate Programme has been dedicated to nurturing and inspiring pre-vocational students.
Each weekend in eight centres across the UK, aspiring dancers come together to train with our Artistic staff. They also enjoy opportunities to attend pre-general rehearsals at the Royal Opera House, workshops at our Upper School in London, and productions with our parent companies, The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
We spoke with two Associate students, Mbayang and Jude, to learn about their journeys and what it’s like to be an Associate with the School.
Mbayang – Mid Associate
Mbayang has been an Associate student in London for the past six years.
Can you tell me about your Associate experience?
The Associate Programme has been a wonderful and priceless experience for me. I remember when I was a Junior Associate, my mum and I were walking over Waterloo Bridge on our way to The Royal Ballet School; I felt like a princess. People on the streets or the train would ask me if I was a ballet dancer. I felt so proud to wear the Royal Ballet School Associate uniform. Dance-wise, the programme allowed me to dive deep into dancing, not only technically, but I have also learnt a lot about the history of ballet, made new friends and improved enormously. It is a place where I have become a lot more confident.
What does a typical Associate training day look like for you?
On a typical day, we would be advised to arrive half an hour before our class to do our personal stretching and conditioning. We would then start the class with around half an hour of conditioning and warming up, followed by our barre and centre work. Finally, we would do pointe work.
Do you have a favourite aspect of the programme?
I love that we can attend pre-general rehearsals of various ballets and see what goes on behind the scenes before the shows. I also love that most of our teachers have been professional dancers; they know how to explain things to our level of understanding. They share their experiences and tell us things they did that were effective for them, not only technically but also performance-wise.
What has the programme taught you?
The programme has taught me how to be disciplined and resilient from a young age. I have learnt to work as a team. The Associate Programme also feels like a centre of excellence where all the dancers are amazing; and this pushes you to be better at what you do. I have loved coming to The Royal Ballet School almost every single Saturday for over five years now.
Has the programme benefited your training?
The programme has benefited me greatly. Thanks to it, I have become a better dancer and learnt so much. I feel the past few years have helped me understand ballet as a whole. The teachers have been so helpful, and their focus on specific positions or exercises over the weeks has made my learning journey much easier.
Jude – Senior Associate
Jude is a Senior Associate student who trains in London.
How long have you been an Associate, and where do you train?
I have been part of the boy’s Associate Programme at the London centre since 2018, starting as a Junior Associate, through Mid Associates to now training as a Senior. Mr Walters is my current teacher, and I have been incredibly lucky to have been taught by some amazing teachers who have been so supportive. Being an Associate gave me the confidence to eventually audition for vocational ballet school, which I would never have thought I would be able to do
Was there a particular reason you decided to apply to become an Associate?
My dance teacher at the time asked if I would like to apply for the Royal Ballet School Associate Programme as she thought I would enjoy it. I knew someone who was already a Junior Associate, and he attended an all-boys class. For me, this was the thing that persuaded me to audition, as I had spent most of my time at my dance school as the only boy in a class full of girls. I thought how amazing it would be to be part of a class focused on boys’ training.
Can you tell me about your Associate experience?
My Associate experience has been brilliant; the staff and teachers are so lovely and encouraging. The students all get along with each other really well, and I’ve made some strong friendships with people who I otherwise wouldn’t have met. I have so many amazing memories, like having the opportunity to perform with The Royal Ballet in The Sleeping Beauty at The Royal Opera House. That is something I will never forget, and it was the moment I realised that ballet was really what I wanted to do with the rest of my life.
What does a typical Associate training day look like for you?
A typical day as a Senior Associate starts at 2.15 pm and consists of a 1 hour and 15-minute strength/body conditioning class followed by a 1 hour and 45-minute ballet class.
Do you have a favourite aspect of the programme?
The best aspects of the programme, other than getting to train in the incredible studios, are all the opportunities that are offered. We are given the chance to audition and perform alongside The Royal Ballet, we regularly get to watch general rehearsals of productions at the Royal Opera House, and during half-term holidays, we are invited to take part in workshops with guest teachers.
Would you recommend the Associate Programme to other dancers your age?
I would definitely recommend the Associate Programme to other dancers. I’ve personally loved my time as an Associate and have gained so much from it, especially the confidence it has given me.
Applications to join our Mid/Senior/Advanced Associate programmes will close on Tuesday 15 October. .