The School opens applications for Year 9 entry 2025
Following a review of the audition process, The Royal Ballet School will open applications for students wishing to audition for Year 9 entry to the School’s full-time training programme in September 2025.
The School’s full-time training is structured into four clear programmes: Foundation Programme (Years 7-9, ages 11-14), Development Programme (Years 10-11, ages 14-16), Vocational Programme (Upper School 1st and 2nd Years, ages 16-18) and Pre-professional Programme (ages 18-19).
After joining the School as Artistic Director in October 2024, Iain Mackay made a change to the White Lodge training programme so that students will no longer need to audition in Year 9 to enter the Development Programme in Year 10. The School will instead implement a more tailored and supportive assessment process, like that in Years 7, 8 and 10. This decision is made to prioritise student development and well-being and allow students to focus on their training and education without the stress and anxiety of an audition in Year 9.
Given this change, we are pleased to give any student wishing to join the School in Year 9 in September 2025 the opportunity to audition now.
Audition eligibility and application process
As one of the most celebrated centres for classical ballet training and in keeping with the School’s commitment to extending opportunities to students from all backgrounds, we invite all applicants from the UK and worldwide to submit a video audition.
Students must be 13 on 31 August 2025 to be eligible to enter Year 9 in September 2025.
Applications will be open from Thursday 9 January until 11.00 GMT, Thursday 30 January 2025.
Successful applicants will be invited to attend a final in-person audition that will likely take place on Tuesday 11 March at The Royal Ballet School’s White Lodge in Richmond Park.
How to apply
- Find instructions on how to create your audition video here
- Once you have created your video, go to our Auditions page and click ‘Apply’
- Upload a link to your video to complete the application process.
If you would like to apply for Year 9 entry but have already applied for Mid Associates to start September 2025, you do not need to complete the application form a second time. Please email a link to your application video to [email protected], clearly labelled with your full name.
More information on The Royal Ballet School’s auditions
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