The School announce new Associate centres in England and Wales

We are thrilled to share that from September 2026, we will expand our national Associate Programme to offer regional training at new centres in Stroud and Cardiff. 

These new locations will increase the School’s total Associate centre count to eight across the UK – alongside existing centres in Birmingham, Eastleigh, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, and Manchester – reinforcing our commitment to widening access to classical ballet, and encouraging and supporting talent around the country.  

About the new centres 

From September 2026, our existing Associate centre in Bath will move to the newly built Severn Dance Studios located near Stroud. 

This purpose-built complex will be fully self-contained, featuring Harlequin sprung floors, modern changing facilities, an ecologically friendly garden area for students to relax in, as well as an onsite café. It will also offer secure free onsite parking for up to 100 cars, complete with electric car charging points. 

At the new Stroud location, we will be able to offer more classes throughout the year than they are currently able to in Bath, with two Junior Associate (8-11 years) classes and two Mid Associate (11-14 years) classes running for 32 weeks in the academic year. 

The new Cardiff Associate centre will be based out of the studios of the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.  

From September 2026, the Cardiff centre will offer two Junior Associate classes and one Mid Associate class, and from 2027 the School intends to offer an additional Mid Associate class and eventually introduce a Senior Associate (14-16 years) class. 

About the Associate Programme 

Created in 1948 by the School’s Founder, Dame Ninette de Valois, The Royal Ballet School’s Associate Programme nurtures young, talented students between the ages of eight and 18 in pursuit of excellence in pre-vocational classical ballet training. 

The course is designed to complement an individual’s regular ballet classes while introducing them to The Royal Ballet School’s System of Training alongside other children who aspire to a career in dance. Pupils continue to study with their local dance teacher in addition to their weekly Associate classes. 

Associate students make lifelong friendships, dancing alongside other children who share their passion for dance. Associates occasionally have the opportunity to perform with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and other ballet companies, and many have progressed through the School and into the Royal Ballet Companies. The majority of UK entrants into the School come from the national Associate centres. 

The announcement of these new centres follows the School’s recent changes to entry into full-time training. The opening of the Stroud and Cardiff locations will align with the introduction of an enhanced Mid Associate model and a new UK Scholars Programme for students of Year 7 age (11-12 years), in place of full-time training for this age group. 

UK Scholars will be identified through the Associate network and receive additional opportunities beyond Associate training, including performance experiences, attendance at residential camps and Intensives, tailored mentoring and structured engagement with parents and local teachers.   

These programmes will ensure that young dancers continue to receive exceptional part-time training, support, and mentorship close to home, placing them in the strongest possible position to transition into full-time training when the time is right. 

We are constantly working to expand our regional footprint and aim to open additional new centres in North East England from September 2026. 

Victoria Collinson, Head of Associates and Primary Steps Programmes, said:  

‘This is an exciting new development for the School and we hope it will be the next step in seeking out and training more of the UK’s most talented young dancers.’ 

Audition applications for Mid, Senior and Advanced levels of the Associate programme are now open here and close at 11.00 BST on Tuesday 14 October 2025. 

Applications for the Junior Associate programme will open in February 2026. 

We welcome applications from all with admission to the School based solely on potential in classical ballet, not personal circumstances, or academic ability. Dancers are welcome to re-apply if they have auditioned before and all students who apply will be guaranteed a preliminary audition.

Photo credits: Henry Curtis, 2025