Affiliate Programme
Be part of the movement revolutionising dance teaching
The Affiliate Programme is The Royal Ballet School’s unique training and assessment programme for private and recreational dance teachers to deliver within their own schools, offering young dance students a high-quality, holistic learning experience.
An innovative alternative to syllabus-based models, this programme equips and empowers teachers to guide, assess and support a broad range of students to learn how to learn, and to enjoy and value the process.
Teacher training to suit you
In 2026, we are excited to offer two pathways for you to experience our Affiliate Programme, designed to suit you and your teaching goals.
Enhance your teaching by attending our five-day Intensive training course, or take your teaching to the next level by applying for our full Affiliate Teacher training.
This pathway provides teachers with the skills, knowledge and understanding needed to successfully implement and teach the Affiliate Programme within their own dance schools, and to be recognised as an Affiliate Teacher of The Royal Ballet School with ongoing membership.
The Affiliate Programme consists of six levels, each with recommended age groups. Content is based on The Royal Ballet School’s Model for Optimal Dance Training, with each level containing both movement and contextual studies.
The Affiliate Teacher training includes:
- Introduction webinar
- Five-day in-person Intensive training course
- Training for Affiliate Programme Levels 1-3 (for children aged 5+)
- Pre-Affiliation trial implementation period which includes two online webinars
- Teaching evaluation
- Post-Affiliation online training sessions to support you through the student assessment process
- Option to learn Affiliate Programme Levels 4-6 Standard and Enhanced (for children aged 11-15+).
This pathway is a one-off cost to allow teachers to learn from The Royal Ballet School’s Teacher Training faculty, experience the Affiliate Programme’s content, values and methodology, and gain invaluable feedback on teaching practice without the long-term commitment of Affiliation.
The five-day in-person Intensive training course is based on the School’s Model for Optimal Dance Training, including:
- Ballet vocabulary, planning and delivery
- Creative practice and choreographic study
- Body awareness and conditioning
- Repertoire study.
Which path is right for me?
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| Affiliate Teacher training | Intensive training only | |
| Experience the Affiliate Programme content, values, methodology and student training philosophy first-hand | ✓ | ✓ |
| Learn from The Royal Ballet School’s expert Teacher Training faculty | ✓ | ✓ |
| Receive invaluable feedback on your teaching practice | ✓ | ✓ |
| Access ongoing professional development opportunities | ✓ | |
| Exclusive access to study Frederick Ashton repertoire provided by the Frederick Ashton Foundation | ✓ | |
| Become part of a supportive online community of fellow Affiliate Teachers | ✓ | |
| Option to later transfer to full Affiliate Teacher training | ✓ | |
| Eligible for full Affiliate Teacher status to deliver the programme to students in your own dance school as an Affiliate Teacher of The Royal Ballet School | ✓ | |
| Receive full access to a bespoke video on demand platform featuring over 300 videos | ✓ | |
| Ability to train and submit students for assessment and receive guidance with monitoring and moderation of assessment results | ✓ | |
| Be listed on the Affiliate Teachers directory | ✓ | |
| Access to enrichment activities, workshops and special events | ✓ | |
| Option to progress your Affiliate training and membership to include Levels 4-6 Standard and Enhanced | ✓ |
Eligibility
- Minimum three years’ teaching experience as a ballet teacher in a recreational setting or are a graduate of a Royal Ballet School teacher training programme
- A current Disclosure and Disbarring Service (DBS) check or equivalent in your home country
- Meet all requirements of the selection criteria listed here.
- Teachers from all backgrounds, from student to experienced teachers, aged 18+
- Places are filled on a first come, first served basis.
Current or former professional dancers can access funding for retraining from Dancer’s Career Development.
Training details
For the first time, participants of both Affiliate Programme pathways will have the unique opportunity to train at both Upper School and the historic White Lodge.
Intensive training course: Saturday 1 August – Wednesday 5 August 2026
White Lodge, Richmond and Upper School, Covent Garden
Applications dates
Applications open: Thursday 5 February 2026 at 10:00
Applications close: Monday 13 April 2026
Fees
Got a question or want to learn more?
Attend one of our upcoming online live-streamed Q&As to learn more about the two options and to find which one is right for you.
Thursday 19 February 2025
14.00 – 15.00 GMT
Friday 20 March 2026
10.30-11.30 GMT
‘Charli has come out of class excited to come home and research and learn. It’s been a really positive experience allowing every child to be independent, creative, expressive individuals’. Parent of an Affiliate Programme student
‘The Affiliate Programme method has revolutionised my work. I feel much richer in stimuli, ideas, ways to go. Students are very involved, creative… And they improve faster!’ Giulia, Affiliate Teacher
‘Teaching using the Affiliate Programme philosophy has honestly transformed the way I teach. It has given me new creative ideas, more confidence and more than anything else the dancers love the structure of the classes… It really works!’ Linda, Affiliate Teacher
Programme ambassadors
News about the programme
Cultivating creativity in ballet education with ATAP Our Affiliate Training and Assessment Programme (ATAP) is a programme created to cultivate an appreciation for the journey of learning ballet, prioritising the process over the outcome. One of our ATAP teachers, Emma Manes, spoke to us about a contextual study she recently implemented for her students. Contextual […]
Australia
The Royal Ballet School is considering running the Affiliate Training and Assessment Programme in Australia in 2025. If this is something that you would be interested in applying for, we would love to hear from you. Please register your interest below for updates.
Don’t see your country listed or want to know more?
We’re particularly keen to hear from you if you’re not based in the UK and may be interested in a future Intensive Training week held in your area. If you’re interested in becoming one of our Affiliate Teachers, register below to receive news and updates about the programme.