Get to know Zoe Epstein, a Mid Associate alumna turned Associate teacher 

Zoe Epstein’s Associate Programme journey has continued beyond her teenage years. Now an Associate Programme teacher, Zoe started as a Mid Associate and continued to Advanced Associates until age 16. She trained at Legat Dance Academy from ages 16-18 and attended Elmhurst Ballet School for her graduate year.  

She danced with Romanian National Ballet for four-and-a-half years before returning to The Royal Ballet School to earn her Diploma of Dance Teaching. She has now taught Mid and Advanced Associate classes for six years. Former Associate Programme Manager Sylvia Hubbard was Zoe’s Mid Associate teacher, bringing her full circle journey even closer to home. 

Zoe shared her love for the Associate Programme, her thoughts on the recent curriculum updates and tips for students interested in auditioning. 

What do you love about being a Mid Associate teacher? 

They are one of my favourite age groups to teach. They’re old enough that they can really concentrate and are hungry to learn, and they’re enthusiastic. We are privileged that we have very talented students. The most important thing for me is that a student wants to work and try hard, which is what I see every Saturday. Hopefully they’re having a lot of fun with their friends as well.  

We had a fun first session: we did some repertoire, and they got to know each other. Getting to know their individual personalities and being able to help them is very rewarding, especially having the same class for a year. 

It’s always a pleasure to come into the building with amazing pianists, who are lovely to work with. 

What do you hope the students learn from your teaching? 

I want to make sure that they have a really good understanding of classical technique as well as a love of dance. I hope they learn how to work hard and to persevere through difficult challenges, to learn how to work with other peers who are also talented. I hope to encourage that healthy competition, to see someone else who can do it really well and learn how to cope with that. Enjoying the class is always the most important thing. 

 What do you think the students love about being a part of the Programme? 

 I say to them that they’ve done extremely well to get that Mid Associate place. It’s an amazing achievement, and they should all feel really proud that they are a Royal Ballet School Associate.  

We try and make classes fun as well as technically challenging. They have beautiful music when they get to travel in big studios, like the grand allegro. I feel like they always smile the most when they do the grand allegro across the room. Or it might be when they do their repertoire with their friends, that might be their favourite part. 

What differences have you noticed in the new Mid Associate Programme model? How do you think it will help students long-term? 

 This is my first time having a mixed class. I’ve always worked with just girls before, but I have seven enthusiastic boys, and they bring different energy. I noticed from working with them that they were keen to answer questions. They’re quite confident. 

I’m looking forward to a different dynamic working with girls and boys. Boys often have lots of good energy and power. Their training has lots of jumps, and I’m excited about doing that with the girls.   

Equally, the girls might work more on their pointe work, and I’m looking forward to the boys doing more demi pointe work as well. I’m interested to see how it will progress over the year with these crossovers in training. They are also getting body conditioning online with Julia Ellis, which will really support me in the classes.  

I think the repertory weekends will be lovely for them. That’s the enjoyable part where they can spend longer with their friends along with being inspired by learning a ballet. They learn that it’s not just pliés and tendus in class — this is where it can lead to.   

We also have more integrated support for development plans: working with them individually when they’re there and seeing how extra input with individual goals set early in the year impacts their learning. It will be interesting to hear the students’ feedback on how they find it. 

Victoria Collinson (Head of Associate Programme) and I had an induction day last weekend where we worked with four students at a time and tested different areas of focus, such as flexibility or balance, and recorded their results. If some of them needed, for example, more work on their feet, we are going to give them some extra exercises to support them with that goal. We also inform the parents and their local teacher, so it is a whole support network for them.  

What do you think makes a great Mid Associate student? 

 The most important thing for me is the desire to learn. I always check with them, ‘I’m hoping that you all really like ballet because you’re here on a Saturday!’ They’re there because they really enjoy dancing, and they want to get better when they are there. 

We all have weeks when we are tired, so having good communication with your teacher is important so that they can tell me if they’re not feeling well and can’t do as much today. Being open to learning, being positive with each other and being kind is also important so that as a class, we can all work together and feel comfortable in that group. 

What are your top audition tips? 

I tell all my students that the panel wants to see you perform the best you can. You are going to be nervous, which is normal, but imagine that you are performing for your parents, and try and use that artistry and performance to show your love of dance.  

The auditions aren’t there to trick you or to catch you out, so feel able to ask questions as well. If a student ever asked me a question, I’m always very happy to answer. That shows that you want to learn.  

Work on your fundamental technique. It is not about doing something complicated, especially for a Mid Associate level. Think about the fundamentals that your teachers have worked on with you in your own classes. Just dance as you usually do in your own classes with a nice performance on top, like you are on stage. 

What would you say to young dancers and parents who were thinking about applying? 

I would never discourage applying. If you can come to an audition, I hope it’s an enjoyable experience. I always say to students to enjoy the day and learn from it, and if you get anything from it, that’s a bonus. Enjoy it as much as you can, and have ice cream afterwards to make a nice day of it! 

Do you have a particular highlight from being part of the Associate Programme? 

 A highlight was teaching my first Mid Associate class in the same studio as when I was an Associate here in Floral Street as well. I remember standing there and thinking back to me as an 11-year-old child, being petrified and having no idea what I was doing. Then, standing there as a teacher and thinking, ‘Wow, I now have this responsibility for all these students.’ 

I had a student last year who was in Year 7 and got into Year 8 at White Lodge. That was a really special moment as well. Since I teach Advanced Associates sometimes, I had them when they were 11, and now, I’ve had a few that I’ve seen at 16, and that is so lovely. They asked, ‘Do you remember me?’ And I said, ‘Yes, of course I remember you!’ It’s nice with those two age groups to see their progress over the Programme. 

Learn more and apply for the Associate Programme here. Applications close 14 October 2025.