Junior Associate Programme

Junior associates

Our Junior Associate Programme is for students aged 8 to 10 who wish to take class with The Royal Ballet School, alongside their regular ballet classes.

Classes run from September to June at seven centres around the UK, in London, Birmingham, Bath, Edinburgh, Eastleigh (Southampton), Leeds and Manchester (Stockport). All classes are held on Saturdays with the exception of our Edinburgh centre, which run on Sundays.

Benefits

  • An introduction to The Royal Ballet School System of Training
  • Enhanced ballet training with the view to a full-time vocational education
  • Dance with students of a similar age who share the same passion and drive for a career in dance
  • The creation of life long friendships.

Classes include

  • Body conditioning
  • Barre work
  • Centre work including preparation for pirouettes
  • Port de bras
  • Jumps

Opportunities

  • The School aims to invite all Associate students to attend one pre-general rehearsal at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden during the year

  • In addition, we invite students to attend a workshop held at the Upper School to enhance their training

  • Occasionally, Associates are asked to take part in productions by The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and visiting companies.

Become a Junior Associate

Eligibility

  • All students aged 8-10 by 31 August 2024 – may apply in 2024 while in current school years 3, 4 and 5
  • No specific experience – we recommend speaking to your child’s dance teacher if you are unsure
  • Ability to travel to your nearest Associate centre each day that classes are run during the academic year.

How to apply

Applications for our Junior Associate Programme are now open. Auditions are held in the Summer Term and are for courses which start in September.

All applications received by the closing dates will be offered an audition class. Our auditions are held at our centres in Manchester, Birmingham, Leeds, Eastleigh, Edinburgh, Bath and London.

To apply to the programme:

Experience an Associate class

Each year we welcome young dancers, in studying in year 3 to 10 at academic school, to attend our Junior, Mid and Senior Associate Insight classes.

Our Junior Associate Insight Days take place at our centres across the UK. Our Mid and Senior Associate Insight Days are held at the Upper School in Covent Garden.

Associate Programme and Audition Livestream Q&A

Meet alumni of the Junior Associate Programme

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