Mid Associate Programme

Our Mid Associate Programme is for students aged 11-13 who wish to take class at The Royal Ballet School, alongside their regular ballet classes.

Our Mid Associates are in School Years 7, 8 and 9.

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

Those who select Mid, Senior and Advanced Associate male training are encouraged to attend our London Centre where specialist male training classes are held.

Benefits

A developed understanding of The Royal Ballet School System of Training
Enhanced ballet training with the view to a full-time vocational education
Dancing 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 pirouettes
Allegro
Pre-pointe work strengthening and pointe-work (female training)

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.

Experience a Mid Associate class

Dancers aged 11 to 13 considering joining our Mid Associate programme can experience a typical Associate class, followed by a Q&A with Royal Ballet School Artistic staff in London this September.

Find out more

Eligibility

Aged 11-13 by 31 August 2025 (apply in school years 6, 7, 8)
Demonstrable commitment to the study of ballet
Ability to travel to your nearest Associate centre each day that classes are run during the academic year.

How to apply

Applications for our Mid/Senior/Advanced Associate programmes open in September and close in October. Preliminary auditions take place from November to January. All auditions are for courses which start the following September. You can apply for our full-time training and Mid/Senior/Advanced Associate programmes in the same application.

We offer all applicants who submit their application by the closing date a preliminary audition. Our auditions are held at our centres in Bath, Birmingham, Eastleigh, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Manchester.

Please visit our Auditions page to find out how to apply to the programme.