Auditions Open for Covetable Training Opportunities at The Royal Ballet School

Now accepting applications for some of its 2025/26 programmes, The Royal Ballet School is ready to select the next cohort of young dance talent that it will shape for the world's stages. The School has introduced some changes to its audition process, and there are plenty of opportunities to try out for places on the full-time and Associate Programmes.

In recent weeks, the School has also hosted its sought-after Summer Intensive. As usual, this proved popular, and the School looks forward to welcoming more Intensive students next year.

Here’s an overview of the audition process updates and the once-in-a-lifetime experience that Summer Intensive students have enjoyed this year.

Updates To The Royal Ballet School’s Auditions

On 3 September 2024, The Royal Ballet School opened applications for its full-time and Mid, Senior, and Advanced Associate Programmes.

The auditions are open to candidates who would like to begin training in the 2025/26 academic year. Having reviewed its audition process, the School has made some changes that mean candidates can now apply to enter:

• Years 7, 8, or 10 at White Lodge.

• The 1st, 2nd, or Pre-professional years at Upper School.

• The Junior, Mid, Senior, or Advanced Associate Programmes.

Candidates can no longer audition to enter the Year 9 Foundation or Year 11 Development Programmes. The School has made this decision to prevent disruption to students’ academic progress. This way, students can settle into both school life and the School’s System of Training before auditioning for the next training programme.

Young dancers who would otherwise audition for Year 9 or 11 entry can instead audition for the Mid or Senior Associate Programmes. Alternatively, they can audition for full-time training a year later.

The Royal Ballet School’s Full-Time Training Programme

Applicants who secure a place at White Lodge or Upper School will follow the School’s renowned full-time training. The School splits this training into four programmes:

1. The Foundation Programme, which students aged 11-14 in Years 7-9 at White Lodge follow.

2. The Development Programme, which students aged 14-16 in Years 10-11 at White Lodge follow.

3. The Vocational Programme, which students aged 16-18 in the 1st and 2nd Years at Upper School follow.

4. The Pre-professional Programme, which students aged 18-19 at Upper School follow.

The Royal Ballet School’s Associate Programmes

Applicants who secure a place on the School’s Junior, Mid, Senior, and Advanced Associate Programmes enjoy high-level training that supports and enhances their regular ballet classes.

Between September and June, dancers receive an introduction to the School’s System of Training with a view to pursuing a full-time dance education. They learn alongside students of the same age who also have a passion for ballet, and they often create lifelong friends.

Training aside, the Associate Programmes offer dancers opportunities like:

• Visiting a pre-general rehearsal at Covent Garden’s Royal Opera House.

• Attending an Upper School workshop.

• Partaking in Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and visiting companies’ productions.

Young dancers in Years 3-10 can get a feel for the School’s Associate Programmes by attending a taster Associate Insight class.

The Junior and Mid Associate Programmes

The Junior and Mid Associate Programmes see young dancers take weekend classes in one of the School’s seven UK centres. These centres are in London, Bath, Eastleigh (Southampton), Birmingham, Leeds, Stockport (Manchester), and Edinburgh.

The School encourages male Mid Associate dancers to attend the London sessions. This is where the specialist male training classes take place.

Junior Associates, aged 8-10, practise body conditioning, barre work, centre work, port de bras, and jumps. Meanwhile, Mid Associates, aged 11-14, practise body conditioning, barre work, centre work, and allegro. Females also practise pre-pointe and pointe work.

The Senior and Advanced Associate Programmes

The Senior and Advanced Associate Programmes see dancers take classes in London, Birmingham, and Leeds. The School encourages males to attend the London Centre, where it hosts specialist male training classes.

Senior Associates, aged 14-16, practise body conditioning, barre work, centre work, and allegro. Females also practise pointe work. Advanced Associates, aged 16-17, practise all of the above plus repertoire.

The Royal Ballet School’s Audition Process

Three stages make up The Royal Ballet School’s audition process: preliminary, semi-final, and final auditions.

In the preliminary auditions, successful applicants who applied for Year 7 female training will receive an invitation to a semi-final audition.

Successful applicants who applied for Year 10 training will need to provide a classwork video for the next stage of the auditions. Successful Upper School applicants will also need to provide a classwork video.

Candidates who are successful in both the preliminary and semi-final auditions will receive an invitation to the final auditions in London. The Artistic Director and other Artistic staff members will form a panel for the final auditions.

Inclusivity In Auditions

The Royal Ballet School opens training opportunities to students from all backgrounds, regardless of academic ability or personal circumstances.

In line with its mission to seek and train the world’s best dancers, the School also encourages international students to audition for places on its programmes. International applicants can submit video auditions. They only need to attend the School in-person if they secure a final audition in London.

The Royal Ballet School’s Summer Intensives

The Royal Ballet School doesn’t only train dancers during the academic year. It also hosts a Summer Intensive that introduces dancers to the School’s System of Training. Participants receive exceptional training from both the School’s Artistic staff and high-profile guest instructors.

The 2024 Summer Intensive took place over five weeks between 9 July and 9 August. Young dancers from around the world took part in the programme at White Lodge and Upper School. These dancers honed their skills in both classical ballet and contemporary styles, sometimes practising with live music.

One student, Audrey, said: “I’ve learned more in these five weeks than I have all year. The unique repertoire at the School exposed me to a whole new side of ballet.”

Another student, Sara, added: “It’s surreal once you’re here to be training in the same studios as the full-time students. We danced in the studios at the Royal Opera House, which was incredible.”

Enjoying The Full Boarding Experience

Dancers taking part in the Intensive get to enjoy the full Royal Ballet School experience by boarding in Covent Garden or Richmond Park. This year, after training, they enjoyed film nights, selfie competitions, and pool tournaments. Spending time together in the studios and boarding houses allowed them to bond and share their passion for dance.

Audrey said: “You meet people from all these schools across the world that you have heard of, and some of them are your dream schools. It’s amazing to be in class and train alongside them.”

Another student, Mackenzie, added: “We’ve all become great friends... We’re in the heart of Covent Garden, and I’ve never been to London, so it’s great to be so central and have easy access to sightsee around the city.”

The Summer Intensive blends outstanding ballet training with a chance for young dancers to come together in a space where they can create life-long memories. It’s an opportunity that many aspiring dancers around the globe hope to experience.

For dancers who do experience the opportunity, Audrey advises: “Take everything you learn here; it will stick with you. The experiences, the people you meet, and the lessons will stay with you as you progress in your training and career.”

About The Royal Ballet School

The Royal Ballet School, founded by Dame Ninette de Valois in 1926, is a leading classical ballet training centre. Students receive a comprehensive education, balancing dance instruction with academic learning and personal growth.

The School has produced numerous dancers who have joined The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and other major companies worldwide. Its impact on the international dance community continues to be significant, maintaining its reputation as one of the world's top ballet training institutions. Many young people from around the world aim to pursue their dance education here.

Sign up for The Royal Ballet School’s newsletter to find out about audition opportunities first.

This article does not necessarily reflect the opinions of the editors or management of EconoTimes.