The Royal Ballet School to hold auditions around the world

“The school seeks young dancers with the passion and potential for a future career in classical ballet.”

The Royal Ballet School will open applications for its full-time and Mid, Senior and Advanced Associate training programmes on Monday 5 September.

The school accepts applications for a short period just once a year. All young dancers who apply will have the opportunity to attend a preliminary audition. Auditions will take place from November to January for courses starting in September 2023.

The Royal Ballet School is one of the world's most celebrated centres for classical ballet training, nurturing exceptional young dancers for The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and other leading UK and international companies. The school is committed to widening access and extending opportunities for students from all backgrounds to benefit from the it's world-renowned training.

UK auditions for dancers aged 10-18 will take place in the school's regional centres in Bath, Birmingham, Dundee, Eastleigh, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle and Totnes.

International auditions for dancers aged 14-18 will take place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil; Chicago, New York and San Francisco, USA; Czech Republic; Portugal; Italy; Spain and Queensland, Australia (for 13-18-year-olds). 

Younger international students or international students who are not able to travel to an audition centre should submit a video audition if they wish to apply. Applications can be made online via the School's website.

Head of Training and Access Mark Annear said:

We want to see dancers with enthusiasm, artistry, musicality and a genuine passion for ballet. All applications are welcome, and nobody should be discouraged from applying.

The audition is a regular ballet class suitable for the age group, and a chance to experience what training with The Royal Ballet School might be like, meet other young dancers and show us how much you love what you do.

The school is also offering Insight classes in October for those who have applied or are considering applying, where dancers can experience what it's like to participate in an audition and understand more about what the school is looking for from auditionees in a relaxed, informal environment.

Admission to The Royal Ballet School is based purely on potential in classical ballet, regardless of academic ability or personal circumstances, and 84% of current students rely on financial support to attend. The school offers an eight-year carefully structured dance course alongside an extensive academic, pastoral and healthcare programme, ensuring students are fully equipped to thrive within and beyond the world of classical ballet.

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Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.