Famed for training some of the world’s best dancers, The Royal Ballet School also shares its classical ballet expertise with wider audiences. More children than ever before can access high-quality ballet training thanks to the School’s recreational dance programmes.
Whether delivered online, in person, or by Royal Ballet School staff or Affiliate Teachers, young dancers are enjoying an excellent standard of ballet education.
Here, we’ll take a look at The Royal Ballet School’s recreational dance initiatives, which bring ballet to children across the UK and beyond. These initiatives include the Associate, Primary Steps, and Affiliate Training and Assessment programmes.
Associate Programme
Launched in 1948 by Royal Ballet School founder Dame Ninette de Valois, the Associate Programme nurtures gifted young dancers (aged 8 to 17) who pursue excellence in pre-vocational classical ballet training.
Now based in nine regional centres across the UK (Bath, Birmingham, Dundee, Eastleigh, Leeds, London, Manchester, Newcastle, and Totnes), the course augments participants’ existing dance studies and introduces them to The Royal Ballet School’s System of Training.
Associates build on their classical ballet technique while discovering natural movement, national and historical dance, and pointe work (introduced to students at an appropriate age and stage of development). The curriculum also involves exercise programmes developed with the School’s healthcare team.
The Associate programme caters to four age groups:
- Junior Associates — ages 8 to 10.
- Mid Associates — ages 11 to 13.
- Senior Associates — ages 14 and 15.
- Advanced Associates — ages 16 and 17.
Children on the Associate programme often aspire to future careers in dance, and many have progressed through the School’s full-time training and into the Royal Ballet Companies. The programme allows young dancers to train regionally before they are at the age when they can apply for full-time training with the School. Each year, many Junior Associates apply to the School and become students at White Lodge.
Associates attend classes each Saturday while continuing their studies with their regular dance teachers. Each weekly class lasts 2 hours and 15 minutes.
Children make friends on the course, learning alongside peers who share a love of dance. Associates also gain opportunities to perform with various ballet companies, such as The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
The programme usually runs from September to July, in line with the academic year of UK schools. Those interested in joining the programme can gain greater insight through in-person and online Associate Insight classes.
Booking for the 2023 Insight classes is now open.
Primary Steps Programme
The Primary Steps programme introduces UK primary school students (Years 3 to 6, ages 7 to 11) to ballet and provides select children with the opportunity to undertake initial creative ballet training.
Funded by the Department of Education and other financial supporters, the national programme enables thousands of children from various social, economic, and cultural backgrounds to access a creative ballet education.
Through national partnerships with dance agencies, host secondary schools, and a cluster of junior and primary schools, Primary Steps reaches children in Blackpool, Bury St Edmunds, Cardiff, Dagenham, Mansfield, and Swindon. The programme connects children and their families to their local dance community and opens up opportunities for further training and performances.
Two classical ballet and creative dance specialists work together to lead workshops and classes, all accompanied by a professional musician. These sessions help children develop their creativity through foundational ballet techniques. Learning through movement also supports children’s health and well-being and contributes to the development of their social skills and academic enrichment.
The Primary Steps programme has two parts: workshops and after-school classes.
Workshops
Each autumn, Year 3 teachers from participating schools take part in a continuing professional development (CPD) day at The Royal Ballet School. Each school then receives:
- Five creative ballet workshops for Year 3 students led by specialist teachers.
- Continuing professional development (CPD) resources for teachers to support dance classes
- An interactive and locally performed ballet training demonstration, involving Royal Ballet School students aged 16 and older and Junior Associates aged 10 to 11.
After-School Classes
A small selection of Year 3 pupils from participating schools, up to age 11, can attend weekly creative ballet classes at their local host secondary school for a small weekly fee.
In addition to these classes, pupils receive:
- Dance shoes and uniform.
- Opportunities to watch Royal Ballet School students train and professional performances.
- Trips to local and regional dance companies.
- Chances to perform locally and at The Royal Ballet School.
Graduating Primary Steps pupils receive guidance from the School on further opportunities, such as local and national vocational and pre-vocational dance training.
Primary Steps on Demand
Primary Steps on Demand offers a high-standard, complete dance programme for Key Stage 2 pupils (ages 7 to 11). Flexible, easy to use, and accessible via the School’s video-on-demand platform, Primary Steps on Demand allows educators to provide students with a quality, creative approach to dance education.
Delivered by The Royal Ballet School through video classes, the programme includes lesson plans, tutorials, and resources for teachers (no dance teaching experience required). Adaptable content, a gender-neutral approach, and inclusive language ensure the programme is accessible and suitable for children with special educational needs (SEN) or disabilities.
Primary Steps on Demand takes a creative approach to the teaching of dance, emphasising cross-curricular themes, core ballet concepts, and independent thinking.
Affiliate Training and Assessment Programme
The Royal Ballet School is also furthering the high-quality classical ballet training available to UK children by raising the national standard among recreational dance teachers. The Affiliate Training and Assessment programme allows teachers to learn the School’s unique System of Training and offer an alternative model of learning and assessment to their students.
The programme consists of three levels for primary school and three for secondary, covering ages 5 to 18. The programme centres on providing outstanding teaching rather than examining pupils, allowing Affiliate Teachers an autonomous approach to crafting their students’ education and conducting assessments.
The Affiliate Training and Assessment programme is amongst the first to apply principles of pedagogy to recreational ballet teacher training. Students of Affiliate Teachers experience a holistic approach to learning dance, developing performance skills and deepening their understanding of repertoire, choreography, and ballet as a wider art form.
Principal of The Royal Ballet Mayara Magri says: “The value of student-led learning, and of teachers as guide and facilitator rather than instructor, are now well-established in mainstream education. I am thrilled to see The Royal Ballet School bring these principles to recreational dance teaching, and I know that the programme will have an immensely positive impact both for students and their teachers.”
Further Training Opportunities With The Royal Ballet School
Through these programmes, there are many ways for children across the UK to experience an exceptional level of ballet training.
Passionate young dancers keen to learn more about training with The Royal Ballet School may wish to take part in online Insight events for primary and secondary schools or an Audition Insight day.
Additionally, children can experience what it’s like to train with The Royal Ballet School anywhere and at any time through Intensive Courses on Demand classes. The unique collection includes digital classes on ballet, contemporary and character dance, and Pilates, as well as interviews and talks with the School’s expert Artistic and Healthcare staff.
About The Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the world’s pre-eminent centres for classical ballet training. With a proud history that dates back to 1926, the School has contributed over the years to the rich heritage of The Royal Ballet and other world-famous companies, producing generations of famous performers and choreographers.
Alumni of the School who have found acclaim as international stars include Darcey Bussell, Margot Fonteyn, Anthony Dowell, and David Wall. Other former students now shining on the world stage include Francesca Hayward, Christopher Wheeldon, Lauren Cuthbertson, and Edward Watson.
Students admitted to the School in London (through a process judged purely on classical ballet talent and potential) experience the very best in training from expert Artistic staff. Eight years spent learning a range of dance styles, alongside comprehensive academic and pastoral programmes, prepare young dancers for happy, healthy, and successful futures with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and other global dance companies.
Besides its full-time training courses, The Royal Ballet School seeks to broaden the scope of ballet and offers several pre-vocational, recreational dance programmes for students and teachers. With a mission to inspire the future of classical ballet training, the School’s expansive initiatives and resources enable young dancers across the world to engage with, and follow their passion for, the art form.
Learn more about The Royal Ballet School.
