Mid Associate Programme

Our Mid Associate Programme is for students aged 11-14 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. All classes are held on Saturdays with the exception of our Edinburgh and Leeds centres, which run on Sundays.

Students aged 11 (as of 31 August 2026) auditioning to join the Mid Associate programme in September 2026 will be eligible to be selected to join the new UK Scholars programme.

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 lifelong friendships.

Classes include

• Ballet conditioning
• Classical class
• Centre work including pirouettes
• Allegro
• Repertoire.

Opportunities

• The School will invite exceptional students at the Mid Associate auditions to apply for the new UK Scholars programme from September 2026 which will involve exclusive additional training, mentoring and support
• 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.

Eligibility

• Students aged 11-13 by 31 August 2026 (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 (including our new UK Scholars programme) 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, Cardiff, Eastleigh, Edinburgh, Leeds, London and Manchester.

All applicants who audition for our Mid Associate programme will be eligible to be selected to join our new UK Scholars programme. If selected, applicants will be invited to a secondary audition specifically for the UK Scholars programme in February.

To find out how to apply: