The Royal Ballet School has teamed up with Dance Base Scotland to establish a regional training hub. The partnership will provide high-quality Royal Ballet School programmes in Scotland for young individuals, budding dancers, and dance professionals. All programmes will take place at Dance Base’s award-winning studios in the heart of Edinburgh.
The Royal Ballet
Widening Access to Dance Excellence in Scotland
The Royal Ballet School and Dance Base both have extensive expertise in the dance training world.
Founded in 1926, The Royal Ballet School brings almost a century of dancer and dance teacher training excellence to the partnership. The School prioritises a student-centred approach to ensure all dancers feel supported and encouraged to express themselves.
As Scotland’s National Centre for Dance, Dance Base boasts world-class studios and an inspiring dance environment. Established in 1993, Dance Base has a wealth of regional knowledge and community influence, along with strong connections throughout the Scottish dance sector and beyond.
The two charities also share a commitment to expanding access to dance, whether as an art form, potential career, fitness activity, or source of enjoyment.
Additionally, both organisations advocate for the many benefits of dance. They create opportunities for people to connect with dance, irrespective of their background, financial situation, or prior experience with the art form.
This partnership opens up numerous opportunities for children new to dance, students seeking recreational or pre-vocational training, and aspiring dance teachers.
The Royal Ballet School’s Artistic Director Christopher Powney says Dance Base is “the perfect partner for the School.”
“We share a mission to open up the dance world to as many people as possible,” he explains. “With our expertise as a world leader in classical ballet training and Dance Base’s wealth of knowledge and experience in the region, I’m excited to see what we can achieve together.”
More About Dance Base Scotland
Dance Base is a dedicated hub for fostering and celebrating dance in Scotland. The charity’s passionate, expert team offers extensive support for dancers, performances, international exchanges, and more. The organisation also plays a key role in Edinburgh’s August festivals.
Opened in 2001, the purpose-built Dance Base building fosters community participation and hosts professional classes in its four studios. A programme comprising more than 60 classes a week covers a range of dance styles, from ballet to Bollywood and hip hop.
Dance Base works year-round with Scottish dancers and dance companies. The organisation offers:
- Artistic residencies and placements.
- Opportunities for exhibiting work.
- Tailored advice and support.
Dance Base launched PRIME, Scotland’s first semi-professional dance group for over 60s, in 2015. PRIME has enjoyed much success, including an international collaboration with Taiwanese dance company B.DANCE. The group also produced a short film with the BBC in 2023.
A New Regional Training Hub
Dance Base will host The Royal Ballet School’s Regional Training Hub for Scotland and the North of England. Dance Base’s Chief Executive Jim Hollington says the Edinburgh-based centre, with its top-notch facilities, is “the natural home for this opportunity.”
“The partnership really complements our existing activity with the community and professional dance artists,” Hollington adds. “We’re excited to see how the collaboration will develop for us and the broader dance sector in Scotland.”
The Royal Ballet School’s Commercial Director Carol Dray notes that Dance Base matches the School’s ambition to sustainably widen access to dance in regional centres, “with the opportunity for growth.”
Expanding The Associate Programme
The Royal Ballet School’s Founder Dame Ninette de Valois created the Associate Programme in 1948. The programme delivers exceptional pre-vocational classical ballet training for gifted 8-to-17-year-old dancers.
Since the 1980s, the School has implemented its Associate Programme in nine centres across the UK in London, Bath, Birmingham, Dundee, Eastleigh, Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle, and Totnes.
Now, the School plans to broaden its reach by establishing regional training hub partnerships in these existing centres and additional locations. Accessibility will be a key factor in selecting new locations, thereby allowing more people to engage with and enjoy dance.
Aspiring Associate dancers aged 7-10 attended an Associate Insight class at Dance Base on 18 February 2024. Next, Dance Base will host a recreational dance workshop for students aged 8-11 and dance teachers on 3 March.
The School will launch its full Junior Associate (ages 8-10) and Mid Associate (ages 11-13) Programmes at Dance Base in September.
Applications for the Junior Associate Programme open in February each year and close in March. Auditions take place in the summer term for courses starting in September.
Meanwhile, applications for the Mid, Senior, and Advanced Associate Programmes open annually in September and close in October. Auditions take place from November to January for courses starting the following September.
Learn more about the Associate Programme.
About The Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School’s Associate Programme augments young people’s current dance training and introduces them to the School’s System of Training. Associates sometimes perform with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and other leading ballet companies. Many Associates have progressed through the School and into the Royal Ballet Companies.
The School admits students to its full-time course based solely on their classical ballet talent and potential. On average, 88% of current students rely on financial assistance to attend.
Full-time students receive world-class classical ballet training alongside an exceptional academic education. Additionally, the School’s Healthy Dancer Programme provides comprehensive physical and psychological support to ensure students are well-prepared for successful, fulfilling dance careers.