Every year, dancers from all over the world dream of successfully auditioning and entering London’s Royal Ballet School, following in the footsteps of countless professional dancers employed by companies around the world.
The Royal Ballet School is an elite training institution with some of the best coaches in the world, and welcomes everyone with a passion for classical ballet and a desire to become a professional dancer to audition, regardless of personal circumstances or academic ability.
Admission to the school is based solely on classical ballet potential, and dancers who have auditioned previously are welcome to reapply.
As schools prepare to begin this year’s auditions, Dance Informa spoke with Director of Training and Access Mark Annear to find out more.
What do schools look for in auditions?
“The Royal Ballet School provides students with the necessary training and development to pursue a career in dance. We are not looking for the perfect dancer; we are looking for the perfect dancer. We are interested in the potential of the dancers. We are considering students at the school “
What type of dancer is likely to succeed at the Royal Ballet School?
“We know that not every school is suitable for every student. We also look for confidence, resilience and the ability to thrive in a high-standard training environment. This helps us ensure that students who come to the Royal Ballet School get the best out of their education and training Getting the most out of your experience and enjoying and valuing the process is no more important than the other, and we encourage dancers from all athletic backgrounds to apply.
The audition process takes the form of a series of rounds. All applicants undergo an initial audition and there are a number of locations across the UK for dancers to choose from. International dancers can also apply via video application.
Preliminary auditions take the form of regular ballet classes tailored to each age group. Classes last from 1 hour 15 minutes to 1 hour 30 minutes and include a gentle warm-up. A full list of Video Apps’ class requirements, including what to wear and what to do on barre, center, allegro, pointe and stretches, can be found on their website here.
Dancers are encouraged to relax during class, ask questions when necessary, and not worry about not having learned the steps or terminology before if attending in person. It’s all about demonstrating your love for the art form to a panel of three judges who will be looking for you to show a willingness to learn and demonstrate potential, artistry and musicality.
Pre-selection for the September 2025 course will begin in November, with applications closing at 11:00 BST on 15 October. If you’re thinking of traveling, check out the full list with dates here.
Dancers can audition for:
- White Lodge Years 7, 8 and 10 (full-time training)
- First, second year of high school and professional pre-school education (full-time training)
- Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced and Advanced Associate courses.
Dancers who are successful in the preliminary and semi-final rounds (including video applications) will be invited to attend a final audition at the Royal Ballet School in London.
We asked Anil for some advice on how to succeed at auditions. “We are looking for your potential, not perfection, so do your best to enjoy the experience and show the judges your passion and love for dance,” he said. “Treat your audition like a regular ballet class—a chance to experience something new, meet other dancers who love ballet, and show our team what you can do.”
He adds, “Eat a healthy breakfast, put on whatever dance outfit you feel most comfortable in, and give yourself plenty of time to get to the audition. Remember, the panel wants you to feel able to do your best, so do your best if you can Relax and enjoy the experience.
Applications for the full-time and intermediate/senior/senior associate courses open in September and close on October 15th, so please submit these applications now. If you are considering applying by video, you need to send it in before the deadline. The video does not need to be professionally shot, you can learn more about these requirements here.
Preliminary on-site testing takes place from November to January. All auditions are for courses starting in September 2025.
Applications for the Junior Associate program open in February 2025 and close in March. Auditions for courses starting in September 2025 are held during the summer term.
Learn more here.
