Ever wondered which are the most renowned Ballet Schools in the UK? Ballet is a truly exquisite and captivating art form. For it to be mastered, however, it needs great commitment and dedication.

Wannabe ballerinas need to be put in the time and effort required in order to stand out from the crowd and master this form of dance. In order to do so, they need the very best guidance and teaching from an established dance school. The UK is home to some of the most excellent ballet schools, with thousands of aspiring ballet dancers auditioning to join them.

Some of the most renowned ballet schools in the UK and what they offer to young students.

Elmhurst Ballet School

Based in Birmingham in the West Midlands, Elmhurst Ballet School is one of the oldest vocational dance schools in the UK. The renowned ballet school is spread over a five-acre campus that includes seven dance studios, a theatre workshop, a medical centre, and a physiotherapy centre. Elmhurst Ballet School has a fantastic association with Birmingham Royal Ballet which greatly benefits several students, providing them with wonderful opportunities to appear in various productions. The school is known for its excellent success rate with students, as they go on to work with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Royal Ballet and many more Ballet theatres in the UK, Europe and all over the world. 

The Hammond School

The Hammond School is a renowned ballet school in the UK established in 1917. It welcomes 11-to 16-year-olds every year that want to pursue dance, music, drama, and musical theatre. Based in Cheshire, it was built in the 1860s and has since gained a Performing Arts Centre that contains a 420-seat theatre, along with dance studios and a music suite. Students from The Hammond School have gone onto graduate from prestigious companies such as Phoenix Dance Theatre, English National Ballet, and Lithuanian National Ballet.

Moorland School (International Ballet Academy)

Within the stunning grounds of Moorland School lies Moorland International Ballet Academy, a school that offers ballet training from pre-vocational right through to graduate level. The school has a very unique process when it comes to accepting students. Instead of an entrance exam, students are invited to spend a day at the school, giving the chance for staff to meet each child on an individual basis. This means that entry into the school is solely dependent and based on behaviour. To enter the ballet academy, however, an audition is required. The international ballet academy trains its students in a wide range of brilliant skills such as classical ballet techniques, choreography, contemporary dance, drama, virtuosity, anatomy, pointe work, Spanish dance, jazz, and body conditioning.   

The Royal Ballet School

Some of the best dancers in the world come from The Royal Ballet School, as it is an internationally acclaimed training school for those with a passion for the art. Based in Richmond, the school is otherwise known as White Lodge which accepts students between the ages of 11-16 years old. Students that attend White Lodge have very strong ties and connections with The Royal Ballet School Upper School as well as with the Royal Ballet, with a big number of students appearing in several company productions. The Royal Ballet School Upper School is located in Covent Garden and has a three-year training course for students aged between 16-19 years old. Students are able to achieve a BA degree in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance which is validated by Roehampton University. 

Northern Ballet School

The Northern Ballet School is based in the heart of the bustling city of Manchester and offers aspiring ballerinas a three-year dance programme. In the first year of the programme, students will cover general dance training, while in the second and third year they have the option to focus on classical ballet or jazz. Students are also offered the option to gain ISTD teaching qualifications while at the school. The renowned ballet school is located in a 1930s Art Deco building and contains spacious studios along with a 420-seat public theatre called The Dancehouse. Within the school is also an in-house ballet company called Manchester City Ballet, which provides students with a wonderful opportunity to perform full-length ballet performances in front of big audiences.

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