Auditions

To download an application form click here: pdf or to request an application form via email click here.

To download a prospectus click here

Auditions for the 2008 courses will take place on -

Sunday 2nd March - Preliminary Auditions for Associate programme and combined applications

Sunday 16th March - Final Auditions for all Associate programmes and Summer school only

Sunday 13th April - Preliminary auditions for Yorkshire Young Dancers

27th-30th May - Final Intensive audition week for Yorkshire Young Dancers

All programmes will commence in September 2008

Application closing date- Monday 18th February 2008

Click here for dates and information regarding Open Days.

Students can apply for one or more of the courses. When a student applies for more than one course their preliminary audition will be combined. Please indicate clearly on the application form which courses the student is applying for.

Successful applicants for the Yorkshire Young Dancer Scheme and Associate Programmes will commence classes in September 2008.

To apply for either / all programmes please down load complete and return the attached application form, along with a photo and relevant fee, to –

Classical Training Department
Northern Ballet Theatre
West Park Centre
Spen Lane
Leeds
LS16 5BE

For further information regarding any Programmes please contact the Classical Training Department on 0113 274 5355 or classicaltraining@northernballettheatre.co.uk

Auditions will take place at Northern Ballet Theatre head quarters in Leeds

About the Auditions

Selection
We have chosen to select students via audition to take part in the programmes rather than make it available to all on a first come first served basis. There are several reasons for this:
o We are limited in our resources and are currently only able to offer training to restricted numbers of students.
o We want to make these unique training opportunities available to those students regionally, who have the potential to benefit from them the most; in terms of the progress they are likely to be able to make over the course of the programmes.
o We want to maximise the opportunities for those students with a certain potential and don’t believe the resulting training to be suitable, beneficial or healthy for those students who we consider either physically or mentally not able to cope with the demands.

Important
Whilst we make this selection we DO NOT wish to make definite judgements or decisions about young people’s ability to have a life in dance. We are only able to make decisions about our own training programme and recognise that there are a multitude of alternative ways to fulfil dancing potential.

What do we look for in young dancers?
We look for different things at different stages of a young person’s development. This depends on age, previous experience and potential to develop.

We look for students who have certain skills, innate ability and potential to develop in the following five areas: physique, mental application, movement & co-ordination, expression, personality and musicality.

Below are the main focus points of selection criteria, which are all equally important. Students will have strengths and weaknesses across these areas but should have some innate ability and potential in each, within a certain range.

The expected level of all the above will vary depending on the age of the applicants. However, all successful applicants will show potential in all areas. All applicants are notified of the result of their audition.