Royal Ballet School Junior Associates

Hi! Even if she doesn't get in, there are other exceptional schools, and she could try to enter at 13 or 16? If she is ballet obsessed like mine, then don't give up! If the teacher says she shows good potential and she's not great in school, enhance it! Get her to stretch lots for good flexibility, practice her turnout, and practice TURNS and BALANCE, that's what gets attention at auditions. I've been a ballet mum for years, my DD had to quit through injury at 19 but still loves it. I know its been ages on this thread but now I'm intriegued! did she get in?

Ah that's great I will try that! Thanks! And hey good luck !

Hi, read your post with interest as my dd on the swl for JAs ( and we remain ever hopeful )! Try balletcoforum.com- you will get many responses if you post on there. Not a huge amount of traffic on here for ballet ime.

Hi. Daughter starting rbs ja September. I haven't a clue about dancing. Feel bit out of our depth but daughter quite happy! Anyone who attends already, any friendly tips to help would be appreciated!! Thanks

It's a real achievement to even be offered SWL so well fine to your dd.

Just to add to this for anyone thinking of going for it in the future. You absolutely DO NOT need your teacher's "permission". There is a box on the form for them to sign but they WILL see you without all that information. Our teacher refused so I just sent a letter explaining this with the application and they were fine about it. DD starts this Sept (after getting "short waiting list" last year).

Thank you.
So she has a slim chance of getting a place.
That's good enough for me :)

It means that if anyone declines their place between now and September the next person on the list will be offered a place.

Hi. My daughter has just had a letter from the RBS for the JA programme in Bristol, she is 10 years old. It says that she is on the short waiting list. What does this mean exactly?
I'm new to this and don't know much about it.

We have several JAs at dds dance school. 4 are currently y6. 2 JAs and a couple of girls that aren't JAs auditioned for white lodge. 1 girl got in this year. As far as I am aware she is the ONLY girl to go to white lodge from our dance school in the last 10 years, possibly ever (dance school has been run for nearly 20 years). That said a lot of our girls (and boys) go to Elmhurst at 11, or Hammond, or Tring. Many more wait until they are 16 or 18 and then audition for dance colleges (there is more choice then!). Every year we have a good half dozen going away to school on scholarships.

Yes sparkly is right. As u said upthread there is a box on the Mid Assicuate application form for if a child wants to be considered for White Lodge.

They don't HAVE to audition for white lodge. Eleven is a standard age to go to boarding school.

Yes just one audition. Everyone is informed about the outcome.

After JA (junior associate) at 11 it goes on to MA (mid associate) then SA (senior associate). You have to re audition for these at the appropriate age

Only 12 boys and 12 girls are chosen at age 11 for full time school at White Lodge (I think it's 12 or maybe 14)

So for the JA there is just one audition followed by a yes or no? (Do you actually hear anything if they didn't get through?)
Eleven still seems awfully young to board, if you choose not to us that the end of the JA at 11yrs old?
Chances are my daughter is a very small fish in a huge pond and possibly won't make it through (can always hope?) yet it's still good to be clued up :)
Thanks for the info!

Hi Baby

Junior Associates are from age 8 and there is just one audition at one if the regional centres.

If a child is accepted they undergo yearly appraisals. Classes are held on weekends with the odd special workshop.

In Year 6 children then audition for Mid Associates. On the audition form there is a box asking if they also want to audition for full time school at White Lodge. For this there are the initial auditions then a select few are invited to final auditions.

Hi there,
I've been reading this thread with interest this evening, my daughter has an audition with the JA this week and I can honestly say I am going in blind! I had no idea how huge it was or indeed, competitive. I've obviously heard of The Royal Ballet yet never the JA until earlier this year and didn't realise you could board etc or anything from such a young age. It's all very new to me, so it's good reading that other Mums are nervous about auditions etc. I also didn't realise there would be more than one audition! Eeek!

Hi OP, I've seen you on another forum now but thought I'd reply here. My dd had her audition last week and as promised I thought I'd post regarding her experience. She absolutely loved it! She was very nervous as soon as she saw all the other girls (lots of which were showing off their extreme bendiness - v off putting for a not v flexible child!) but as soon as she went off with the teacher I could see her relax and she came back having had a wonderful time.

Before they are taken off, the JA official person comes and introduces the panel (her and two others), pianist and teacher (5 in total) and explains that all the children are good dancers, otherwise they wouldn't be there etc etc, but only a few get in etc etc, then they are whisked away....

the following is what I gleaned from her on the way home:
they stand in lines which alternate and take it in turns to dance
they do stretches such as the froggy one on their backs, touching toes while sitting and box splits , and some others I think
a couple of exercises having taken off their shoes and socks
very basic exercises in centre and some at the bar (which threw my dd a bit because she hasn't got to bar work in class yet)
we don't find out the results until July

they didn't have to dance alone at all or make up a dance to an unheard piece of music at this audition.

Like I said, my dd thoroughly enjoyed it, and is realistic about the outcome but she says she'll know exactly what to expect next year..... and !!

good luck to your dd!

When they see all the other chlldren there it will hit them that it is no easy task to get in!! As has been pointed out, all that apply get an audition.

We're out in the sticks but she's doing it in Manchester as that's the nearest place. I can't believe your head! That's dreadful! That is definitely an advantage of going to a small country primary. I'm getting a bit bothered as the closer it gets (next week) the more desperate she is to get in, it could get messy! I'll post again about her experience.

Hi OP, I've been watching your original thread with interest. My DD1 also has an audition in May and I deliberated for ages whether to let her go for it because I know how competitive it is and chances are she'll be disappointed. However, I too felt I'd be letting her down if I didn't give her the opportunity. All I know about the actual audition is what the letter says. I'm trying to play it that it'll be fun having a day off school and going to the big city!! Maybe someone will come along who knows more?

Just seen this thread and thought I would give you my opinion. My daughter has danced since she was 2, and currently attends six ballet classes, a modern, a tap, a jazz, a street jazz, a Classical Greek and two body conditioning classes a week. She has friends on the JA programme but we have never applied ourselves for several reasons:
1: She is unlikely to get in due to her overall body shape. DD1is not big, but she is relatively short at 4'5" (she is 10). She is also quite broad across her chest.
2: I know that the nature of the classes would probably bore her. The JA classes are all about developing proper technique. They take the children right back to basics and work on the simple stuff in a very repetitive manner. My DD1 is not of the temperament that would see the benefit in this. They also do not take into account what grade children are. My daughter, at ten, is Grade 5 and Interfoundation level for Ballet but a lot of the work done at JAs is going to be simpler.
3: the cost. JA is, IMO very expensive and on top of the cost of being on the programme they have their own uniform which you must buy and many trips to White Lodge or Saddlers wells. I feel that more beneficial to my DD is regular private lessons with her dance teachers and performing in local dance festivals.

All that said, for some children it does wonders and I will probably audition my DS1, when he is old enough as he has the right temperament for a JA and shows particular enjoyment in his Ballet. He also has already (he's 6) expressed a desire to go away to dance school at 11. Whereas DD1 is very opposed to the idea of boarding school!

Just to correct the previous poster, education at White Lodge is NOT fully funded, it is means tested. Therefore if you have a high income you would be expected to pay on a sliding scale. I know this as my Dds friend has just been offered a place starting in September.

Just to clarify a few things regarding this post.
I was a JA, and then went on to White Lodge at the age of 11. I have danced professionally and now teach.
To audition for the JA's you do send photos away with an application form. Most people will be invited for a 1st audition(unless they can tell from your pictures you are definitely the wrong shape). There will be a 2nd day of auditions for successful candidates.
They run monthly classes is all major cities.
You can be assessed out but this is purely to prevent the parents from wasting time and money if they believe the child will not be a dancer. JA classes are fun and a great experience. At such a young age they take children on potential. They look at flexibility, body shapes and a certain grace. Flexibility and good feet are the main things, as they can work with you.
It is a very hard profession, but extremely rewarding.
If your daughter is not academically strong, yet shows talent in dance i would push her to do these auditions. As if accepted to White Lodge, she will be nurtured in small class sizes both academically and ballet. It is one of the best and most beautiful schools in this country, and all UK students accepted will be fully funded.
I hope this helps

I agree with Alrobe - ballet and freestyle are at the opposite ends of the dance spectrum and require quite different skills!

In particular there is much emphasis in ballet of 'good turnout' ie: a sideways rotation of the legs from the hips, and the straight position of the back and shoulders down and flat, which are all completely different in freestyle.

Ballet teachers aren't all that keen on gymnastics for similar reasons, particularly for older children (I don't say 'girls' as boys do ballet as well - shock!!!) as the muscle groups are used and developed in totally different ways.