Royal Balled School: Junior Associate Programme Auditions and Requirements

[Marina68]

Hello, my dd's ballet teacher has recommended that she applies for the JA programme at the RBS because she absolutely has the right physique for it. My dd will be 8 in November and has danced since she was 4. In the past year she has also started attending extra classes and has taken part in 3 festivals. I am aware of the level of competition and I would love her to give it ago next year but I am concerned about the shape of her feet. Her arch is rather flat (flexible flat) and I am not sure that she will have a chance at all even if her body shape is the right one...what do others think?

Now five years into being a 'ballet mum' I've given up trying to second guess what the different schools are looking for. There's no harm in going to the audition. Some children I've seen who have the seemingly perfect physique don't get places and others do despite having a non-classical ballet look! What Royal do seem to look for is good proportions, flexibility and a strong core. They also don't seem to take many y4 children but might take those same children a year later. Give it a go, the auditions are good fun anyway.

If you have a look at balletcoforum.com there are many threads about associate programmes on there.

As well as the Royal Ballet School, other vocational ballet schools offer associate programmes, so it might be worth investigating those as well.