Experience an audition for Upper School and our Advanced Associate programme

An insight class designed for 16-18-year-olds interested in auditioning for Upper School or the Advanced Associate programme.

£12.00

  • 1 Class
  • Suitable for 16+

In this class, students will experience what it’s like to take part in a Royal Ballet School audition designed for for students aged 16 and above wishing to enter Upper School or the Advanced Associate programme. Students will also learn more about what the School is looking for from auditionees.

What you will learn

  • Experience the exercises typically given in an audition for those aged 16+
  • Learn about the audition process
  • Discover what The Royal Ballet School is looking for in potential auditionees.

Your Tutors

Julia Ellis

Associate Teacher

Julia is an international freelance ballet teacher, having had an international career that includes performing, choreographing and teaching as Ballet Mistress for The Los Angeles Classical Ballet over a period of seven years. Julia has also performed with the Hong Kong Ballet and worked with the Hong Kong Ballet Group, staging several ballets and touring Singapore with the students and professional dancers.

Julia trained at The Royal Ballet School Upper School, graduating with distinction from the Teacher Training Course. During the following two years, Julia worked throughout the School as the Assistant to the Director, Valerie Adams.

Since 2011, Julia has been teaching the Senior Associate class at The Royal Ballet School in London. She is also part of the Associate Outreach team, teaching in Italy, and frequently teaches at the School’s Intensive Courses and Insight days.

Julia is a member of the Professional Trainee Programme Artistic staff at The English National Ballet School and was the first-year ladies’ teacher at Central School of Ballet, teaching extensively throughout the School from 2014-2022.

In Hong Kong, Julia founded a specialist exercise training centre called the Biokinetik Exercise Technique (B.E.T.) Centre. The Centre was open to clients referred by doctors and physiotherapists, and Julia worked specifically with the dancers of the Hong Kong Ballet, the Contemporary Ballet Company and other athletes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who can participate?

These classes are recommended for students aged 16+ and reflect the training given to students aged 16-19 studying at The Royal Ballet School. The classes are not suitable for beginner students, students with limited experience or students under 15 years old.

For these classes, we recommend that:

  • Students are regularly training in a recognised classical ballet syllabus at a vocational level of Advanced 2 or above, or studying at an equivalent level in full-time vocational training
  • Students have an excellent and broad knowledge of ballet vocabulary and can follow the class using only verbal instruction if necessary
  • Students will have strong and secure basic technique with an understanding of correct placement
  • Barrework should be strong with clean execution and secure demi-pointe work
  • Adage will have strong, secure placement and extensions will be at 90 degrees or above
  • Pirouettes are secure and students will have the ability to execute multiple turns
  • Allegro, including batterie, should be executed with good understanding of secure take-off and landings
  • Students undertaking pointe work will be confident in advanced exercises.

What do I need to participate?

These classes are designed so that they can be executed in a smaller space than a ballet studio. We ask that students/parents ensure that:

  • The student meets the technical standards required for the class
  • Any apparatus used for a barre is stable and safe
  • The floor is not slippery, uneven or hazardous
  • The area used for dancing is cleared of any items which could hinder the student’s ability to fully extend their arms and legs. There should be enough space for reasonable movement. If a student cannot fully execute an exercise, they should either adapt appropriately or not participate
  • The student is able to clearly hear the teacher’s verbal instruction, see the teacher’s practical delivery and hear the music
  • The student is appropriately dressed to safely execute a dance class. Soft ballet shoes should be worn for ballet, not pointe shoes. Bare feet, socks or suitable shoes should be worn for contemporary and Pilates
  • The student’s hair is suitably tied back
  • The student is fit and well in order to take part.

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