What is the Associate Division?
The Associate Programme is one of the few classical associate courses in the UK to train in the same inspirational setting as a professional company. Using the same training methods as the Company dancers, students will focus on their developing technique whilst building strength and confidence, complimenting the top class training the student receives from their home dance school.
Students train in world-class facilities under the expert guidance of an exceptional teaching faculty and artistic direction of Federico Bonelli. All teachers have also been professional dancers themselves and can give invaluable advice and share experiences with the students.
Associate classes run weekly during term time and students attend these alongside their regular classes at their home dance school. This programme is for students who aspire towards classical vocational training as well as vocational training in other dance genres. The programme helps provide a student with a strong classical foundation, which is essential for training in all styles of dance.
Our Junior Foundation and Junior programmes are entrance level programmes for students aged 8-10 years. They introduce the young dancer to our methodology and style of teaching and life here at the academy
Course content
Junior and Inter Foundation Programmes
For ages 8-12
In all Junior and Inter Foundation Programmes our students will focus on attaining correct posture and placement, which is vital to the health and lifespan of any young dancer. This will be coupled with learning to travel, broaden movements and respond to music.
Intermediate and Senior Programmes
For ages 12-16
In addition to the course content on the Junior and Inter Foundation Programmes, students on the Intermediate and Senior Programmes learn complimentary techniques such as pointe, men's jumps, contemporary and repertoire and our senior year are given invaluable audition advice and support.
Stronger technique brings more self-confidence and therefore increased freedom of expression. We want all our students to reach their maximum potential so that they can succeed in their auditions for vocational dance schools.
Is it right for me?
This Associate Programme is for students in academic years 4-11, who attend regular ballet classes with their home teacher and who are looking for a complementary training programme.
The programme attracts students from as far afield as Newcastle, Nottingham and Liverpool, as well as many students from the Yorkshire area.
For those students interested in training on our CAT Programme, the Junior and Inter Foundation Programmes offer the opportunity to explore our teaching methods.
| Junior Foundation | Age 8 | Fridays (weekly) | 5.20-6.50pm | £475 per year |
| Junior | Ages 9-10 | Fridays (weekly) | 5.30-7.15pm | £475 per year |
| Intermediate Foundation | Age 11 | Saturdays (weekly) | 9.15-11.30am | £600 per year |
| Intermediate | Ages 12-13 | Sundays (weekly) | 9.15am-12.15pm | £785 per year |
| Senior | Ages 14-15 | Sundays (weekly) | 9.25am-12.30pm | £785 per year |
Applications & Auditions
Find out about the application and audition process for our professional training programmes.
Read more
‘Thank you most heartily for everything that you have done for Leon. He would not be realising his dream without you and we are deeply grateful to you all. He has learnt an enormous amount, about himself and about aspects of life that the overwhelming majority of young people his age simply are not exposed to though they deserve and need it.’Associate parent
‘Since joining, the confidence Lyla has gained and the improvements to her technique are both noticeable and valuable. She is loving the Associate Programme and we cannot wait to watch her progress further.’Associate parent
Photos Emily Nuttall