Join us for an audition insight morning for children aged 8-13 years.
The pop-up will focus on refining technique, honing performance skills and building artistry in preparation for upcoming auditions both at Northern Ballet and beyond. The pop-up will conclude with a Q&A led by Academy faculty with valuable insight into how to physically and mentally prepare for auditions.
8-10 Years Pop-up
22 February 2026: 9:45-12:45
- Taught by: Jane Tucker
- Price: £30
- To include
- a teacher led warm up
- full ballet class
- coaching session
- Academy faculty led Q&A
Experience required: good understanding of foundation technique and vocabulary
11-13 Years Pop-up
22 February 2026: 9:45-12:45
- Taught by: Ellise De Andrade
- Price: £30
- To include
- a teacher led warm up
- full ballet class
- coaching session
- Academy faculty led Q&A
Experience required: good understanding of foundation technique and vocabulary
Classical Ballet (8-10 years)
Jane Tucker
Born in West Yorkshire, Jane undertook her early training with the Northern Dance Centre, completing it at Central School of Ballet and Northern Ballet School, where she performed and toured with Manchester City Ballet.
Jane began her professional career with Hong Kong Ballet in 1994, touring extensively throughout Asia, North America, and Canada. She returned to her Yorkshire roots, joining Northern Ballet Theatre in 1999 touring, this time around the UK and China.
Jane gained Distinction for the Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma at the RAD, London in 2002, and has accumulated extensive teaching experience to date. After graduating from the RAD, Jane toured Australia, undertaking workshops and classes in companies and vocational colleges. Since her return, she has guest taught for various schools and colleges over the years including Northern School of Contemporary Dance, Northern Ballet School, Elmhurst, SLP College and Phil Winston’s Theatreworks.
She has helped produce Sleeping Beauty for the Liverpool Proscenium Youth Ballet Company, provided ballet classes for the contemporary companies Darkin Ensemble and Diversity Dance, given private coaching and classical ballet classes for the original north based Billy and Michael boys for the West End production of Billy Elliot the Musical, and taught the classical ballet classes for the Centre for Advanced Training at the Lowry in Manchester. She has been part of the board of directors for Corpi in Mostra, Barletta, guest teacher for FormAzione Tersicore in Campania, Napoli, Italy, and the external examiner for the Royal Academy of Dance’s Professional Dancers Teaching Diploma for five consecutive years.
Alongside teaching for The Academy of Northern Ballet since 2003 Jane is a core ballet tutor and overseer for the ballet curriculum, planning and development of the CAT programme at Northern School of Contemporary Dance, she does various guest teaching, RAD syllabus teaching and coaching, and teaches dance in primary schools using their English text to create a movement based story. Jane teaches regularly for both our Associate and CAT Programmes.
Classical Ballet (11-13 years)
Ellise De Andrade
Ellise trained on the Academy of Northern Ballet’s Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) Programme before continuing her professional studies at Central School of Ballet. She has performed with companies such as Northern Ballet, Ballet Central, the International Ballet Festival, and Brecon Festival Ballet.
Ellise is passionate about sharing her expertise and currently teaches for our Academy on both the Associate and CAT Programmes, inspiring the next generation of dancers with her knowledge and experience.
Header photo taken by Emily Nuttall.
Jane Tucker photo taken by Emily Humphries.
Ellise de Andrade photo taken by George Liang.
Workshops & Events
Find out about the upcoming taster workshops, masterclasses, open days and events at the Academy of Northern Ballet.
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Classes for Young People
Taught with live music, these classes develop each dancer’s technical ability whilst enhancing their presentation skills and musicality. Suitable for dancers aged 8 to 16.
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Centre for Advanced Training
We are the only Centre for Advanced Training (CAT) in classical ballet in the UK, equipping students aged 10-16 with skills to progress onto professional vocational dance training.
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