Ballet Futures: 2025 Applications

Key Audition Information

Auditions are by invitation only, following an application process.

• Download and read the full application guidelines before applying.
• Applications close on Wednesday 21 May 2025, 12 noon.
• Audition Workshop dates are:

Sunday 8 June at English National Ballet, Mulryan Centre for Dance, 41 Hopewell Square, London, E14 0SY

Sunday 6 July at Dupont Dance Stage School, Memory Lane, Leicester, LE1 3UL

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About Ballet Futures

Ballet Futures: The Pipeline Project is a children’s training programme that encourages and incentivises more dancers from traditionally underrepresented groups in ballet (African Diaspora, Caribbean, South Asian and South East Asian heritage) to participate in sustained professional ballet training from the earliest possible point.

It focuses on ballet technique, but will also explore creativity, repertoire and choreography, to reflect the varied and diverse styles seen in English National Ballet’s repertoire. Ballet Futures dancers may be selected to take part in high profile performance and creative development opportunities, including a main stage performance in London during the Company’s season, and may have access to a wide range of professional artists, international choreographers and creatives.

Ballet Futures Annual Cohort

Ballet Futures follows an academic year and is delivered in partnership with 5 dance schools across England.

Your weekly training will take place at the school closest to where you live. English National Ballet will visit you at your school in autumn and spring terms to deliver a programme of activity and coaching sessions, and also during the summer term class observations and 1-1 mentoring sessions.

You will visit us at our home Mulryan Centre for Dance (MCD) for an Experience Day. The annual programme also includes a trip to the theatre each term. Participants have the opportunity to meet ENB company dancers, watch company class and may also be selected to perform in professional productions.

It is essential that you maintain high attendance to your weekly classes at your dance school, and attendance is expected at our school visits and our annual Experience Day at MCD.

Ballet Futures Core Annual Dates

Autumn Term 2025: 1 Sep – 20 Dec 2025
School Visits: 1 Oct – 8 Oct
Observational Visits: 4 Nov – 18 Nov
Theatre Trip: Sat 20 Dec – ENB, London TBC

Winter/Spring Term 2026: 5 Jan – 28 Mar 2026
School Visits:  15 Jan – 8 Feb
Observational Visits: 3 Mar – 24 Mar
Theatre Trip:  Dates TBC

Summer Term 2026: 1 Apr – 31 July 2026
1-1 End of year meetings: 22 Apr – 8 May
Experience Day: Sat 13 June, ENB London
Observational Visits: 30 Jun – 28 Jul
Theatre Trip: Dates TBC

All Term Dates are TBC and subject to change and released fully once an offer has been made.

Registration process

Auditions open on Wednesday, 2 April 2025.

Please download and read the full registration guidelines

• All dancers interested in auditioning must complete the Registration form 
• You must be aged 8-12 years to apply
• Your family should identify as family of African Diaspora, Caribbean, South Asian or Southeast Asian heritage.

Audition workshop

• The Ballet Futures Audition Workshop will take place at English National Ballet, Mulryan Centre for Dance and also at our partner school; Dupont Dance Stage School, Leicester.
• Invited applicants will only be requested for one of those dates.
• You can choose the location closest to you to attend for audition.
• You should keep the whole day free, and you must have a grown-up with you during the day.
• Dancers will take part in a short ballet technique class and a creative workshop.
• We will hold a short information talk on the programme and the commitment for both dancers and their grown up.
• We may also call you for a short ‘get to know you’ interview via Zoom w/c 14 July

More information on what to expect can be found in the full registration guidelines

Audition criteria

What are we looking for?

We are driven by our definition of talent – natural aptitude, musicality, co-ordination, expression/charisma, and evidence of enjoying classical ballet! We obviously aim to uphold the spirit of the project and seek children from underrepresented groups who demonstrate this talent.

What is meant by underrepresented?

For this particular project, we are understanding underrepresented groups to speak to children from African Diaspora, Caribbean, South Asian and Southeast Asian heritage.

Audition Outcome

Dancers will be notified after the Audition Workshop as to whether we are able to offer a place to Ballet Futures, no later than Friday 21 July 2025, by email.