Age for European ballet schools

[ozzee]

My daughter is thinking she would like to continue where she is for another year and then Audition for European schools next year, rather than this upcoming year (so for September 2025 entry). She will, however, be 18 in March 2025 and is wondering if that is too old. She is interested in training/studying anywhere with an affordable program eg Brussels. 
so do you have to be 17 entering the program or is 18 ok??

thanks 

 

[Jan McNulty]

We've had this thread recently about older students:

 

 

This thread mentions some Europe-based schools but you would have to check to see if they take older students:

 

 

 

[ozzee]

Thanks Janet. Have looked at those. Unfortunately, we don’t have the residency requirements so UK schools are prohibitively expensive for us. It’s good to know that Brussels definitely take older students. With her birthday in March it works for the southern hemisphere but not for northern hemisphere and would mean her auditioning at the beginning of next year at 16 to get in to those that only take under 18 and she wants to wait another year. 

[Ruby Foo]

9 hours ago, ozzee said:

My daughter is thinking she would like to continue where she is for another year and then Audition for European schools next year, rather than this upcoming year (so for September 2025 entry). She will, however, be 18 in March 2025 and is wondering if that is too old. She is interested in training/studying anywhere with an affordable program eg Brussels. 
so do you have to be 17 entering the program or is 18 ok??

thanks 

 

 
I think you would be looking at schools that offer a 3 year program. In our experience quite a few are interested in looking at a very competent ‘company ready’ 18 yr old, but places are few at that stage and rarely given unless exceptional. ESB and NBA in Amsterdam and Princess Grace all accept 18 yr olds if you are what they want. It’s definitely worth applying on an individual basis.

 

[Ruby Foo]

There are also many in the USA that take students into Graduate year. But maybe that’s too far and too costly.

San Francisco, Ellison, Joffrey and National Ballet of Canada are just some.

[Allwrong]

Brussels is very flexible. A lot of 18 year olds started this year. if they are ready to audition, they will be encouraged to start doing so straight away, or keep going for another year, or another two, as appropriate. Quite a few of their 18 yr olds (and younger) are at Yagp (Paris) this week.

[ozzee]

Thank you, she is very interested in Brussels so that is good to know. 

[Birdy]

Dutch National Ballet Academy is a two year program. They take 18 year olds. Students get an Associates Degree at the end of the two years because the program is run through Amsterdam University of the Arts. The second year students choreograph their own contemporary piece (with help) and are coached on a classical variation  for their audition video. The videographer also records the classroom work for the video. Students are also given the opportunity to audition for second cast parts in some productions. There are three girls from Australia in this year’s graduating class. 
 

The only drawback I have found is the extreme difficulty with finding housing.