Advanced / Professional Ballet Course - 1 Year

Experience comprehensive classical ballet training through a range of internationally recognised methodologies, including RAD (Royal Academy of Dance), Cecchetti, Vaganova, and Bournonville techniques. Classes are designed to refine your technical skills, musicality, and artistry, while developing a strong understanding of stylistic differences. Pointe work classes will be tailored to individual ability, offering focused development for female dancers, alongside dedicated men’s technique sessions that build strength, elevation, and virtuosity essential for male roles.

Expand your movement vocabulary through exploration of Graham, Limón, and Cunningham techniques — three major pillars of contemporary dance. These classes encourage freedom of expression, fluidity, and dynamic movement quality. You’ll also engage in improvisation sessions and choreographic tasks, developing your ability to create and interpret contemporary work with creativity and versatility, skills increasingly valued in today’s dance world.

Learn the essential skills of classical and contemporary partnering. Pas de Deux sessions focus on trust, communication, balance, and coordination, covering traditional ballet partnering techniques as well as lifts and supports used in modern choreography. These classes are vital for dancers preparing for company life, where partnering is a major component of repertoire and performance.

Study and rehearse a range of classical, neo-classical, and contemporary solo pieces, preparing you for performance and audition environments. You’ll have the opportunity to work on iconic solos from the major ballet canon as well as new choreography, developing both technical excellence and personal artistic interpretation. Regular coaching will help you polish presentation, musicality, and stamina for professional-level performances.

Nurture your creative voice through guided choreographic practice. You'll work individually and collaboratively to create original pieces, developing key skills in composition, structure, and movement invention. Regular in-studio sharings give you the chance to present and refine your work in a supportive environment, preparing you for freelance choreography, teaching, or collaborative company projects in the future.

Enhance your physical foundation with targeted Pilates and conditioning classes. Sessions focus on improving core stability, posture, alignment, and muscular endurance — all critical for injury prevention and sustained performance. You'll develop greater body awareness and functional movement patterns that directly support your ballet and contemporary technique.

Gain insight into the stylistic richness of character and folk dances from different cultures, an essential element of many classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Don Quixote, and The Nutcracker. Mime classes will also teach you the traditional storytelling gestures used to convey narrative and emotion on stage, deepening your ability to embody roles with authenticity and dramatic clarity.

A series of expert-led sessions designed to prepare you for the realities of a professional dance career, including:

• Nutrition for Dancers: Understanding how to fuel your body for training, performance, and recovery.


• Safe Practice and Injury Prevention: Best practices for maintaining a healthy, injury-free career.


• Rehabilitation: How to manage and recover from injuries effectively, with strategies for maintaining form during recovery.


• Audition Techniques: Practical advice and preparation strategies for different types of auditions, including conservatoire entry, company auditions, and freelance work.


• Musicality for Dancers: Developing a deeper sensitivity to music, phrasing, and timing to enhance your performance and interpretation.

You’ll take part in rigorous daily ballet classes aimed at improving core strength, flexibility, alignment, and technical precision. These sessions focus on advanced classical technique and are designed to build strong, well-rounded dancers with excellent discipline. Alongside technique, you’ll learn classical repertoire and contemporary variations, developing both stylistic range and performance readiness. Whether revisiting solos from famous ballets or exploring new choreography, you’ll gain the skills to adapt to different professional settings.

Dancers are not just athletes—they are storytellers. Through our Artistry Workshops, you’ll explore musicality, phrasing, expression, and characterisation. These sessions are designed to help you move beyond pure technique and dance with emotional impact and authenticity. You’ll also receive training in acting and stage presence, learning how to inhabit roles, connect with audiences, and bring genuine feeling to your performances. This work is key to becoming a compelling and memorable performer.

Throughout the course, you’ll benefit from personalised coaching sessions with our faculty. These one-to-one tutorials allow for focused technical improvement and artistic development tailored to your unique needs and goals. In parallel, you’ll receive career mentoring on how to navigate the professional dance world. From writing your first CV and preparing for conservatoire or company auditions, to understanding freelance pathways, we’ll support your transition into the industry with practical, experience-led advice.

Live performance is central to the course. You'll have multiple opportunities to showcase your progress in studio showings and end-of-term assessments, which may be open to invited audiences. These performances simulate professional conditions and are essential for building stage experience, confidence, and presence. You’ll also take part in creative collaborations with choreographers and visiting artists, which expose you to new working methods and styles, broadening your artistic range.

A sustainable dance career depends on physical and mental wellbeing. You’ll receive guidance on best practices for injury prevention, including warm-ups, conditioning, and cross-training. Sessions on nutrition will help you fuel your training safely and effectively. Additionally, we offer support on managing performance-related stress, building confidence, and developing routines for mental resilience—skills as important in the studio as they are on stage.

Throughout your training, you’ll meet and work with a range of industry professionals. Guest artists from established companies are regularly invited to deliver masterclasses and workshops, offering insights into the realities of company life and freelance work. These sessions not only enhance your learning but help build connections that may support your career after graduation. You’ll also have the chance to engage with visiting directors, choreographers, and casting professionals through Q&As and networking sessions.

Auditions can be daunting—but this course prepares you thoroughly. You’ll take part in mock auditions that simulate real-world scenarios, helping you gain the confidence and skill to perform under pressure. We also support you in building a professional audition portfolio, including dance reels, performance footage, and CVs. You'll leave with the tools—and the self-belief—needed to approach conservatoires, ballet companies, and choreographers with professionalism.

The course is available in three formats: 30 weeks (full academic year), 20 weeks (6 months), or 10 weeks (3 months). All versions offer intensive, part-time training that is designed to complement personal schedules while providing deep immersion in both technique and artistry. Sessions typically run multiple times per week, with regular check-ins, feedback, and termly evaluations to track your progress. You can choose the course length that suits your current goals, availability, and experience level.

Applicants should have completed formal ballet training or possess equivalent experience, typically at an intermediate or advanced level. Admission is by audition, either in person or via video submission. We assess your current technique, potential for growth, and commitment to training. We’re looking for dancers who are serious about developing their craft and pursuing ballet professionally—whether through conservatoire, company work, or freelance performance.

This course is designed to be a bridge between student and professional life. Upon graduation, you’ll have developed the technique, artistic maturity, and confidence to take your place in the dance world. Whether you choose to audition for a company, freelance, or continue your training at a conservatoire, you’ll leave with a clear sense of direction and a strong portfolio to support your next move.

At City Academy, we believe that nothing should stand in the way of your creativity – especially not your budget. That’s why we offer a range of payment options to help you spread the cost of your course in a way that works for you. Whether you prefer to split your payments over time with Klarna or PayPal Credit, or would like to set up a custom payment plan with our Student Services team, we’ve got options to suit every situation. Start learning now and pay at your own pace – we’re here to make it easier.

Live auditions for the Advanced Ballet Development Programme are held at our Central London studios. These sessions are designed to evaluate each dancer’s technique, musicality, artistry, and overall performance potential.During the audition, you’ll take part in a full ballet class led by a member of our faculty. This will be followed by repertoire work, pointe work if applicable, and a short interview. In some cases, you may also be asked to perform a prepared solo.The auditions are open to dancers aged 18 and over who have an Intermediate+ level of classical ballet training.All audition dates are listed on our booking calendar. As places are limited, we strongly recommend registering early to secure your preferred time. If no dates are currently available, you can register your interest to be notified as soon as new dates are released.To book your audition, simply visit the Auditions & Dates section of our website. Once you've secured your place, you’ll receive a confirmation email with everything you need to know to prepare.

If you’re unable to attend a live audition, you have the option to apply via video submission. This is a great alternative for international applicants or those with scheduling limitations.Your video should clearly demonstrate your technique, musicality, and performance quality. We ask that you include specific elements in your submission to ensure a well-rounded assessment. At the barre, please include pliés in 1st, 2nd, and 5th position with port de bras, tendus en croix, fondu en croix, développés to the front, side, and arabesque with a penché, and grands battements en croix.For the centre work, include a port de bras combination, tendus and pirouettes, an adage with développé sequences, and warm-up jumps. We’d also like to see petit allegro featuring glissades, assemblés, pas de chats, jetés, and sissonnes. For grand allegro, please perform a chassé, pas de bourrée, glissade, and grand jeté combination. Finish with chaînés across the floor.Female applicants should also include pointe work consisting of échappés, relevés in 5th, and retirés or passés.Once your video is ready, upload it through our auditions platform as part of your application. We recommend submitting your audition as early as possible, as applications are reviewed on a rolling basis and places are limited.