In response to the current lockdown and its impact on dance training and auditions for dance schools, ten UK vocational ballet institutions have jointly agreed to put back the traditional audition start from the autumn to January 2021.
The organisations are Central School of Ballet, English National Ballet School, Elmhurst Ballet School, The Hammond School, KS Dance, Northern Ballet School, Rambert School, The Royal Ballet School, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and Tring Park School for the Performing Arts. The schools hope the young dancers will feel encouraged to audition, despite the effects of lockdown.
Jessica Wheeler, Principal of Elmhurst Ballet School, said, “we know auditions can be an exciting yet daunting experience for many young dancers and, with the added pressures of lockdown creating some uncertainty and anxiety, the schools hope by working together it will give applicants more time to consider their options and prepare for one of the most important steps in securing the next phase of their training and education.”
Viviane Durante, Director of Dance at English National Ballet School, added, “the later audition period will give the schools more time to think about the audition details once Government guidelines have been published so the safety of our future students, family members who often accompany them to audition, staff facilitating the day and current students remains paramount in any planning and delivery.”