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Home » Northern Ballet School

Northern Ballet School

Train with purpose. Perform with confidence.

Northern Ballet School is a centre of excellence in training for classical ballet and musical theatre, sharing its home with Performers College Manchester at The Dancehouse.

Northern Ballet School was founded under its current name in 1977 by Patricia McDonald but its history dates back much further to 1918 when Madge Atkinson then ballet mistress at the Gaiety Theatre in Manchester founded a school of what she termed ‘natural movement’. Northern Ballet School moved into the Dancehouse in 1992, with the 430-seater theatre opening in 1994.

It is exactly this mix of history and the fresh eyes from Performers College and through a continuous process of development, that it has reached its present status as an outstanding school training dancers for professional careers in classical ballet and commercial theatre.

It is the place where you can develop yourself as a dance artist and performer at one of the most prestigious training academies in the UK.

What is the Diploma course?

This 3-year Diploma in Professional Dance is a full-time professional course leading to the Trinity College London Diploma in Professional Dance, in addition to the Northern Ballet School Diploma in Professional Dance.

This course is designed to prepare you for a career in an industry that demands an ever-widening range of dance performance and related skills. This is why all students study a range of dance styles and genres throughout the three years of the course.

Find out more

 

What are the benefits of training with Northern Ballet School?

Everyone at Northern Ballet School works together to help our students become the performers the theatre dance industry around the world demands – artistically accomplished, technically skilled, industry-savvy and confident.

The professional industry around the world is more demanding than ever before. It expects performers to have a wide variety of dance and other performance skills.

Technique and artistry must be strong, as must bodies as well as the mental resilience to withstand the rigorous demands of professional work. Students must be quick learners capable of fitting into demanding schedules. They must also have the confidence and respect for others necessary to work within groups of highly talented people.

Northern Ballet School is dedicated to giving you all these things so that you leave us with the skillset to find work and develop a rewarding career. Northern Ballet School graduates have joined classical and modern theatre companies and are now performing on stages all over the world. With an industry showcase at the pinnacle of the 3rd year, success is the keyword.

The Northern Ballet School corps is supported by a dedicated team of highly qualified and experienced lecturers all with the same laser-like focus – to create dance artists.

 

Key facts

Practical Performance Experience

3rd-year industry showcase

Central Manchester location

Up to date with current industry trends

High contact hours – 30 a week

Two pathways – Jazz & Ballet

Northern Ballet School ’s lecturers have had many years of professional performance experience. They constantly draw on this to prepare students for the physical and mental demands of their chosen careers.

In addition, lecturers have the particular technical expertise and theoretical knowledge. This allows them to give students a deeper insight into the range of dance styles and disciplines that underpins a creative approach to dance.

They also have the physiological expertise to help prepare would-be performers to deal with the physical and mental demands of the dance profession.

Andrew Margerison
Principal Lecturer - Jazz and Musical Theatre

Andrew is a principal lecturer in Jazz Technique, Musical Theatre, Audition Technique and Professional Practice, for the Jazz Focus programme at the Northern Ballet School, as well as contributing creatively to a variety of in-house productions as director and choreographer.

Jackie Gray
COURSE LEADER

Jackie trained at Northern Ballet School whereupon graduation in 1984 she joined the staff, teaching a wide range of subjects, including Classical Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Teaching Studies. In 1992, she became Head of the Children’s Department, in 1995 Head of the Teacher Training Department and in 2013 Deputy Principal at the school. She has also taught at a variety of Vocational Colleges, including SLP College Leeds, Preston College and North Liverpool Dance Academy.

Sarah Dickinson
Principal Lecturer - Classical Ballet and Contextual Studies

Sarah oversees the Ballet Training of all Northern Ballet School students and heads the Classical Focus Pathway. She is also responsible for the delivery of the Contextual Studies programme. Sarah feels privileged to be part of the journey of our talented young artists as they prepare to enter the professional dance world.

Live public performances are an integral part of the training at Northern Ballet School. Our student productions are all staged at a professional level in the amazing surroundings of our 430-seat theatre.

This gives students a hands-on experience of theatrical discipline and performing in front of a public audience while providing their family and friends with an opportunity to see the work.

Agent Panel Days are one of the most exciting events in the Northern Ballet School calendar, organised by our dedicated Creative Futures Team.

Watch the highlights to see our students perform in front of some of the UK’s leading talent agents – and find out what happens when years of dedication meets the right opportunity.

  • Adonais
  • Ajkun Ballet Theatre – New York
  • Alexander Roy
  • Ballet Creations
  • Ballet Gwent
  • Ballet Imaginaire
  • Ballet Ireland
  • Berlin Oper
  • Berlin Metropole
  • Birmingham Royal Ballet
  • Canterbury Ballet – New Zealand
  • Cinevox Junior Company
  • Coastal City Ballet
  • Detmold
  • Dublin City
  • Dusseldorf
  • Essen
  • European, Gelsenkirchen
  • Haagen
  • Lewis London
  • Linz Oper
  • London City Ballet
  • Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures
  • Munster
  • New English Contemporary Ballet
  • Norwegian National
  • Northern Ballet
  • Peter Shaufuss Ballet
  • Romanska
  • Royal Ballet of Flanders
  • Royal New Zealand Ballet
  • Vienna Festival
  • Wiener and the Yuma Ballet of Texas

Destinations – We have a fantastic employability record, and we are very proud of our student destinations. Recent Jazz Focus graduate success has included, Disney’s The Lion King UK Tour and West End, The Snowman, West End, Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake UK Tour, Disney’s Tarzan, Germany, Moulin Rouge Das Musical, Germany, Quadrophenia the Mod Ballet, UK Tour, The Phantom of the Opera International Tour, A Night of Famous Musicals, Germany and Scandinavia, and Andrew Lloyd Webber Musical Gala European Tour. Cats, We Will Rock You, Grease, Mamma Mia, Hairspray, and Back to the Future, all on Royal Caribbean Cruises, Top Hat on Cunard Line, as well as production shows for Celebrity Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Lines, Oceana Cruises, Royal Caribbean Cruises, Princess Cruises, Jean Ann Ryan Productions, P&O Cruises, Margaritaville at Sea, MSC, Costa Cruises, Saga Cruises, and Peel Talent. Production shows for Haven, Butlins, Potters Resorts, Disneyland Paris, Cromer Pier, Alton Towers, Ikos Resorts and Universal Studios Beijing. Aida at the Royal Opera House, Pantomimes for Crossroads Pantomimes, UK Productions and Evolution Pantomimes. Grease for Secret Cinema, revue shows at The Lido, Moulin Rouge, Benidorm Palace, and Royal Palace Kirrwiller, and a number of high-profile TV and Film projects including House of Guiness, SAS Rogue Heros, Bridgerton, Wicked, and Spiderman Brand New Day.

Agents – Dance and commercial theatre are highly competitive sectors, and due to the high volume of new graduates and increasing demand for work, as well as current industry trends and casting practices, more and more performers are choosing to seek representation by a Theatrical Agent in order to secure work. Thanks to our Graduate Showcase and Agent Panel Days, recent graduates have been offered representation from a wide variety of agencies, including, Tildsley France, Chadd Garvie Management, Collective Agents, Gilbert and Payne Personal Management, Matthew Cheney Management, YOU Management Ltd, KMC Agencies, BOSH Management, Alexander Baker Management, Heather Roberts Talent, Network Artist Management, North Artist Management, International Talent Management and Six O’Clock Studios.

Progression and Longevity – More established graduates have enjoyed a wide variety of work opportunities, including West End, UK Touring, Regional and German Musical Theatre, Opera, Cruises, Dance Companies, TV, Film, Commercial and Corporate work, Summer Seasons, Revues and Circus work. Many have now progressed on to be creatives in their own right and are working as Dance Captains, Assistant Choreographers, Associate Choreographers, Choreographers, Cruise Directors, Movement Directors, Assistant Directors, Associate Directors and Directors, others have forged careers as Agents, Casting Directors, Dance Practitioners, Teachers, Nutritionists, Fitness Instructors, Wellbeing Practitioners, Entrepreneurs, and successful Business Owners. There has also been a recent increase in the number of students choosing to convert their diploma to degree status by following a BA (Hons) course in Professional Practice, and a few have continued their studies to postgraduate level.

"Training at the Northern Ballet School greatly prepared me for the industry. As a male dancer on the Jazz Focus pathway, I was presented with a versatile course that gave me a variety of skills in: Tap, Ballet, Commercial, Contemporary, Modern, partner work and of course, Jazz. Placing a great emphasis on technique, my training has helped me always be one of the most technical dancers in the room, and constant work on audition technique and the wisdom of my tutors had me feeling confident and prepared for the ever-changing audition formats, building great pick-up skills and the ability to quickly reverse and deliver choreography helped me work with Cruise line companies such as Norwegian Cruise Line and Royal Caribbean Cruises. On my first contract with Norwegian Cruise Line, the versatility of my training really shone, skills I learnt from Tap, Jazz, and Commercial transferred over to new styles in rehearsals; I learned Irish Tap, Bollywood and Tinikling (Philippine folk dance). Being consistent with technique was also crucial when performing on a moving ship! I’ve also done pantomime, ‘Jack and the Beanstalk' at the Floral Pavilion in New Brighton where I had the opportunity to work with past tutors (Andrew Margerison and Aaron Parker) in a professional setting, this was a great pleasure and further cemented their teachings. Every contract you grow as a performer, and my training at the Northern Ballet School helped nurture me into the professional that I am today."
Leo Thrower, Northern Ballet School 2022 Graduate
"As Jazz Focus students at NBS, we were given a wide variety of classes in multiple genres, including Technical Jazz, Commercial, Tap, Contemporary, Musical Theatre, Latin American, Jazz Partnering and of course Ballet, alongside singing opportunities and classes specifically dedicated to audition scenarios. These all contributed to allowing me to enjoy the process of training to become a professional dancer and singer. NBS encourages Year 3 students to explore as many audition opportunities as possible, developing self-confidence in knowing what to expect when it comes to graduating and heading into the industry. A major credit to the college’s belief in imbedding classical technique early on, no matter what path their students choose, meant that I was fully prepared for my first open audition for The Lion King, a mix of Ballet and Contemporary, there wasn’t anything asked of me in the audition room that I hadn’t already experienced in my everyday dance classes at NBS! As students we really got to know our teachers and they in turn understood each of us as individuals, knowing what we need, how we work best in order to grow and progress and teaching us the importance of perseverance. The training I received was invaluable, opening so many doors and opportunities for me. After three memorable years I left feeling prepared and excited for my first job in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake!"
Maisie Mwebe, Northern Ballet School 2024 Graduate
"I am incredibly grateful for my time at Northern Ballet School and for the wonderful opportunities it gave me. My years at NBS were filled with inspiring teachers, engaging classes, and unforgettable performance experiences that shaped me into a well-rounded dancer. The training challenged me to constantly push my boundaries and grow both technically and artistically. Since graduating, I have had the opportunity to perform across Europe and the USA, including with Europa Ballet in Austria and the National Ballet of the Muzički Centar Crne Gore in Montenegro. Looking back, I can see how much my time at NBS prepared me for the professional world, giving me the skills, versatility and confidence to pursue opportunities across different countries."
Ula Jodlowska, Northern Ballet School 2024 Graduate
"Years on from graduating, myself, and my college friends, are busy working in the industry and on the rare occasion we are all in the same country and have a few hours spare, we will meet up and reminisce what we still refer to as the ‘best days of our life’. Eight hours a day, five days a week we danced. We never really knew how lucky we were to get that much training every day! Jazz Focus was definitely the right path for me. The vast variety of different techniques, styles and class dynamics prepared me for any situation I may face in the dance industry. In an audition room I have never been thrown off guard by something I have never done before. As well as my daily classes and training, I also got to experience all of the possible elements of a professional contract. From the initial steps of writing my CV and filming my showreel. To landing an audition and doing ‘step kick, step box leap’ from the corner. To long rehearsal days and continuing after hours to practice in my own time. To the long tech days where you’re stood around for hours lighting three numbers! To finally hitting the stage and performing to an audience. NBS allowed me to experience all of this within the college facilities and with an excellent faculty supporting my growth as a performer. I left after my third year with my first cruise contract secured feeling confident about going out into the industry. …I always look back and feel grateful for ‘the best days of our lives’."
Emma Jones, Northern Ballet School 2018 Graduate
"I had a great time at NBS in my three years of training and felt the variety of styles learned was so important in helping me become a versatile dancer and performer. The teachers I had in my time were fantastic in giving different approaches to learning, and different focuses on style. The different showcases throughout my trainings were great tests for audition process in the industry, rehearsals and learning choreography in the studios I felt translated appropriately. In auditions, I always felt I had enough technical knowledge and variety in my training to hold my own, I had confidence in my own abilities. I also learnt a lot about what was expected in audition rooms, discipline, pay attention to what’s being asked and listening to the panel. Throughout my contracts working with Norwegian Creative Studios & Princess, I’ve found my background has helped immensely, maintaining and improving myself and to push myself further!"
Cormac O’Donoghue, Northern Ballet School 2021 Graduate
"Training at Northern Ballet School pushed me to be the best dancer I could become and I loved my time there. I came away with the practical skills that I needed for the industry, mental resilience, and life long friendships. Since graduating in 2024, I have gone on to perform all around the UK with companies such as Northern Dance and Brecon Festival Ballet, and I recently made my debut as Juliet in a new production of Romeo and Juliet in London. I would not had the rewarding career that I have had so far without the high standard of training at NBS."
Eloise Campion, Northern Ballet School 2024 Graduate

 

Professional Networks

Trinity College London

Council for Dance, Drama and Musical Theatre

Royal Academy of Dance

Fonteyn International Ballet Competition

Any questions?

For questions on how Performers College can prepare you for a career in the entertainment industry, or if you’d like more information on how to apply, please contact our Enquiries Team on 01273 840 346 or email [email protected].