Ten of the UK’s leading professional ballet schools have pledged to make their audition processes for September 2021 “as professional and fair” as possible. The move comes as COVID-19 continues to prevent in-person auditions from taking place.
Final auditions are usually held in March, but the UK lockdown may mean these have to be rescheduled. The ten schools said that they will arrange in-person auditions “where possible” but with the understanding that “ongoing restrictions may require the final stage to be rescheduled to a later date or similarly take place online.”
The pledge signatories 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.
“[We are] committed to support the young dancers throughout the unconventional audition process,” said the schools in a joint press release. “[We] are united in assuring future students and parents that the auditions will be organised professionally and fairly with every support for the next cohort of dance students.”
Prospective students should refer to to individual schools’ websites for specific and detailed audition information.