Our Professional Graduate Programme is a one year traineeship for aspiring dancers with bold ambitions.
Take your training to a whole new level as you learn from, perform alongside and train with the internationally acclaimed Northern Ballet.
The Professional Graduate Programme is perfect for dynamic dancers who want to bridge the gap between full-time training and a performance career. You will be right at the heart of a professional ballet company with access to the same high standard of coaching as the dancers.
This fully immersive development opportunity is designed for dancers aged 18-20 who have completed their vocational training. The training programme takes place in Northern Ballet's award-winning central Leeds headquarters which boasts some of the largest dance studios in Europe. The world-class teaching staff will offer you bespoke coaching advice and look out for performance opportunities throughout the year giving you a true taste of life in a professional company.
What to expect from the Professional Graduate Programme
You will follow the Ichino Technique, developed by Northern Ballet’s former Ballet Mistress and Associate Academy Director, Yoko Ichino, and class sizes are kept purposefully small so that you will receive bespoke tuition and mentoring.
Find out more about the course content.
Graduates from recent courses have won contracts with the likes of Ballet Cymru, Ballet Ireland, Baltic Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Ukrainian Ballet of Peace, Ukrainian Classical Ballet, Ballet Du Capitole, English National Ballet and Northern Ballet.
The Course
The Professional Graduate Programme is a full-time one year holistic training programme, designed to bridge the gap between full-time training and professional experience.
Read more
Apply to the Professional Graduate Programme
Find out how to apply for our full-time Professional Graduate Programme.
Read more
Alumni
2023 Graduate
Maddie De Andrade
'Northern Ballet’s Graduate Programme gave me the confidence and technique that I felt I needed to round off my professional training. During my time on the course, I was lucky enough to work with Northern Ballet on several of their full-scale ballets and children’s ballets, giving me experience which was incredibly useful in my professional development. Since graduating, I have joined Northern Ballet as a guest artist to work on Beauty and the Beast, A Christmas Carol and Hansel & Gretel.'
2019 Graduate
Aurora Piccininni
'The most useful aspect of the Professional Graduate Programme was training in close contact with the Company, because it let us see how dancers work and perform. Thanks to the graduate programme I discovered the kind of work I needed to do in order to move from being student to a professional dancer.'
2019 Graduate
Albert González Orts
'During my time at the Professional Graduate Programme my technique gained strength and confidence grew. I got the chance to perform with the Company in The Nutcracker and Puss in Boots, including being lucky enough to be part of filming the ballet for CBeebies which gave me touring and stage experience.'
2020 Graduate
Amy Turner-Daly
'During my time on the Graduate Programme, I was really able to consolidate my technique and artistry with the focus of the course purely on auditions. I was extremely lucky over this time, to tour and perform a lot with the Company which is the best experience you can get going into this profession. This year at Northern Ballet was crucial to me as a dancer and I would not be where I am now without it.'
Photos Emily Nuttall.
Professional Graduate Programme
The Course
The Professional Graduate Programme is a full-time one year holistic training programme, designed to bridge the gap between full-time training and professional experience.
Read more
Apply to the Professional Graduate Programme
Find out how to apply for our full-time Professional Graduate Programme.
Read more
The Ichino Technique
Whether aiming for a career in dance or simply dancing for fun, all students are trained under the Ichino Technique.
Read more