“Beyond Ballet® felt more personal and supported than any programme I’ve experienced before, with clear mentors who created a professional and inspiring environment by making an effort to know you and how to support you.”

2023/24 Participant

Beyond Ballet® Programme 2025/26

Who can take part

Programme details

How to apply

Application process

Easy read and access support

What is Beyond Ballet®?

The History of Beyond Ballet®

“I was given many opportunities from the Beyond Ballet® programme which made the programme really feel like it was reflecting the real industry at the same time helping me progress into the industry. It is a positive environment and an important platform for young people in dance to gain quality experience.”

2023/24 Participant

You need to fill out the application form and anonymous EDI monitoring form to apply.

Using our online form please submit your CV and a link to a video of you answering the following questions:

1. What excites you about creating new work and what motivates you?
2. Why is inclusive practice important to your development as an artist?
3. How do you think you can further develop your practice? (Please use a recent experience as an example.)
4. How would being a part of Beyond Ballet® support your continued professional development?

In addition we need specific information for each practitioner:

• Choreographers: Please share a link to either one work up to ten-fifteen minutes, or two works up to five minutes each. We would like to see a full work, not short clips or a showreel.
• Dance facilitators (Rehearsal directors, teachers, leaders): Please share a film (of no more than 10 minutes) of you talking about the importance of facilitating an inclusive dance space, how you would approach it and the values you would bring into the rehearsal studio. 
• Lighting designers and costume designers: Please share a link to a visual portfolio of your work 
• Stage Managers: Please list all your work clearly in your CV, and provide a link to a website or  professional social media account  if you have one.

You can find our step-by-step guide on how to upload an unlisted video on Youtube here.

NYB’s Beyond Ballet® is an unparalleled initiative that supports emerging creative artists from all areas of the theatre industry to develop a professional career in the creative-industries, especially those who are currently under-represented.

in the early stages of their professional careers. Each year we select a number of emerging choreographers, dance leaders, rehearsal directors and young industry professionals working in lighting design, costume design and stage management aged 18-25 to take part.  

Beyond Ballet® emerging artists gain invaluable practical skills through working alongside established professionals and talking to industry professionals about their practice.  They also have opportunities to create and share their own work and work together to develop their professional network. 

Between 2023 and 2024 Beyond Ballet® Choreographers Amy Groves,  Rosie Mackley and Savannah Ffrench created work with our Residential Performance Company, working alongside Beyond Ballet® Assistant Lighting Designer Ros Chase, Beri Valentine and Becky Hyson as Beyond Ballet® Assistant Stage Managers and Polly Mitton as Beyond Ballet® Assistant Costume Supervisor. Together Rosie, Amy, Ros and Polly created two original Beyond Ballet® works which were performed at Sadler’s Wells as part of our Evolving Visions performance.   

In addition, young Choreographers Ross Black and Hannah George worked alongside Beyond Ballet® Lighting Designer Ros Chase and Beyond Ballet® Costume Supervisors Elisa Mozzanica and Polly Mitton on our All In! inclusive ballet programme, their work was also performed at Sadler’s Wells as part of our Evolving Visions performance.

In 2023 we created a Beyond Ballet® Network to support even more young, early careers professionals. Choreographers Catherine Sleeman, Harry Wilson, Anna Smith and Joeley Gibson joined us as part of this wider Network, and they took part in the online professional skills development activities. 

Choreographers Catherine, Joeley, Amy and Hannah created a short film in collaboration with English Heritage Shout Out Loud Young Producers called  Beyond The Plaques. The film has been nominated for several awards including Cinedanza Festival and Miami Light Screendance Festival and selected for festivals including the Dance East Film Festival. You can find out more about the film here: @beyondtheplaques_thefilm 

Tierney Lawlor, a 2021/22  Beyond Ballet® artist, was invited to choreograph for the National Youth Ballet Junior Company in 2023 and 2024. Former Beyond Ballet® artist (2015/16) Arielle Smith co-choreographed The Nutcracker with English National Ballet in 2024 and is an associate choreographer with San Francisco Ballet.

There has never been a more crucial time to support and nurture the creative talent of the future. In addition to a creative opportunity, the Beyond Ballet® emerging artists gain invaluable practical skills through working alongside and talking to established industry professionals about their practice. Having improved skills as a freelancer, increased confidence and wider industry networks will in turn enhance future prospects and chances of further employment, creating new pathways on the NYB participant journey.

Beyond Ballet® is supported by the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement, The Leche Trust CIO and Garrick Charitable Trust. NYB’s new commissions for performance in 2024 are supported by Cockayne – Grants for the Arts: a donor advised fund held at The London Community Foundation.

THE LECHE TRUST CIO