National Youth Ballet’s mission is to bring young people together through creative, joyful and inclusive ballet activities that nurture confidence, skills and positive values. Our vision is that young people are empowered to thrive, shaping the future of ballet and the world around them.

In 2025, we are delighted to be able to offer a limited number of bursaries to help support those most in need of financial assistance.  

Funds available:

NYB Bursary Fund –  NYB aims to support a diverse range of applications by removing financial barriers; bursaries are available for applicants from low socio-economic backgrounds that meet our eligibility criteria.

Pat Prime Award – NYB aims to support under-represented groups in ballet; this is a specific award to support talented young dancers of Black African and Black African-Caribbean heritage.

NYB Travel Grant – NYB is piloting the introduction of up to five awards to RPC participants; these are awarded to applicants based on geographical location that may be a barrier to access.

Assessment Process: 

All of our bursary applications are anonymised and assessed by an awards panel. All awards are assessed against socio-economic indicators to ensure that funding goes to those with the greatest level of need who meet the specific eligibility criteria for each award.

The National Youth Ballet Bursary Fund is reserved for those talented young dancers most in need of financial support. We want to actively encourage a diverse range of applications by removing financial barriers. Bursaries are available for applicants from low socio-economic backgrounds. This forms part of NYB’s EDI strategy. The value of the fund is dependent on our success in fundraising. Since 2021 it has been extremely oversubscribed. We continue to endeavour to support as many eligible dancers as we can and continue to seek ways to fundraise for greater financial support for our bursaries. In 2025, thanks to the generosity of those who supported our Relevé Appeal, we are delighted to offer our first Relevé Bursary as part of our bursaries available. 

NYB Bursaries

Bursaries are available to both junior and senior dancers.

Criteria

• Must be eligible according to application form criteria*

• Aged 9-18 (*by 31 August 2025)

• Based in the United Kingdom

Application Process

To be considered for a 2025 Residential Performance Company bursary please complete the application form by Friday 21 March 2025.

To be considered for a bursary for other NYB activity please complete the application form at the point of application and no later than the application deadline advertised. 

*In assessing each application the NYB team will take into account a number of factors based on the Jerwood Foundation’s Toolkit for Socio-economic Diversity and Inclusion in the arts.  NYB may require provision of financial evidence before deciding on any application. Typically this would include:

• Whether a family is living on significantly less than the national average wage, and/or in receipt of benefit or income support eg: Universal Credit 
• If they are receiving a bursary for dance study from any dance school
• Type of school attended 
• Parental experience of higher education
• Parental occupation

NYB BURSARY APPLICATION FORM

This award was generously donated by Patricia Prime’s family with the specific intention of removing barriers for dancers of Black African and/or Black African-Caribbean descent who are under-represented in our art-form. Since 2021 we have been delighted to support nine young people with a Pat Prime Award. 

“Pat Prime (11 May 1936 – 13 August 2018) was the typical, extraordinary ballet teacher. Teaching ballet for over 60 years, she taught dance for longer. She died the week after she had completed teaching a Summer School. She guided and instructed so many people, many of whom became dancers, teachers, actors. Her alumni became Principal Dancers in the Royal Ballet, Phoenix Dance Company, Northern Ballet Theatre and in West End productions. She stimulated a love for the arts, and a sense of self-confidence in all she taught. Most importantly, she believed in supporting people to be their best and worked tirelessly to inspire others. She knew that if people had access to opportunity and belief then the art would follow. This award was created from donations from friends, family, colleagues and ex-pupils, and is a reminder that inclusion and joy in dance need to be strived for. It is given in memory of her and some of her ex-pupils and is to inspire change.”  Sian Prime, Pat’s daughter

“I want to be the difference and show that black girls can do ballet too. It was an honour to be one of the first dancers to be awarded the Pat Prime Award… I learnt so much about what it is like to be a part of a professional ballet family. I’m grateful for the opportunity NYB has provided for me.” Lauren Beharie, Pat Prime Award Winner, 2021

“I endorse their recently launched Pat Prime Award, which will support talented young dancers of Black African and/or Black African-Caribbean heritage. This type of action is what our industry needs to ensure that young, diverse talent is nurtured in a genuine and useful way.” Cassa Pancho MBE, Founder & Artistic Director, Ballet Black

New to 2025 we continue to seek ways to provide financial assistance to families for whom access to NYB due to geographic location is a barrier to participation. We will pilot up to five travel grants for RPC participants from different geographic areas that meet our eligibility criteria. In line with our ESG Policy and commitment to environmental sustainability, the travel grants  cannot be used for petrol/diesel.

To be considered for a 2025 Residential Performance Company Travel Grant please complete the bursary application form as above and check the travel grant box by Friday 21 March 2025.

If you are in a position to support the work that we do and would like to talk to us about funding a bursary for NYB please contact us on info@nationalyouthballet.org

If you are in a position to support the work that we do and would like to talk to us about funding a bursary for NYB please contact us