NYB All In! Performance Company Auditions
National Youth Ballet is excited to announce that auditions are now open for our NYB All In! Performance Company 2026!
We are looking for a small vibrant group of d/Deaf disabled and non-disabled dancers aged between 16 and 30 to collaborate together to create a short creative work with our NYB Beyond Ballet® choreographers Grace Thompson and Anna Smith.
There will be four days of rehearsals at Elmhurst Ballet School and live performances at Birmingham’s Crescent Theatre, and a spectacular Gala at Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London.
The NYB All In! Performance Company offers a chance to create, collaborate, perform and learn in an accessible and inclusive way.
The rehearsals are non-residential and the days are shorter to allow space for all dancers to engage and process in their own way. We strongly encourage applications from dancers based in the Birmingham area.
You must be aged 16 years old by the 31st July 2026.
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Click here for the Easy Read Word Document Version of this webpage.
Photo (c) Lachlan Monaghan
Dates:
Audition date: Sunday 10th May 2026
Times: 11am-2pm
Venue: Dance Hub, Birmingham Hippodrome
Rehearsal dates: Wednesday 5th August to Saturday 8th August 2026
Timings: 10.30am-4pm
Venue: Elmhurst Ballet School, Birmingham
Performance dates, Birmingham: Tuesday 11th August, Wednesday 12th August and Thursday 13th August 2026
Timings: 1pm-9pm
Venue: Crescent Theatre, Birmingham
Performance date, London: Saturday 5th September 2026
Timings: 12.30pm-9.30pm
Venue: Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London
Fees:
Audition fee: £15
Course fee: £200
Please note that there are bursaries available, see below for more details.
Travel and accommodation
This is a non-residential course, we are afraid that we cannot support dancers with finding accommodation, but if you would like to apply for a travel bursary for the London performance you can apply below:
Bursary Application Information
NYB aims to support a diverse range of applications by removing financial barriers. Bursaries can support participation fees, residential fees and travel costs. For more information click here.
To be considered for a 2026 bursary please complete this form by Friday 1st May 2026.
If you have any access needs and would like some extra support with the application, just email natalie.haslam@nationalyouthballet.org and we’ll be happy to help you through the process.
We’ll contact successful bursary applicants as soon as audition outcomes are confirmed.
Photo (c) Jules Renahan
Photo (c) Lachlan Monaghan
What to expect: (FAQ’s)
The Audition:
The audition will follow the same format as the NYB Performance Company Auditions. However we will slightly reimagine some aspects of the experience to make it feel as accessible as possible.
- The Audition will start with a Moving Minds introduction, where you will talk, build confidence and get to know one another, there will be a short pause then a ballet class, then a break for a snack and a contemporary and creative session in the afternoon. There will be breaks throughout the audition.
- There will be an audition panel but they will not be sitting behind a desk, instead they will be moving around the space.
- The audition panel will include a special guest.
- You will not wear numbers, instead, at the beginning of the day you will create a symbol which you can draw to represent yourself.
- We will notify you two weeks after the audition to let you know if you have been successful.
The Rehearsals:
- Rehearsals will take place each day between 10.30am and 4pm every day at Elmhurst Ballet School.
- Each day will start with a ballet class followed by creative sessions where dancers will work together with the choreographer to create a three minute work inspired by the themes of Echoes of Tomorrow.
- You will work with two choreographers and a team of artists who will support your work.
The Performances:
- The performances will take place at the Crescent Theatre Birmingham and Sadler’s Wells Theatre in London.
- These will be long days.
- There will be breaks throughout the day, but there will be quite a lot of waiting backstage!
- You will take part in a dress rehearsal and three performances at The Crescent Theatre and one rehearsal and one performance at Sadler’s Wells Theatre.
Can I still experience NYB, even if I am not selected this time around?
- Yes! If you are not selected for the NYB All In! Performance Company this year, you will be invited to a workshop on Friday 14th August 2026 in Birmingham. The workshop will take inspiration from the Echoes of Tomorrow performance.