Young Dancers Program | Canada's National Ballet School

Young Dancers Program

In a warm and supportive environment, with a focus on health and well-being, our Young Dancers Program is about cultivating talent, passion, and a life-long love for ballet and dance!

The NBS Young Dancers Program (formerly known as the Associates Program) is a part-time ballet and dance program designed specifically for children and youth ages 5-17 who live in the greater Toronto area.

This program offers two streams of programming – Intensive Ballet and Open Dance – which allows each student to choose the pathway that suits them best! Providing a wider spectrum of opportunities to dance, so that every young person feels a true sense of belonging at NBS, the Young Dancers Program is a warm, supportive environment; it provides lasting foundations for physical and artistic engagement, as well as social and emotional development using a holistic, innovative curriculum created by our expert teachers.

Our Young Dancers Program offers:

After school and weekend classes from mid-September to early June for dancers ages 5-17.
Summer programming options.
Opportunities to explore a range of dance forms including ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop and more.
Exceptional facilities at Canada’s National Ballet School’s campus in Toronto.
High-calibre dance educators.
Beautiful live accompaniment for all ballet classes.
Curriculum founded on the same principles of NBS’ internationally recognized Professional Ballet-Academic Program.

Intensive Ballet

Intensive Ballet

For young dancers ages 9-17, the Intensive Ballet stream empowers you to explore your potential and achieve your ballet goals.

Entrance to the Intensive Ballet stream is by audition or invitation. It is a program well-suited for young dancers interested in structured ballet training with renowned dance educators, more training hours to develop their artistry and technique, as well as performance opportunities to showcase their achievements.

The Intensive Ballet training program and curriculum supports future pathways for dancers with aspirations to audition for NBS’ Professional Ballet-Academic Program, NBS’ Teacher Training Program and potential careers in performance and entertainment.

The Intensive Ballet auditions take place at our campus in Toronto each spring. Did you miss our auditions but are interested in the program? Email youngdancers@nbs-enb.ca

Open Dance

For young dancers ages 5-17, our Open Dance stream will encourage you to explore movement and freedom of expression, and develop a lifelong love of dance.

Students have the flexibility to customize their classes to suit their schedules, as well as the option to select from their choice of dance genres, including ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip-hop and more. Participation does not require an audition.

For dancers ages 5 - 8, the foundation levels are designed to spark a young dancer’s joy of movement. With emphasis on musicality and creativity, these engaging dance classes introduce concepts and techniques that establish a strong foundation for dance training.

The junior levels are for dancers aged 9 -13. Building from the foundation level, the junior program establishes fundamental technical skills and supports dancers in developing their unique, individual artistry.

In the senior levels, dancers ages 14 - 18 apply their skills and artistry to explore increasingly challenging vocabulary and complex choreography. Senior program staff support each dancer as they take-on the challenges and reap the rewards of rigorous dance training in a vibrant, artistic environment.

Register for the Young Dancers Program

Open registration in a new window

If you have any inquiries about registration please contact youngdancers@nbs-enb.ca.

Join our Contact List

Subscribe to our contact list to receive updates about upcoming class registration, workshops, relevant NBS initiatives and events, and more.

Sign up for updates

Financial Assistance

We believe that dance education should be accessible to all members of our community and welcome you to read about financial assistance.

Learn More

Campus Virtual Tour

Click through to explore our school grounds virtually and experience what it feels like to walk around on campus at NBS!

Explore our campus

What's unique about the Young Dancers Program?

Performance opportunities, including the Nutcracker

Students in the Young Dancers Program experience unforgettable opportunities to perform at NBS’ Betty Oliphant Theatre and at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts in The National Ballet of Canada’s The Nutcracker and other productions.

"I think my years at the School set up a really good expectation of what sport was going to be like. The performance aspect is something I think about a lot because I had done big shows at the Four Seasons when I was really young. I always get asked how it felt when I went to my first X Games or at the Olympics, when you’re on the world stage, people are watching you, and I think that doing those big performances really helped me."

- Rachael Karker, Olympian and YDP Alumni

World-Class Facilities

Students experience the exceptional facilities at NBS’ campus in downtown Toronto. Large world-class studio spaces give young dancers a bright, airy, and safe place to explore their movement. The three storey atrium at the heart of the Celia Franca Centre is called Mona Campbell Square. It serves as a café and gathering place for the school, and a comfortable space for families to relax between classes.

Take a tour of NBS' facilities

Exceptional Instruction

Our exceptional dance educators will help your young dancer discover and explore their love of movement. With expertise in a range of dance forms, our teachers bring years of experience, and their own passion for dance into the studio.

Get to know our teaching staff

Modern interior of the facility

Rachel Karker, Alumni and Olympian

Rachael Karker, Alumni and Olympian

I would definitely recommend dance. I think it’s such a fun sport to start out in and to continue in as well. Dance is so much fun, and you learn so many skills. I think it’s a great way to get exercising or to just try something new, and I think it’s a great basis for a lot of other sports.

Members of the community at NBS block party.

Parent, YDP

The teachers create an environment that is supportive and kind while at the same time inspiring the young dancers to keep learning, striving and extending themselves as they learn technique.

Graphic placeholder for Module 24

Charlie, YDP Student

Working with a live musician has been great. So far the teachers I’ve had have been very inspiring. When I dance I feel happy and determined to get better

Placeholder graphic with cube design in gray.

Parent, YDP

Being a motivated and effort oriented learner, Lauren has been able to thrive in NBS' ballet environment and feels welcome, appreciated, and cared for. She absolutely loves the teachers and has built strong friendships with her fellow dancers.

Let's get
In Touch

Do you have any questions about the Young Dancers Program? Complete the email form, or contact youngdancers@nbs-enb.ca.

First name

Last name

email address

message

I have read and agreed to NBS’ privacy policy