Modern Ballet: Senior/Vocational (ages 14+)
Summer School for Children and Young People
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Overview
This five-day in-person summer school is for young people aged approx. 14+ (secondary 3 and upwards) who are interested in strengthening and further developing their skills in classical ballet technique, repertoire and contemporary dance. This course is designed for students who aspire to, or are currently in vocational dance training.
The course runs twice during our summer programme. Students are able to attend one or both weeks – attending both will be particularly beneficial to those working towards/currently in vocational training. The course will run 10am – 4pm daily.
The course is taught by staff who work in the RCS School of Dance, with additional expert guest teachers. Students will benefit from having the opportunity to creatively engage with the different styles taught by these specialists in the field of ballet and contemporary dance.
The course is practical, rigorous and aims to prepare young dancers working towards or currently in vocational dance training. Students will have daily classical technique classes with pointework and virtuosity. Additionally, students will participate in classes in a range of supporting subjects, including contemporary dance, classical repertoire, solos, creative/choreography and conditioning. Classes will be accompanied by pianists/percussionists.
By the end of the courses students should have:
- strengthened their classical ballet technique
- experienced a professional approach to practice
- participated in repertoire, creative, conditioning and contemporary sessions
Students will also have the opportunity to have their photographs taken by professional ballet photographer Andy Ross. These can be used for audition applications or for their portfolio.
The summer school aims to create an inspiring, challenging and supporting environment for young dancers to further develop their skills and talents.
The course will take place in our beautiful dance spaces at the Wallace Studios at Speirs Locks.
Please note, students should be working at a strong Intermediate/Advanced level in ballet to benefit fully from the course.
On the first day teaching staff will observe students as they participate in classes and allocate them into groups appropriate to their level. The purpose of this is to ensure everyone gets the most out of the course and is taking part in activities suitable for their experience.
If you have any questions in advance of booking, please contact us at juniorsdance@rcs.ac.uk.
The important details
Age:
approx. 14+
Cost for one week:
£375
Cost for two weeks:
£680
Week One Dates:
27 July - 31st July 2026
Week Two Dates:
3 August - 7 August 2026
Time:
Monday - Friday, 10am - 4pm
Venue:
The Wallace Studios at Speirs Locks, 210 Garscube Road, Glasgow, G4 9RR
Course Information
- Modern Ballet: Seniors/Vocational (ages 14+) WEEK ONE – 27 July – 31 July 2026, 10am – 4pm – £375
- Modern Ballet: Seniors/Vocational (ages 14+) WEEK TWO – 3 – 7 August 2026, 10am – 4pm – £375
- Modern Ballet: BOTH WEEKS – 27 July – 7 August, 10am – 4pm, £680
Although students do not need to have any formal ballet qualifications, previous ballet experience is essential and students should be working at approximately Advanced Foundation or equivalent level and above in ballet to benefit fully from the course.
For this course, students should be approximately aged 14+ years old, and have been in Secondary 3 or above in the year 2025-26.
To apply for the course, students should submit a short ballet video of barre and centre work via YouTube link to juniorsdance@rcs.ac.uk as well as sending the following photos, one of each of the poses, as below:
and
Students should ensure they are at a level of fitness to participate fully in this highly practical course.
Students should wear ballet practice clothes (leotard, ballet tights) for classical classes and footless tights for contemporary classes. Soft pointe/canvas shoes should be worn for class and students/dancers should bring pointe shoes.
Students should bring a water bottle, a packed lunch and healthy snacks as this course will be very physical.
Modern Ballet: Seniors/Vocational – Week One runs from Monday, 27 July to Friday, 31 July, from 10am to 4pm.
Modern Ballet: Seniors/Vocational – Week Two runs from Monday, 3 August to Friday, 7 August, from 10am to 4pm.
Modern Ballet: Seniors/Vocational – Both Weeks runs from Monday, 27 July to Friday, 7 August from 10am to 4pm (excluding Saturday and Sunday)
We employ specialist dance lecturers and pride ourselves on the quality of the staff and continuity in delivery. Our teaching team have a wealth of knowledge and experience in the arts and are committed to supporting students through their learning journeys at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
Staff may include:
Katie Armstrong
Lucy Barnes
Matthew Broadbent
Megan Christie
Daniel Davidson
Jenny Fallon
Bethany Kingsley-Garner
Kerry Livingstone
Kristen McGarrity
Kara McLaughlin
Laura McLaughlin
Kerry McLellan
Heather Rikic
Louisa Ross
Suzanne Shanks
Nick Shoesmith
Scottish Ballet artistic staff and dancers.
Summer Accommodation
We are pleased to welcome students from across the world to our Summer Schools. Our course fees do not include accommodation or food, and these should be organised by the student. Our campus is located in Glasgow city centre, and you can find the addresses below.
We recommend Base Glasgow, as purpose-built accommodation for Conservatoire students, with Rehearsal Rooms, Practice spaces and Dance Studios. Base Glasgow is perfectly suited for our summer school students; both safe and secure, with 24/7 staff presence and only 3 mins walk from our main Renfrew Street building, keeping travel costs to a minimum.
Classic En-Suite rooms come with a 3/4 bed, en-suite bathroom, ample storage, mirror, study desk and chair. The shared area includes a spacious lounge and kitchen area.
Please note that Short Courses staff are not affiliated with BASE or on site outwith the summer school teaching hours, and therefore cannot take responsibility for students outside of these hours.
For more information about booking accommodation at BASE Glasgow you can contact them directly via website BASE – Student Accommodation in Glasgow or email baseglasgow@herestudents.com.
Alternatively, there are plenty of hotels, hostels, and b’n’b options available. We are located close to transport links should you wish to stay outside the city centre. If you are travelling to Glasgow for a course, we strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance that covers course fees, travel, accommodation, and cancellations due to COVID-19 – as RCS will not refund in this circumstance. You can view the Cancellations and Refund policy for full information.
For students under 18 years old, we strongly advise travelling with a responsible adult should any emergency situations arise during class. Students are only monitored by staff during class times.
Renfrew Street Campus: 100 Renfrew Street, Glasgow, G2 3DB
Wallace Studios Campus: 210 Garscube Road, Glasgow, G4 9RR
Modern Ballet Summer School Photo Gallery
