The Best Ballet Schools in the World

The Best Ballet Schools in the World

What are the best ballet schools in the world?

What are the best ballet schools in the world? In the Italian Renaissance courts of the fourteenth century, ballet was first introduced to the public. Years later, an Italian woman named Catherine de Medici who was married to King Henry II of France became a big fan of the genre.  She provided the funding for the ballet at the French court. As it gained recognition, it became one of the world’s most sophisticated art forms.

There are ballet theaters, companies, and schools in cities all around the world. Only a select few can be referred to as the best, and these are considered the best ballet schools in the world.

The Juilliard School of Dance, located in New York, New York, USA

Juilliard opened its doors for the first time in 1905 and has since earned a reputation as a haven for some of the most gifted young people in the world. Dr. Frank Damrosch established it as the Institute of Musical Art. Dr. Damrosch wanted to make sure that American artists had the chance to study in a top-notch environment.

The response was overwhelming, and enrollment for the first year was five times higher than anticipated. Because it couldn’t accommodate all those students, the institution grew and moved near Columbia University in 1910.

Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS), located in Toronto, Ontario

This dance school was established in 1959 by Betty Oliphant and Celia Franca. For dancers who want to pursue a career as a ballet dancer or teacher, it has emerged as one of the best ballet schools in the world. They take pride in being the only ballet school in North America with a globally recognized training curriculum.

The National Ballet of Canada School offers the best ballet instruction available in Canada, and it constantly turns out alumni who go on to dance in ballet companies all over the world. Many have transferred to the National Ballet of Canada.

San Francisco Ballet School, located in San Francisco, California, USA

The San Francisco Ballet School is one of the oldest in the country and was established in 1933. It is one of the best ballet schools in the world. It was founded at the same time as the San Francisco Opera. The school’s first director, Adolph Bolm, opened the doors to provide training in ballet, tap, modern, and interpretive dance.

Some classes were originally held in Berkeley, Burlingame, Oakland, and other nearby areas, while some were initially housed in the William Taylor Hotel. San Francisco has long been regarded as the center of the West Coast’s ballet scene.

The Australian Ballet School, located in Southbank, Victoria, Australia

This ballet school was established by Margaret Scott in 1964 as a division of the Melbourne Arts Precinct’s Australian Ballet Centre. For any Australian who wants to join the Australian Ballet Company, this is the first step.

In 2014, this institution marked its 50th anniversary. Their goal is to “stand out as the leading international provider of distinctive, professional dance training.” Their website states that in addition to focusing on ballet excellence, they also hold their dancers to a high moral standard, making it one of the best ballet schools in the world.

La Escuela Nacional de Danza, located in Cuba

This ballet academy, one of the newer institutions, was established in 1998 under the leadership of Alicia Alonso. Members and professors of the National Ballet of Cuba currently serve as their instructors. Their goal is to help students improve their use of classical methods and other genres while fusing them with the spirit and expression of Cuban ballet. In this special institution, Latin American culture is highly valued.

The John Cranko Schule, located in Stuttgart, Germany

John Cranko moved to Stuttgart in 1961 with the intention of founding a ballet institution. He imagined a location where the world’s most talented young people would train with the Ballet Company of the State Theatre Stuttgart. It is one of the best ballet schools in the world. The John Cranko School first welcomed students in 1971.

Dancers come here to hone their talents after a great triumph. Following completion of their training, they join the Company of the State Theatre or other esteemed ballet groups.

The School of American Ballet, located in New York City, New York, United States

This renowned ballet school was created in 1934 by George Balanchine. He carried with him the commitment to excellence he learned while studying at the Imperial Ballet School. Balanchine also recognized the significance of a close working relationship with a reputable ballet company for any successful dance academy.

He believed that the moment had come to establish a leading ballet company in the United States. The New York City Ballet was established in this manner. The School of American Ballet was founded with the purpose of developing dancers for the ballet company.

Royal Ballet School, located in London, England

This academy for ballet training was established in 1926 by Dame Ninette de Valois as the Academy of Choreographic Art. She was motivated, like the others before her, to start a ballet company and school to provide it with talented ballet dancers. Together, she and Lilian Baylis bought the Sadler’s Wells Theatre, and the school moved in, renaming itself the Vic-Wells Ballet School and supplying dancers to the Vic-Wells Ballet Company, in 1931.

Both the school and the company were renamed Sadler’s Wells Ballet in 1939. The ballet eventually relocated to the Royal Opera House in 1946. Since its founding, the Royal Ballet School in London has earned a reputation as one of the top three places to study ballet, making it one of the best ballet schools in the world.

The Paris Opera Ballet School, located in Paris, France

The ballet institution at the top of our list was established in 1713 by Louis XIV. Children were initially not intended to attend. The first rules allowing children to learn ballet were created seven years later. Four years later, Louis XVI broadened the school’s curriculum by allowing students under the age of twelve to enroll. He assumed that learning would be easier as they grew older.

The school was having difficulties by the end of the Romantic era, however, it survived due to charitable donations. The best ballet dancers in the world have studied at this academy for more than three centuries. This example of the best ballet schools in the world has remained in the top three spots, and as far as we can tell, it isn’t going anywhere any time soon.

Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, located in St. Petersburg, Russia’s 

This Russian institution was founded in 1738 as the Imperial Theatrical School. The initial director was a French ballet master named Jean-Baptiste. There were twelve boys and twelve girls enrolled in their first year.

Mikhail Fokine, Jules Perrot, and Charles Didleot were among the famous 19th century dancers who either trained there or went on to become teachers. Following Lenin’s death in 1924, St. Petersburg was changed to Leningrad, and the new administration ruled that the Imperial Ballet School should be abolished. The Imperial Russian Ballet was likewise dissolved.

Best ballet schools in the USA

What are the best ballet schools in the USA? Like all art forms, dance is a means of expression. Dance, like all other forms of expression, is constrained by a number of factors, including musicality, body, action, space, time, and energy. They are all quantifiable, understandable, and communicable, which means that they can all be taught.

Now that we know the best ballet schools in the world, let’s now discover the best ballet schools in the USA. At AmissionSight, we have put together a list of ballet schools you should know about if you want to learn more about ballet programs in America:

Cincinnati Ballet School

One of the best ballet dancers in the world was trained at the famed Cincinnati Ballet Academy. It has one of the best ballet programs and one of the most well-known faculties in the country. The Cincinnati Ballet Academy provides an adult dance and fitness program, which enables dancers to build physical strength and study various ballet routines. For those who are new to dance, the Ballet Basics class is ideal.

At the Cincinnati Ballet Academy, a single ballet lesson costs $17, while five, ten, and fifteen class passes are available for $75, $140, and $180, respectively.

San Francisco Ballet School

The institution’s roots go back to that year, 1933. It is renowned for being one of the dance schools that pushes the envelope. Additionally, it is one of the few institutions that provides ballet instruction to students with Parkinson’s disease. One of the best ballet schools in the world is the San Francisco Ballet School.

The cost of each lesson is a flat $22, or $200 for a pass good for 10 classes. Through their registration, you may quickly sign up for their classes. You have the option to sign up for in-person or online classes.

Pacific Northwest Ballet Academy

One of the best-known ballet training institutions in the country is the Pacific Northwest Ballet Academy. The academy is renowned for offering some of the best ballet classes available.

In the Washington cities of Seattle and Bellevue, there are two campuses of the Pacific Northwest Ballet Academy.

You have the choice of signing up for a single class or bundles of 5, 10, or 20 classes. A bundle of 20 lessons can cost up to $270, compared to a single class’s approximate cost of $16.

Houston Ballet Academy

Since its founding in 1955, the Houston Ballet Academy has offered some of the highest-quality ballet instruction in the nation. The institution, which is in the heart of Houston, offers a range of classes for individuals who want to study ballet dancing.

Adults can sign up for the Houston Ballet Academy Summer Program from June to August.

Additionally, the academy provides drop-in classes as well as scheduled classes that might last up to 6, 8, or even 9 weeks. For drop-in sessions, you must pay $20 per class. Professional dress is required at the academy and includes leotards with tights, t-shirts, and/or leggings.

Joffrey Ballet School, New York City

New York City’s Joffrey Ballet School was established in 1953 with the goal of training and advancing dance professionals. The school’s graduates work for one of the most famous ballet companies and theaters in the world. Because of its long reputation, the school is synonymous with many American dance styles.

At the Joffrey Ballet School, adults of all skill levels can sign up for a wide range of dance classes, from beginner lessons to more advanced ones. It is considered one of the best ballet schools in the world and in the country.

The seminars are held in person and cost $20 each. The dress code is not strictly enforced by the school as long as students dress comfortably and in a way that supports their body motions during ballet practice and performances.

Best ballet boarding schools

In this portion, let’s discuss the best ballet boarding schools. In the simplest terms possible, a ballet school teaches ballet, particularly to young students. In a normal ballet boarding school, students receive an education and participate in ballet dancing programs while living on campus. The top ballet boarding schools are listed down below:

White Mountain School

The White Mountain School, a coeducational boarding and day school serving students in grades 9 through 12 and PG, was established in 1886 and is situated in the breathtaking White Mountains of northern New Hampshire. By drawing on an Episcopal tradition, they teach and encourage students to live lives that are full of curiosity, courage, and kindness. One of the top boarding schools and universities in the country for studying ballet is the White Mountain School.

Westover School

The Westover School, also known as “Westover,” is a private day and boarding school in Middlebury, Connecticut, that prepares students for college. At Westover, they support young women’s development into strong, capable women.

One of the best boarding schools in the US with ballet programs is Westover. The Art Department at Westover basically offers a full and varied curriculum that helps students become more aware of their surroundings by making it easier for them to share ideas.

St. Paul’s School

A top boarding high school for ballet in the USA is St. Paul’s School (SPS), a coeducational boarding school in Concord, New Hampshire, and was established in 1856 and is a highly selective college-preparatory school. It is a member of the Episcopal Church. It is a learning community where pursuing greatness is a common goal.

The SPS Dance Program offers a strong academic education along with the best dance instruction in a specialized dance facility, essentially preparing its students to dance at the college and pre-professional levels.

Idyllwild Arts Academy

Idyllwild Arts Academy, a private school in Idyllwild, California, was established in 1946. It is a distinctive educational setting that emphasizes all artistic mediums for artists of every age and degree of achievement.

The Idyllwild Arts Academy teaches talented young artists from all over the world how to get ready for a career in the arts and also gives them a thorough college prep program.

Walnut Hill School for the Arts

Walnut Hill School for the Arts, an independent boarding and day high school in Natick, Massachusetts, was established in 1893. They offer training that can’t be found anywhere else in literature, film, video arts, visual arts, music, theater, dance, and more. They also have a rigorous academic program that gets students ready for college.

One of the top boarding high schools for ballet in America right now is Walnut Hill School for the Arts. The Professional Division of The Boston Ballet School at Walnut Hill is a unique dance training and education program that gives students a well-rounded education by combining world-class dance instruction with a top-notch college prep curriculum.

There you have it, the best ballet schools in the world. It is critical to have all the important information before making any decisions about college applications. Reach out to AdmissionSight with your questions and concerns. Our college admissions specialists have more than ten years of experience guiding students through the difficult admissions process, and we can help you to. Book your free consultation today to see what AdmissionSight can do for you!