The Junior Associate Programme has been developed since 2006 in close collaboration with several primary schools. The programme comprises a series of workshops, geared to the ages of those taking part, alongside some video study and, where possible, a performance element. It usually takes place on the schools’ premises over several consecutive weeks.

Since 2008, as part of the programme, school groups visit the company at DanceHouse in central Dublin. Here they participate in their own dance classes in the state of the art dance studios, watch Ballet Ireland‘s dancers at their daily training and rehearsal, get to meet and chat with the teachers, dancers and choreographers and often are escorted around the entire building, where they are able to witness the many diverse dance styles practised on a daily basis by practitioners from across the sector.

We also have developed an intensive performance programme for schools, a concentrated daily series of workshops culminating, over a four or five week period, in performances at a professional venue, lit and dressed. Dancers and choreographers from the company take up ‘artist in residence’ status at the school and conduct the programme, aimed to involve all pupils at the school. The projects utilise numerous strands in the national curriculum and enhanced the normal learning process; past subjects explored for performance have included famine and emigration, the story of the production of butter, flora and fauna on the River Suir and the history of Clonmacnoise and Irish monasticism. Pupils create artwork for the performance, engage with a wide variety of music, explore drama and mime, develop rhythm and invent storyline. In addition they explore dance steps and movement.

We actively encourage the participation of male students in our entire outreach programme and our work in schools of mixed gender has greatly contributed to our efforts in debunking the myth that ballet, and indeed theatrical dance in general, is solely a female occupation.

Ballet Ireland’s work in national schools is of paramount importance as we continue to develop an audience for ballet within these shores. It ensures that children understand that ballet is not just ‘fancy Russian dancing’, nor elitist, nor effeminate. The work embraces all of a child’s creative ability, and sows important seeds; seeds, which at best, could grow into our succeeding generation of artists, and at worst, perhaps an informed member of an audience.