A chance for the committed student to be mentored the Royal New Zealand Ballet dancers and Artistic Team. Spend time with them during each season and get an inside experience of life as a professional dancer. This one year programme is offered to students studying at Intermediate and above levels of classical ballet who are aged 13 years and older at 1 January 2020.

Meet this year’s RNZB Mentor students

In 2015 Olivia Moore was part of the Mentor Programme. She is now in her second year as a dancer with RNZB. Here’s what she has to say about her experience of the programme:
I found it so inspiring and useful to get an insight into the professional company and what dancer’s life looks like, especially as I was progressing with my own career. It’s so special to now be a mentor for someone else and to share what I have learnt with them.

Students from the 2019 programme share their thoughts about the experience:
I loved taking part in the advanced class because there were lots of strong dancers in it and I was able to learn a lot from my peers. Patrica was so enthusiastic and gave me and the rest of the class some very valuable and in-depth corrections to improve our dancing. – Ariah Mandeno

 It was such a pleasure to meet up again with my mentor. We talked about my ballet exam, dance at the moment, what’s to come from the company and my future in dance. He told me about his life in the dance industry and gave me some helpful insight. – Elliot Gordon

Entry into the programme is by application only and successful applicants will pay a fee of $100 for the year.

Selected mentored students will:

• watch company classes with RNZB dancer
• receive invitation to observe RNZB rehearsals conducted by RNZB Artistic staff
• spend time backstage during productions
• receive two complimentary tickets to selected performances
• have quality time with their mentor through the year
• participate in exclusive master classes
• receive coaching in a selected variation
• spend a day in Wellington at the RNZB’s home to observe class and rehearsals, take part in a class and visit backstage workrooms, including the costume shop

Applications will open in November 2020 – keep an eye on the website for more details.
For all enquiries, please email education@rnzb.org.nz  or contact RNZB Education, Community & Accessibility Manager Pascale Parenteau,  021 678 521