Where to Train: The Complete Guide to Pre-Professional Ballet in Dublin and Columbus, Ohio

Whether you're a parent researching options for your aspiring dancer or a serious student plotting your path to a professional career, choosing the right ballet training institution can shape your future in the art form. While Paris, London, and New York dominate the global ballet conversation, two lesser-known hubs offer exceptional training without the prohibitive costs and cutthroat competition of the traditional capitals.

This guide examines the pre-professional ballet landscape in Dublin, Ireland and Columbus, Ohio—two cities separated by an ocean but united by thriving dance communities, world-class faculty, and training programs that punch well above their weight.

Why These Two Cities?

At first glance, Dublin and Columbus may seem an odd pairing. Yet both cities share surprising similarities that make them attractive training destinations:

• Affordable cost of living compared to major metropolitan dance centers
• Strong university-presence fostering vibrant arts ecosystems
• Growing tech economies attracting diverse, culturally engaged populations
• Intimate training environments where students receive individualized attention rarely found in mega-studios

Most importantly, both cities host training institutions with documented success placing graduates into professional companies worldwide.

Dublin: Celtic Soul, Classical Discipline

Ireland's capital has nurtured ballet talent since the mid-20th century, with several institutions now offering structured pathways from first plié to professional contract.

National Ballet School of Ireland

Founded in 1997 and affiliated with the Irish National Ballet, this is Ireland's only state-funded vocational ballet school. The eight-year program follows a Vaganova-based syllabus infused with contemporary technique—a hybrid approach that produces versatile dancers suited to both classical repertoire and modern choreography.

Students perform annually at the Gaiety Theatre, Dublin's historic 1,900-seat venue, and recent graduates have secured contracts with the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, and Scottish Ballet. The school's Dublin 2 location places students within walking distance of the National Concert Hall and Abbey Theatre, embedding them in Ireland's cultural heart.

Insider tip: The school's summer intensive draws international faculty from the Bolshoi and Paris Opéra Ballet, offering a cost-effective alternative to pricier European programs.

Dublin Ballet School

Operating since 1983, Dublin Ballet School serves a broader population than the National Ballet School, with recreational and pre-professional streams clearly delineated. Serious students enter the Associate Programme around age 11, adding vocational classes to their standard Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) or Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD) examinations.

The school's Ranelagh studios feature Harlequin sprung floors and floor-to-ceiling mirrors—technical specifications that matter for injury prevention during intensive training. Director Anne Campbell-Crawford, a former English National Ballet soloist, maintains connections that have helped pre-professional students secure places at the Royal Ballet Upper School, Central School of Ballet, and Elmhurst Ballet School.

Key distinction: Unlike the National Ballet School's state-supported model, Dublin Ballet School operates independently, allowing more flexible scheduling for students combining ballet with academic studies.

Columbus, Ohio: Midwestern Work Ethic Meets World-Class Training

America's 14th-largest city punches above its weight in dance, anchored by a major university program and a professional company with deep community roots.

The Ohio State University Department of Dance

OSU's dance program, consistently ranked among America's top five public university dance departments, offers something rare: serious ballet training within a comprehensive liberal arts education. The BFA curriculum requires 24 credit hours in ballet technique plus coursework in choreography, dance history, and somatic practices.

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