NICOLA TARRY
CLASSICAL BALLET TRAINING
After-school ("pre-vocational") or day-time ("vocational") classical training to help your dancer to reach their potential, always with an individualised approach and within a supportive environment.
The programmes are not residential.
Signing up to the full programmes is recommended but there is some leeway to sign up in part.
Juniors (ages 7 and 8 years)
Wednesdays 5pm til 8pm
Adding in Mondays 5pm til 8pm when ready
Mids (ages 9 to 13)
After-school weekday training
Mondays 5pm til 8pm and
Wednesdays 5pm til 8pm
or
Vocational Training (School Years 6 and 7 only)
Either Monday or Tuesday night pre-vocational 5pm-8pm or Tuesday day-time 12.30pm til 4pm,
together with
Wednesdays 12.30pm til 5pm and
Thursdays 9am til 5pm
Training for Seniors (ages 13 and up)
After-school weekday training
Tuesdays 5pm til 8pm (ballet) and
Thursdays 5pm til 8pm (contemporary)
or
Vocational Training (School Years 8 and above)
Tuesdays 12.30pm til 4pm
Wednesdays 12.30pm til 5pm
Thursdays 9am til 5pm, and
Fridays 9am til 3pm
Audition via trial class with current students
Enquire or book a trial class audition by email:
info@nicolatarryclassicalballettraining.co.uk
At Nicola Tarry Classical Ballet Training, classical ballet training is taught alongside mindset, performance and contemporary.
Nicola Tarry (the Principal and Founder) is one of the UK's top classical ballet teachers. She has an extensive background in classical ballet and in teaching. Her track-record of getting dancers into their chosen vocational schools is exceptional.
Nicola offers top-tier classical training: training students to develop excellent classical ballet-technique with accuracy, good posture, turn-out and feet-articulation, alongside contemporary and mindset.
Her curriculum promotes strength, stamina and alignment, alongside artistry and performance, creativity and improvisation.
Nicola Tarry is passionate about dance. She imbues her students with this passion and commitment, and provides a supportive community in which they thrive.
Many aim to pursue vocational training at some stage (whether hers or elsewhere) and/or to pursue a career in dance.
Nicola Tarry launched the dance school in 2017, and, since then, Nicola has helped many dancers to achieve their goal of going to vocational schools such as The Royal Ballet School, Canada's National Ballet School, The European School of Ballet, English National Ballet School, Rambert, Hamburg, Central, Elmhurst, and Tring.
Nicola has also helped dancers to achieve placements in Summer Schools such as The Royal Ballet School, Princess Grace, John Cranko, Masters Arizona, English National Ballet, Rambert, Canada National Ballet School and European Ballet School.
Her dancers have been winners of UK Young Dancer, Classical section, in 2023 and 2024 (with a runner-up too in 2024), with three finalists in 2025. They have attended YAGP and Prix de Lausanne Pre-Selection.
Nicola set up the Vocational side of the school in September 2023. It has already achieved great results and a community of flourishing dancers.
Nicola provides an environment where every dancer matters, and where their individual needs are met.
Audition Support
On both the Pre-Vocational and Vocational programmes, the school supports vocational dance-school auditions, helping the students through the process.
End-of-Year Show
Nicola offers an end-of-year show on alternate years for Pre-Vocational and Vocational together. The 2025 show was held at the Lilian Baylis studio, Sadlers Wells.
The intention of a show is that the students learn how to be a part of a show, to work on rehearsing, learning and developing choreography, putting their technique into practice, to work on artistry, performance, teamwork and work on spatial awareness.
There will be a school show on 23 July 2027 at The Stag Theatre in Sevenoaks.
Ethos
Nicola is determined to do the best possible for her dancers, and believes always in providing a positive environment to work in, and encourages dancers to champion and support one another.
Our Principal
Nicola Tarry
Principal
Nicola was born in Dartford; she trained for many years as an elite gymnast and discovered a love of ballet at the age of 13.
At age 16 Nicola joined The Royal Ballet School; she then trained there until her graduation.
Professionally, Nicola danced with The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet; she also toured extensively throughout Europe with Wiener Ballet Theatre.
As life progressed, Nicola discovered a passion for teaching, and worked her way to become Head of Dance at The Centre Performing Arts College. Under her guidance, The Centre PAC students were extremely successful, and many have gone on to have incredible careers in all aspects of theatre.
Given her background in (and passion for) both ballet and teaching, it was only a matter of time (2017) before Nicola opened her own dance school aimed at helping aspiring classical dancers to achieve their aim.
Students have travelled from the USA and Japan to be taught by Nicola and to experience her approach to coaching young aspiring dancers.
Many students who have trained with Nicola are now in leading vocational dance-schools.
Nicola takes an individual approach to her students. She takes the time to understand who they are and how they work, and she genuinely wants the best for each and every student.
Our Patron
Edward Watson MBE
Our Patron, Edward Watson MBE
Edward Watson MBE is a phenomenal dancer, who trained at The Royal Ballet School, before graduating into The Royal Ballet in 1994. In 2005, Edward was promoted to Principal at The Royal Ballet, a position which he held for 15 years. In 2020, he joined the school's team of coaches as a Repetiteur.
Edward is a huge inspiration to so many dancers. He has the ability to take on a character and to convey in full the inner workings of their mind and soul through dance. He gives himself totally to the character and is unafraid in so-doing. He has displayed great versatility throughout his dance career, taking on the choreography of greats throughout the ages, such as Sir Kenneth Macmillan, Sir Frederick Ashton, Wayne McGregor CBE, Christopher Wheeldon and Arthur Pita. He gives dancers the courage to challenge themselves and to push the boundaries of dance.
We are enormously honoured to have Edward Watson MBE as our patron.
Pre-Vocational Training
Mids and Seniors
Juniors: ages 7 and 8 years
Mids: ages 9 years to 12 years inclusive, and
Seniors: ages 12 or 13 years plus.
The entry process for each group involves a trial class with the current Nicola Tarry students
After-school weekday training designed at developing a classical dancer as a whole.
Juniors and Mids covers classical ballet with Nicola Tarry, supported by dance performance with Kelly Harrison.
Seniors covers classical ballet with Nicola Tarry and contemporary with Emily Adams.
It is intended that dancers take as much of the programme as possible in order to get the most out of it.
Contemporary, for example, is nowadays an essential part of classical auditions, and is an important part of the classical ballet syllabus, as well as a dance genre in its own right.
RECENT RESULTS
Nicola and her selected teachers are all highly experienced, with a passion for dance and for teaching.
The training is second-to-none, and the school's results reflect this.
Pre-Vocational Programme Results
Year 7 Royal Ballet School offers: 16 offers in total over seven years of applications.
Pre-vocational Programme Results for 2026 entry:
The 2026 results are as follow thus far:
4 x Royal Ballet Scholars Year 7
3 x Tring Park Year 7 (2 x funded)
2 x Elmhurst Ballet School Year 7
1 x Tring Park Year 9 (funded)
Pre-vocational Programme Results for 2025 entry:
The 2025 results were as follow:
Year 7 Offers (5 auditioning)
3 x Royal Ballet School
2 x Elmhurst Ballet School
4 x funded Tring Park
Year 9 offer (1 auditioning)
Tring Park with the prestigious Eve Pettinger award.
Year 10 offer (1 auditioning)
Tring Park
Year 12 Offers (2 auditioning)
Elmhurst Ballet School
2 x funded Tring Park
2 x Acosta Dance
Some dancers also choose not to audition and/or to continue on the Nicola Tarry Pre-Vocational programme or to enter the Nicola Tarry Vocational programme.
Nicola Tarry is very much about what is right for the individual dancer.
AFTER-SCHOOL TIMETABLE FOR JUNIORS AND MIDS
Juniors
Ages 7 and 8 years
Wednesdays 5pm til 8pm during term-time
(Nicola Tarry ballet and dance performance with Kelly Harrison)
Mondays 5pm at 8pm are added at Nicola's discretion (when is best suits the individual's training)
Mids
Ages 9 to 13 inclusive
Mondays and Wednesdays 5pm til 8pm during term-time.
Mondays: Nicola Tarry ballet.
Wednesdays: Nicola Tarry ballet and then dance performance with Kelly Harrison.
PROGRAMME FOR JUNIORS AND MIDS
Nicola has developed a holistic programme based on the fundamentals of ballet, with a focus on posture, turn-out, correct alignment, articulation of feet, and strength in the abdominals, glutes and back.
Strengthening and conditioning the correct muscles allows classical training to begin. All aspects of class are taught developing adage, pirouettes and allegro. Pointe-work is introduced slowly and carefully.
Discipline is key but is developed in a nurturing and lively way. There are also elements of creativity and acting: with classes designed to inspire and nurture a real love of dance and performance.
The classes are key to ensuring that students are prepared to enter vocational schools, and there is an emphasis on nurturing young talent.
TIMETABLE AND PROGRAMME FOR SENIORS
For School Years 8 and above
A move from Mids to Seniors, or entry into Mids or Seniors, will be at Nicola's discretion.
Nicola will always have best training for the individual dancer in mind, and the decisions will be made on that basis.
Tuesdays (Nicola Tarry ballet) and Thursdays (contemporary with Emily Adams) 5pm til 8pm during term-time.
One or other class can be attended on an ongoing basis, but it is recommended that dancers take both classes.
In Seniors, contemporary dance is introduced to the programme.
The world of ballet has changed dramatically, and students need to discover different ways of moving.
The Seniors ballet classes have more focus on extensions and on picking up choreography quickly; all while continuing to use correct alignment and to progress the students' technique. The classes are much more intense: so that students develop stamina.
The students learn a vast vocabulary of steps, and are expected to be highly disciplined and self-motivated in order to achieve a place at a vocational dance school either in year 10 or year 12.
Pre-Vocationals Term-Dates
Term-Dates are as follow but are subject to change at the discretion of the Principal:
2025-2026
Winter Term 2025
Monday 8 September 2025: Term starts
Monday 20 October to Sunday 2 November: half-term
Friday 5 December 2025: last day of term.
Spring Term 2026
Monday 5 January 2026: Term starts
Saturday 14 February to Sunday 22 February 2026: Half-Term
Friday 27 March 2026: last day of term
Summer Term 2026
Monday 20 April 2026: term starts
There will be class on 4 May (Bank Holiday Monday)
Saturday 23 May to Sunday 31 May 2026: half-term
Friday 10 July 2026: last day of term
Provisional Dates for 2026-2027
Winter Term 2026
Monday 7 September 2026: Term starts
Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November: half-term
Friday 4 December 2026: last day of term.
Spring Term 2027
Monday 4 January 2027: Term starts
Saturday 13 February to Sunday 21 February 2027: Half-Term
Friday 26 March 2027: last day of term
Summer Term 2027
Monday 26 April 2027: term starts
Saturday 22 May to Sunday 6 June 2027: half-term
Thursday 22 July 2027: last day of term
Friday 23 July 2027: show day The Stag Sevenoaks
All-day rehearsals and evening show
Pre-Vocational Notice
Half-A-Term’s Notice Required
Half-a-term’s notice must be given and paid for if lessons are to be discontinued.
Lessons missed by dancers will not be deducted from the bill.
Pre-Vocational Registration Fee
£240
A non-refundable registration fee of £240 is required to secure a place.
This will be used as credit against the first fees payment.
Pre-Vocational Uniform
Juniors and Mids
Girls
Nicola Tarry tracksuit top from Planet Dance.
Wear Moi Galate leotard in Sky.
Convertible tights.
Boys
Nicola Tarry tracksuit top from Planet Dance
White leotard
Navy blue ballet shorts
White ballet socks
White ballet shoes
Seniors:
Nicola Tarry tracksuit top direct from Nicola (please email).
Nicola Tarry hoodie (optional) direct from Nicola (please email).
Wear Moi Galate leotard in Navy.
Convertible tights.
The uniform is stocked by Planet Dance, and there is a discount for Nicola Tarry students (please ask the Office for the discount code).
Vocational Training
Dance-tuition only and non-residential.
In West Kingsdown, near Sevenoaks and within easy reach of London by train
(nearest station Swanley, a short taxi-ride from the studio: taxi-sharing available dependent on locations of other students)
School Years 6 to and including 13, and some places for graduates.
Mids Years 6 and 7
Seniors Years 8 and above
Full-time and part-time Vocationals available
Although, full-time is encouraged for best training
The entry process is via trial class with the current Vocationals at Nicola Tarry.
please email info@nicolatarryclassicalballettraining.co.uk to enquire or book a trial class.
Vocationals Class-Times
Class-Times for 2025-2026
Mids for 2025-2026
Wednesdays 12.30pm til 5pm (ballet with Nicola, and Beyond The Barre transformational leadership with Linda Maynard)
and
Thursdays 9am til 5pm (ballet with Nicola til 3pm, and then contemporary with Emily Adams)
and
Plus, pre-vocational Monday evenings
Seniors for 2025-2026
Tuesdays 12.30pm til 4pm (ballet with Nicola or Damani)
and
Wednesdays 12.30pm til 5pm (ballet with Nicola, and Beyond The Barre transformational leadership with Linda Maynard)
and
Thursdays 9am til 5pm (ballet with Nicola til 3pm, and then contemporary with Emily Adams)
and
Fridays 9am til 3pm (ballet with Victoria Hewitt)
Prospective Class-Times for 2026-2027
Mids for 2026-2027
Tuesdays 12.30pm til 4pm (ballet with Nicola or Damani)
or Monday or Tuesday after-school pre-vocationals 5pm til 8pm (ballet with Nicola)
and
Wednesdays 12.30pm til 5pm (ballet with Nicola, and Beyond The Barre transformational leadership with Linda Maynard)
and
Thursdays 9am til 5pm (ballet with Nicola til 3pm, and then contemporary with Emily Adams)
Seniors for 2025-2026
Tuesdays 12.30pm til 4pm (ballet with Nicola or Damani)
and
Wednesdays 12.30pm til 5pm (ballet with Nicola, and Beyond The Barre transformational leadership with Linda Maynard)
and
Thursdays 9am til 5pm (ballet with Nicola til 3pm, and then contemporary with Emily Adams)
and
Fridays 9am til 3pm (ballet with Victoria Hewitt)
Vocational Programme
Top vocational training to work alongside dancers’ own home-schooling.
Taught by Nicola Tarry, one of the UK's most highly-regarded teachers in classical ballet, and her carefully-selected team.
Small classes with individual attention to develop every dancer's potential.
Excellent results.
Fun and supportive community.
Nicola Tarry Vocationals covers dance-tuition only. It offers weekday daytime dance-training (Tuesday to Friday) either working alongside a dancer's own academic home-schooling, or (in the case of part-time vocationals) working in conjunction with the dancer's school.
Vocational training can be taken as full-time or part-time.
The programme is adapted to suit the individual dancer's needs
Training is in a small class with individual corrections and attention,
and runs from School Years 7 to 13 (inclusive).
From Year 6 for part-time vocationals.
Dancers come in daily from home or from a recommended home-stay.
The studio is within easy reach of London, with Swanley train station a short taxi-ride away.
A holistic dance programme designed to enable every dancer to achieve their potential.
The focus is on classical ballet technique, body-conditioning, stamina and performance. There are regular classes in contemporary and virtuosity.
Creative and improvisation are also included..
Ballet teachers:
Nicola Tarry
Victoria Hewitt (former Royal Ballet soloist)
Contemporary teacher:
Emily Adams
Transformational Leadership coach:
Linda Maynard
Guest teachers
Jenny Tattersall was a regular guest-teacher for 2024-2025.
Damani Williams has been a regular guest-teacher for 2025-2026.
Where considered beneficial to the dancers, Vocationals will take part in external workshops.
For example, dancers have visited Acosta Dance and Jasmin Vardimon for specific workshops.
Dancers are encouraged to take up associate programme places,
and to attend international summer schools and competitions.
Nicola Tarry supports YAGP entries and auditions.
The dancers are expected to be driven, highly disciplined and self-motivated in order to gain a place at a top vocational dance school, and/or to continue into Nicola Tarry Upper School and ultimately to pursue a dance career.
Vocational Programme Results for 2026
Upper Schools
English National Ballet School Year 1
English National Ballet School Year 2 (with scholarship)
Rambert School
Urdang
Elmhurst Ballet School x 3
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Boston Ballet School
Central School of Ballet x 2
Tring Park (funded) x 2
Multiple 16+ Acosta Dance
Vocational Programme Results for 2025
9 students auditioned (in alphabetical order):
Year 12 Offers (8 auditioned)
Multiple 16+ offers for Acosta Dance
American Ballet Theatre School
BalletMet
Ballet West
2 x Brussels International Ballet School
3 x Boston Ballet School
3 x Elmhurst Ballet School
English National Ballet School
European School of Ballet
Hamburg Ballet
Italia Conti
Miami City Ballet School
Royal Conservatoire of Scotland with scholarship
5 x Tring Park, including 3 x funded and one bursary
18+ Offers (one Upper School student auditioned)
Acosta Dance
Central School of Ballet with scholarship
Rambert School
There is also the option to continue into the Nicola Tarry Vocational Upper School.
In every case, Nicola finds what works best for the particular dancer for them to achieve a career in dance.
At Nicola Tarry, it is all about the individual and what works best for them.
Vocationals Registration Fee
£480
A non-refundable registration fee of £480 is required to secure a place. This will be used as credit against the first fees payment.
Vocationals Term-Dates
Term-Dates are as follow but are subject to change at the discretion of the Principal:
2025-2026
Winter Term 2025
Tuesday 9 September 2025: Term starts
Monday 20 October to Monday 3 November: half-term
Friday 5 December 2025: last day of term.
Spring Term 2026
Tuesday 6 January 2026: Term starts
Saturday 14 February to Monday 23 February 2026: Half-Term
Friday 27 March 2026: last day of term
Summer Term 2026
Tuesday 21 April 2026: term starts
Saturday 23 May to Monday 1 June 2026: half-term
Friday 10 July 2026: last day of term
Provisional Dates for 2026-2027
Winter Term 2026
Monday 7 September 2026: Term starts
Saturday 17 October to Sunday 1 November: half-term
Friday 4 December 2026: last day of term.
Spring Term 2027
Monday 4 January 2027: Term starts
Saturday 13 February to Sunday 21 February 2027: Half-Term
Friday 26 March 2027: last day of term
Summer Term 2027
Monday 26 April 2027: term starts
Saturday 22 May to Sunday 6 June 2027: half-term
Thursday 22 July 2027: last day of term
Friday 23 July 2027: show day The Stag Sevenoaks
All-day rehearsals and evening show
Vocationals' Notice
One Full Term’s Notice Required
One full term’s notice must be given and paid for if lessons are to be discontinued.
Lessons missed by dancers will not be deducted from the bill.
Vocationals' Uniform
Nicola Tarry tracksuit top or hoodie direct from Nicola, please email the office.
Wear Moi Galate in Burgundy, for everyday wear.
Wear Moi Candide leotard in Burgundy, for guest-teacher visits.
Convertible tights.
Stocked by the Planet Dance website, Nicola Tarry students have a discount (please ask the Office for the discount code).
NICOLA TARRY INTENSIVES
in West Kingsdown
Taught by Nicola, one of the most highly regarded classical ballet teachers in the UK.
Small classes focus on classical ballet technique, body-conditioning and performance.
Individual corrections and feedback.
2025-2026
Summer 2026 Intensives
Mids Summer Intensive
School Years 3 to 7, except for Year 7 Vocationals
27 August 2026, 10am til 4pm
at Nicola's West Kingsdown studio
Taught by Nicola, she will focus on classical ballet technique, body-conditioning and performance
£120 in total. £60 non-refundable deposit required to secure a place.
Senior Summer Intensive
School Years 8 and above, and Year 7 Vocationals
28, 29 and 30 August 2026, 10am til 4pm daily
at Nicola's West Kingsdown studio
SOLD OUT, taking a reserve list
Taught by Nicola, she will focus on classical ballet technique, body-conditioning and performance.
£360 in total. £180 non-refundable deposit required to secure a place.
Winter Intensives
Dates yet to be confirmed
Please email to register an interest
Sibling discount available
Please email info@nicolatarryclassicalballettraining.co.uk for bookings and enquiries.
Location
Classes take place at The Old School, School Lane, West Kingsdown TN15 6JN
Swanley and Borough Green rail stations are nearby,
with trains to and from London
Juniors, Mids and Seniors @balletwithnicolatarry
Vocationals @nicolatarryelite
For all enquiries and/or bookings, please contact us on
Address:
The Old School, School Lane, West Kingsdown, TN15 6JN. UK
Email: