Frequently Asked Questions

How do I apply?

Admission to the School is by audition only. Application forms can be downloaded from this website once applications open mid-year, or to request an application pack email the Dance Administrator or phone +64 4 381 9226.

When are your full-time auditions and would you accept someone mid-year?

The School holds auditions once a year in September/October for entry into the full-time course in January of the following year. Auditions are held in Wellington, Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane. Information about the full-time auditions

We do not accept students mid-year.

What are the pre-requisites for entry?

Preference will be given to students who have attained NCEA Level 1 (Yr 11 NZ or Yr 10 Australia) and who have reached a level in classical ballet equivalent to RAD Advanced 1 (IDTA Advanced level 1, BBO Advanced 1, Cecchetti Advanced 1, BAL Intermediate). Students are required to have good conversational English to study at the School. How to Apply


Is there an age limit for being accepted?

Classical and contemporary students must be at least sixteen years of age on course commencement.  Applicants will ideally be less than twenty years old. How to Apply

How do I audition if I live outside NZ or Australia? Is there a fee?

If applicants are unable to audition in person at one of the audition centres, DVD’s may be submitted. DVD audition requirements are on pages 11 & 12 of the Application Information document which can be downloaded from the How to Apply page. Applicants accepted on the evidence of a DVD audition are offered entry to the School on a provisional basis. The fee for auditioning by DVD is available upon request.

What will be required at the audition?

The audition consists of classical and contemporary dance technique classes designed to demonstrate the applicant’s natural aptitude for dance. New Zealand applicants are required to present a solo in their chosen field of no more than two minutes in length. In Australia applicants are not required to present a solo.

When will we find out the results of the audition?

Applicants will be notified by the end of November.

What are the tuition fees?

Annual tuition fees for the New Zealand School of Dance are on the following pages:

Domestic Student Annual Fee

International Student Annual Fee

Students from Australia, Niue, the Cook Islands and Tokelau are classified as domestic students for the purposes of study in New Zealand.

Can I get a scholarship or some financial aid?

Students will be considered for scholarships only upon acceptance to the School. Scholarships are offered on the basis of merit and financial hardship. The total amount available depends on the student's artistic promise, attendance record and the financial circumstances of the student. First year students are usually not eligible to receive scholarships. Scholarships available to NZSD students

Am I eligible for a New Zealand Student Loan or Allowance?

New Zealand students can apply for a government funded student loan to cover tuition fees and course-related costs, and a student allowance to cover living costs.

The student loan is repayable once a salary threshold is reached. The student loan does not accrue interest while a student remains in full-time study. If a student is successful in securing employment in New Zealand, loan repayments continue to command no interest.

Permanent residents and Australian citizens will be subject to a two year stand-down before they can receive a student loan or student allowance. This means they need to have lived in New Zealand for at least two years and be ordinarily resident in New Zealand. Permanent residents also need to have held permanent residence status for at least two years. These student loans and allowances are both repayable. If a student is successful in securing employment in New Zealand, loan repayments command no interest. Other international students are not eligible to access any New Zealand government funded loans or allowances.

For further information about student loans and allowances please visit StudyLink

How many students do you take in the first year intake?

The number of students varies from year to year. An average first year consists of approximately 25 dancers.

What are the accommodation options?

It is recommended that all first year students stay in the approved student hostel Taranaki 217 which is within safe walking distance of the School.

For further information contact the New Zealand School of Dance Pastoral Care Manager:

Email Sue Tuck

Phone +64 4 381 9246


What dance styles does the school specialise in?

There are two major areas of study – classical ballet and contemporary dance.

How much performing will I do?

The focus in your first year at the School is on the principles of classical ballet and contemporary dance technique, not on performance. First year students will be able to perform in the end-of-term studio showings and may be selected for other performance opportunities throughout the year.

Once the students progress into their second and third years at NZSD, they will have opportunities to perform in Choreographic Season and Graduation Season - two professionally presented productions usually shown in the school's own specially designed theatre.

What are my job prospects once I graduate?

The New Zealand School of Dance enjoys a unique professional relationship with the Royal New Zealand Ballet and currently one third of the dancers in the company are graduates. On average of 80% of NZSD graduates gain contracts within six months of graduating. These are with companies such as Royal New Zealand Ballet, Sydney Dance Company, The Australian Ballet, Australian Dance Theatre, West Australian Ballet, National Theatre Ballet of Prague, The New Zealand Dance Company, Royal Danish Ballet, Royal Ballet of Flanders, Singapore Dance Theatre, Salzburg Dance Company, Footnote Dance Company and Black Grace.

Where is the School located?

The New Zealand School of Dance is in Wellington, New Zealand. It is located at Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre, situated in Newtown. Te Whaea is a short walk or bus ride from the centre of Wellington, New Zealand’s cultural and administrative capital. View Map.

What is a typical day like at the School ?

Students should expect to be dancing for at least 25 hours per week for 40 weeks of the year. A typical day begins at 8.30am and finishes at 6.00pm.

Does the school offer open classes?

Yes. NZSD offers both classical and contemporary open classes designed for those aspiring to fulltime training. These occur on Saturday mornings throughout the year.

In addition to the weekly classes, the School has a series of outreach programmes which are open to students not enrolled full-time. These include Winter School (for grade 5 and over), Associates (aged 13-15) and Scholars (from age 10).