Regional Associates
The Regional Associate programme is part of the New Zealand School of Dance’s commitment to nurturing young talent in the pursuit of excellence. 
The Regional Associates, girls and boys, are selected by the New Zealand School of Dance to attend classes every Saturday throughout the academic year at Te Whaea: National Dance and Drama Centre in Wellington.
The programme is designed to supplement the students' regular dance training and is taught by the NZSD faculty and distinguished guests. The programme employs the Vaganova syllabus of classical ballet as the backbone of its teaching and training.
There are six levels within the Regional Associate programme, students enter Level 1 when they are Year 6 at school.
Candidates may not enter the Regional Associate programme other than at Level 1.
The area from which the Regional Associates are drawn is restricted at this stage to Wellington, Manawatu, Wairarapa and Horowhenua.
The RA programme comprises a ballet class and a flexibility/ strengthening programme. The frequency of classes increases as the student moves through the six levels of the programme.
The Regional Associate Programme incurs term fees unlike the Junior Associate Programme, which is free.
HOW TO APPLY
Selection to the Regional Associates programme is by audition only.
The application form for entry in 2011 will be available to download from this web page.
Auditions
Auditions for the Regional Associate Programme are held at Te Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre in Wellington each December for the following years' intake.
Students auditioning for entry into Level 1 of the RA programme must be in Year 5 in the year of audition.
Successful applicants commence their training at the beginning of the year.
For more information about the Regional Associates programme please contact Christine Gunn
Ph: 04 381 9223