Each year PNB School selects upper level students to participate in established two to six-week exchanges at two elite ballet schools: Canada’s National Ballet School and Royal Danish Ballet School.

We are in the process of establishing an exchange with the Zurich Ballet Academy in Switzerland! Stay tuned for more details!

Students chosen for the National Ballet School in Toronto, Ontario participate in the school’s four-week summer program. Established in 1959, NBS is one of the world’s foremost training institutions providing dance training, academic instruction, and residential care on one campus. The summer exchange program was started in 1998 by Francia Russell and NBS artistic director Mavis Staines

Students chosen for the Flemming Halby Dance Student Exchange program between PNB School and the Royal Danish Ballet School, will travel to Copenhagen for the Royal Danish Ballet School’s three-week program. The exchange, made possible by Support from Scan|design Foundation by Inger and Jens Bruun and the Northwest Danish Association, was initiated in 2007 to honor Flemming Halby, longtime PNBS faculty member and former Royal Danish Ballet dancer.

“I had an incredible experience. I went into the program hoping to grow as a dancer while also immersing myself in a new environment and learning about the culture and that is exactly what I got out of this exchange. It was such an honor to be able to represent PNB while in Denmark and I will be forever grateful for the opportunity to learn and study there.”
-Zoe Derauf, 2019 Exchange student

In addition to the two reciprocal exchanges, PNB School also hosts two students from Bulgaria each summer, to participate in PNB’s annual Summer Course. Bulgarian students are chosen through the Iliev Dance Art Foundation, directed by PNB Summer Course guest faculty member, Petur Iliev.

National Ballet School
Students chosen for the National Ballet School in Toronto, Ontario participate in the school’s four-week summer program. Established in 1959, NBS is one of the world’s foremost training institutions providing dance training, academic instruction, and residential care on one campus. The summer exchange program was established by Francia Russell and NBS artistic director Mavis Staines in 1999.

2024 NBS Program Dates
July 6-26 (4 weeks)

Expenses Covered by Exchange
Full Tuition Scholarship

Student is Responsible for
Housing
Meals
Airfare
Incidental Expenses

Housing Information
NBS has not yet confirmed whether dormitory housing will be available for Summer 2024. Exchange students may be placed with a host family or find alternate housing for the summer.

Age Requirements
15-18 at the time of Summer program
Applications for NBS are due January 15, 2024.

The Royal Danish Ballet Summer School

Students chosen for the Royal Danish Ballet School in Copenhagen, Denmark participate in the school’s three-week Elite Program. Each week has a different focus, with the third week entirely devoted to the Bournonville style and tradition.

2024 RDB Program Dates
July 8-27 (3 weeks)

Expenses Covered by Exchange
Full Tuition Scholarship

Student is Responsible for
Housing
Meals
Airfare
Incidental Expenses

Housing Information
Accommodation is possible if requested by a given deadline. The deadline is not set as of now. There are different housing options/prices available for summer program students.

Applications for RDB are due January 15, 2024.