What ages does The National Ballet Studio take?

From age 3. Pre School 1 is for 3-4 year olds, and the grades run up to Senior Grades 6-8 (12 years+) and RAD vocational syllabi.

Does the studio follow an exam syllabus?

Yes, classes follow the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus. To sit a graded exam, students attend syllabus classes twice a week.

Is there a trial class?

Yes, a free trial can be booked on the studio's website.

How much do classes cost?

Fees are charged per term. The fee list and timetable download from the RAD Programme page on the website after you enter your details.

Just Play Complex, Al Manara Exit, Al Quoz, Dubai.

Are there holiday camps?

Yes, one- or two-week workshops run in the December, March and July-August school breaks. Ask the provider for the next workshop's dates, ages and prices.

The National Ballet Studio

DanceBallet

Checked Oct 2026Details checked October 2026

Al Quoz

Free trial

Book online

The National Ballet Studio is a ballet school at the Just Play Complex, Al Manara Exit, in Al Quoz, founded in 2013 by Helen Ainsworth ARAD, PDTD. Classes follow the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus and are taught by RAD Registered Teachers. Children start at 3 in Pre School 1, a 30-minute class, then move through Pre Primary and Primary into the graded Junior (Grades 1-2), Intermediate (Grades 3-5) and Senior (Grades 6-8, 12 years+) programmes, with RAD vocational syllabi for older dancers. Alongside syllabus classes there is show training and a Modern class using ISTD vocabulary. Students perform regularly at The Theatre: The Nutcracker in December, an exam presentation in March and a Summer Gala in June. Holiday workshops of one or two weeks run in the December, March and July-August school breaks. A free trial can be booked on the website. It's rated 5 on Google from 15 reviews.

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The activity

Ballet, explained

Ballet teaches structured positions, movement sequences and choreography, building posture, flexibility, musicality and discipline. Classes usually run barre work first (holding a rail for balance while practising positions), then move to centre-floor combinations. Many schools follow an examined syllabus such as RAD (Royal Academy of Dance), so children work towards graded exams as well as informal performances. Most studios start children from around age 3 in a pre-ballet class before moving into graded levels. Kit is simple: a leotard, tights or socks and soft ballet shoes, with hair tied up neatly.

Who it's for

Children from age 3. Beginner programme: Pre School 1 (3-4 years), Pre School 2 (4-5), Pre Primary (5-6) and Primary (6-7). Junior: Grade 1 (7-8) and Grade 2 (8-9), plus Junior Show Training and Junior Modern. Intermediate: Grades 3 (9-10), 4 (10-11) and 5 (11-12). Senior: Grades 6-8 (12 years+) and RAD vocational syllabi. Students are placed by age, ability and teacher recommendation.

What to expect

Start with a free trial, booked through the studio's website. The youngest class, Pre School 1, lasts 30 minutes and teaches ballet through natural movement using English terminology; Pre School 2 is 45 minutes. Students wear the official TNBS uniform for their level and proper dance shoes, with hair in a ballet bun and no jewellery, and should arrive 10 minutes before class. The year runs in three terms (September-December, January-March, April-June) with fees invoiced per term. To sit a graded RAD exam, students attend syllabus classes twice a week.

Highlights

RAD syllabus classes taught by RAD Registered Teachers (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Classes from age 3: Pre School 1 (3-4) up to Senior Grades 6-8 (12+) and vocational syllabi (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Founded in 2013 by Helen Ainsworth ARAD, PDTD (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Productions at The Theatre: The Nutcracker (December), exam presentation (March), Summer Gala (June) (thenationalballetstudio.com)
One- or two-week holiday workshops in the December, March and July-August breaks (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Free trial class, bookable online (thenationalballetstudio.com)

Why parents rate it

What parents say on Google

The National Ballet Studio is rated 5 on Google from 15 reviews, and all 15 are five stars. Parent testimonials on the studio's own website mention a warm, family-like community, the end-of-season productions and exam preparation.

The facts

Ages: 3+ (Pre School 1 3-4, Pre School 2 4-5, Pre Primary 5-6, Primary 6-7, Grades 1-5 7-12, Senior Grades 6-8 12+) (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Prices: Fees charged per term; fee list downloadable from the RAD Programme page after entering your details (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Schedule: Three terms: September-December, January-March, April-June; class timetable downloadable from the RAD Programme page (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Trial: Free trial class, bookable via the website (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Where: Just Play Complex, Al Manara Exit, Al Quoz, Dubai
How to book: thenationalballetstudio.com/book-trial · +971 54 711 7376 · [email protected]
Opening hours: Mon–Fri1–8:30pm
Sat8:30am–1pm
SunClosed

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Questions parents ask

Good to know

Studio is at the Just Play Complex, Al Manara Exit, Al Quoz (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Wheelchair-accessible car park and entrance (Google listing)
Three terms a year with 36 teaching weeks; fees are invoiced per term and not refunded once a term has started, except documented medical cases (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Missed classes can be made up within the same term by contacting the office (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Official TNBS uniform, proper dance shoes and a ballet bun are required; arrive 10 minutes early (thenationalballetstudio.com)
Timetable and fee list download from the RAD Programme page after entering your details (thenationalballetstudio.com)