About The School

Who We Are 

Exceptional Dancers, Exceptional People 

What We Believe

• We put our students at the heart of everything we do and strive to maximise potential by providing rigorous, brilliant, inspirational opportunities that prepares them for life.

• We are passionate and proud of our work and the excellence of the dance and academic outcomes we achieve.

• We actively listen by dynamically researching, evolving and adapting our elite performance environment to be leading-edge through world-class teaching.

• We foster a caring culture that is inclusive, demonstrates integrity, and where people are aspirational, energetically engaged and take ownership in maximising their own potential.

• We believe that talent is classless and we only engage with and teach top people who have the desire to perform exceptionally.

• We demonstrate the courage to question, challenge and change the cultural norms in the dance world.

How We Are 

• Caring 
• Inclusive 
• Inspiring 
• Dynamic 
• Courageous 
• Proud 

Founded in Camberley, Surrey in 1923, Elmhurst was one of the UK’s first vocational dance schools.

In 2004, the school moved to its purpose-built new home in Edgbaston, Birmingham forming a close association with Birmingham Royal Ballet, formerly Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet.

Elmhurst has a history of notable alumni and continues to be a world-renowned centre of excellence, providing full-time vocational training in classical ballet in conjunction with a sound academic education across the whole school.

Joining Elmhurst

Elmhurst is an independent school for classical ballet students aged 11-19 years’ old. Entry to the school is by audition with students joining from Year 7 onwards and graduating after Year 14.

In a typical year, 80% of our students receive financial assistance to train with us.

In geographical terms 20.6% of our students are from the Midlands; 26.9% from London and the South East; 13.7% from the South West; 18.8% from the North of England; 1.7% from Scotland; 2.9% from Wales; and 15.4% are from overseas.

Most of our students are new to boarding when they join Elmhurst. We have capacity for 169 students to live on-site and nearby at The Elms boarding house. Our graduate students live independently. We also welcome day-students.

World-Class Facilities

Our state-of-the-art facilities include:

• A 220-seat theatre
• Seven dance studios
• Academic classrooms
• Home-from-home on-site accommodation
• A sector-leading Health and Well-being Centre
• An outdoor sports field