Regional Associates
As part of the New Zealand School of Dance’s commitment to nurturing young talent in the pursuit of excellence, the Regional Associate programme was established in 2006. 
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.
The programme is designed to supplement the students' regular dance training, and is taught by the NZ School of Dance 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, and students enter Level 1 when they are Year 6 at school.
It is the policy of NZSD that candidates do not enter the Regional Associate programme other than at Level 1.
The area from which the Regional Associates will be drawn is restricted at this stage to Wellington, Manawatu, Wairarapa and Horowhenua.
The R.A. programme comprises a ballet class and a flexibility/ strengthening programme, and the frequency of classes increases as the student moves through the six levels of the programme.
Unlike the Junior Associate Programme, which is offered free of charge, the Regional Associate Programme incurs term fees.
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 Associates are held atTe Whaea: National Dance & Drama Centre in Wellington each December for the following years' intake.
New Zealand School of Dance
Successful applicants commence their training at the beginning of the year.
Students auditioning for entry into Level 1 of the Regional Associates programme in 2010 must be in Year 5 in the year of audition.
For more information about the Regional Associates programme please contact Christine Gunn
Ph: 04 381 9223