Take an adult ballet class
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
A ballet class runs in the same order wherever you take it, from slow work at the barre to turns and jumps in the centre, and you learn the French terms dancers use. Adult beginners' courses at colleges and ballet schools need no dance experience.
Moderate£100 to £500 / $130 to $650MonthsIndoorsWith othersUK and US
Someone who has done it
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What it's really like
Classes follow the traditional order. At City Lit that means barre work, then centre practice, slow adage and quicker allegro, with posture, alignment, short combinations and the standard French vocabulary taught along the way. You need to follow spoken instructions and count the music.
Expect to dress for the teacher to see your shape. City Lit and Morley College ask for close-fitting clothes and ballet shoes. Brooklyn Ballet recommends slippers but does not require them, and asks you to leave smartwatches and excessive jewellery at home.
Check the level before you book. The Royal Academy of Dance's own school in London lists its adult ballet classes at Intermediate Foundation and Intermediate, so they are not for first-timers, while colleges and some ballet schools run classes for complete beginners.
Ways in and what they cost
| Where | Format | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|
| City Lit, London | Classical ballet: beginners; ten 90-minute Monday-morning classes from 11 January 2027 (also Tuesday-evening runs) | £229, or £183 senior and £160 concession |
| Morley College, Waterloo, London | Ballet Beginners and Improvers; Monday evenings, 90 minutes, 12 April to 28 June 2027; in the studio or live-streamed | £225, or £170 concession |
| Brooklyn Ballet, New York | Adult Ballet Fundamental, for absolute beginners; 75-minute classes, fall semester 21 September 2026 to 31 January 2027 (16 classes) | $384 for one class a week, or $25 drop-in |
| North Seattle College, Washington | Adult Beginner Ballet; Tuesday evenings, fall 2025 (latest run listed) | $185 |
City Lit and the Royal Academy of Dance's London school also run Silver Swans classes, the Academy's adapted ballet programme, which has its own entry criteria; read the course page before booking.
How to start
- Book a beginners' course at an adult education college such as City Lit or Morley College, or a fundamentals class at a ballet school, and check the listing says it suits complete beginners.
- Buy canvas or leather ballet shoes with elastics and wear close-fitting clothes; City Lit asks for a leotard and tights or similar, hair tied back and no jewellery.
- Line up the next term; City Lit and Morley both list follow-on beginners' runs into summer 2027.
Where to go
- City Lit: ballet courses for beginners (London) UK
- Morley College: Ballet Beginners and Improvers (London) UK
- Brooklyn Ballet: adult classes, including Adult Ballet Fundamental (New York) US
- North Seattle College: Adult Beginner Ballet (Washington) US
We opened these links on 9 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Can you start ballet as an adult with no experience?
Yes. City Lit's Classical ballet beginners course is for beginners, Morley College's suits complete beginners, and Brooklyn Ballet's Adult Ballet Fundamental is designed for people with no prior experience.
What do you wear to an adult ballet class?
Close-fitting clothes you can move in, such as a leotard and tights, leggings or a fitted T-shirt, with ballet shoes. City Lit asks for hair tied back and no jewellery.
How much do adult ballet classes cost?
City Lit listed £229 for ten 90-minute classes and Morley College £225 for a term. In New York, Brooklyn Ballet listed $25 for a drop-in class.
Do I need ballet shoes for my first class?
City Lit and Morley College ask for ballet shoes; City Lit specifies canvas or leather with elastics. Brooklyn Ballet recommends slippers but does not require them.
Where this comes from: City Lit, Ballet courses for beginners; City Lit, Classical ballet: beginners; Morley College, Ballet Beginners and Improvers (W26DNED02C); Royal Academy of Dance, Dance school in London; Brooklyn Ballet, Adult classes; North Seattle College, Adult Beginner Ballet; The Guardian via inkl, A new start after 60: I took up ballet at 62. Opened 9 November 2026.
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