Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet

The Ballet School of the Finnish National Opera and Ballet is a national classical ballet institution that provides extensive basic education in dance and upper-secondary vocational education aimed at becoming a dance artist. It is part of Finland's official education system with public and open teaching. The Finnish National Opera and Ballet foundation is the education provider. The school has a nationwide remit and serves as Finland's only institution offering vocational education in classical ballet and the only institution providing broad basic education in dance focused on classical ballet. Dance instruction is divided into two main parts: broad basic education in dance and vocational education. The school has operated in its current form since 1998 when it became a publicly funded institution, though its predecessor began operating in 1922. The school has a national special task as a classical ballet trainer and as a preserver and developer of ballet tradition. Instruction is delivered in Finnish.

The school is located at Helsinginkatu 58 in the Töölö district of Helsinki, Finland. The premises are accessible via the Ooppera stop, with tram lines 1, 2, 4, 8, and 10, and all buses running along Mannerheimintie.

The school offers broad basic education in dance including alkuopetus, ala-aste, and nuorisoaste levels with B1–B9 ballet classes. It provides vocational education aimed at the profession of dance artist, leading to a 180 competence point qualification with the title tanssija. Special training in ballet is offered for talented hobby dancers living outside the capital region, organized 3–4 times per year in three level groups. Course periods may include ballet, contemporary dance, pointe technique, character dance, repertoire, and body maintenance. Courses and summer courses are also available.

Students who pass entrance examinations can join the school. For broad basic education, applicants must submit an application form with attachments including a 6th-grade school certificate, certificates of dance studies, and a written essay. For vocational education, applicants may apply through the national Studyinfo system or year-round application. For special training, applicants must have a certificate showing completed basic dance studies and a recommendation from their dance school and ballet teacher. All pupils undergo an entrance examination where physical characteristics are also assessed.

The school caters to students from basic education age through upper-secondary age. Broad basic education includes alkuopetus, ala-aste, and nuorisoaste levels with B1–B9 ballet classes. Special training courses are for ages 12–15 with three level groups. Vocational training is primarily for upper-secondary-age students.

The school educates ballet dancers for the needs of the Finnish National Ballet as well as Finnish and international dance art. The vocational qualification gives general eligibility for further studies, and graduates may continue either in dance or another field. Vocational studies may include workplace-based learning if students do not already have practical work experience. The special training course can prepare students for possible application to nuorisoaste or vocational education.

The broad basic education curriculum is based on national curriculum foundations for extensive syllabus dance education and the Act on Basic Education in the Arts. Vocational education follows the Finnish National Board of Education's dance vocational qualification requirements OPH-5061-2021, introduced in 2022. Assessment is carried out through demonstrations for each qualification unit. A personal competence development plan is drawn up at the start of studies. The school cooperates on common units with Eira Adult High School and Tölö Gymnasium.

Contact the school by phone at +358 9 4030 2417 or email at redacted@example.com. The office is located on the 6th floor, room 6.022, at Helsinginkatu 58, Helsinki, with office hours Monday–Friday 9:00–16:00. For special training inquiries, contact Markku Lehtinen at 09 4030 2275 or redacted@example.com, available Monday–Friday 15:00–20:00.