Ballet in Belfast
Where to take class in Belfast, and what's on stage
12 ballet schools teach in Belfast, 4 of them adults and 9 children. 3 ballet productions are also coming to the city, at Grand Opera House. For every school across the wider county, see ballet in County Antrim.
Ballet classes in Belfast
12 schools teach ballet in Belfast itself. 4 teach adults, including complete beginners, and 1 offers a trial class first. 9 take children; ages taught vary by school, so check each listing. 2 run Silver Swans classes for over 55s.
Starting as an adult? Read ballet for adults and what to wear to your first class. Choosing for a child? See how to choose a ballet school. For schools right across the county, see all schools in County Antrim.
What's on in Belfast
On Belfast stages this season: Hamilton Christou Productions · LUAIL – Ireland’s National Dance Company · Sofia City Ballet
Where to see ballet in Belfast
Belfast: home of a Royal Ballet principal
Belfast’s best-known ballet name is very much of the present. Melissa Hamilton, born in the city in 1989, dances as a principal with The Royal Ballet in London, the rank she reached in 2024 after roles including Manon, Juliet and the lead in Kenneth MacMillan’s Mayerling. In October 2026 she brings her own gala home to the Grand Opera House.
The city’s dance story runs deeper than one name. Belfast-born Norman McDowell danced and designed across British ballet in the mid-20th century, and Patricia Mulholland (1915–1992) founded the Irish Ballet School here, pioneering a distinctive Irish “folk ballet”. The Belfast International Ballet Festival, first held in 2024, has since brought the artform back to the city’s stages.
- Melissa Hamilton: Belfast-born principal of The Royal Ballet, returning to the Grand Opera House with a gala in October 2026.
- Norman McDowell: Belfast-born dancer and stage designer of mid-20th-century British ballet, and co-founder of London Theatre Ballet.
- Patricia Mulholland: Belfast-born founder of the Irish Ballet School and a pioneer of Irish “folk ballet”.
While you're here: win a night under the lights
Two tickets to Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty, Dublin, 8 Nov. Joining the newsletter is the entry.
Enter the drawBallet in Belfast: FAQs
- Are there adult ballet classes in Belfast?
- Yes. 4 of the 12 ballet schools in Belfast teach adults, including complete beginners. 1 offers a trial class first.
- Are there ballet classes for children in Belfast?
- Yes. 9 ballet schools in Belfast take children. The ages each school starts at vary, so check the individual listing.
- Are there Silver Swans ballet classes for over 55s in Belfast?
- Yes. 2 ballet schools in Belfast run Silver Swans classes, the Royal Academy of Dance programme for dancers over 55.
- How many ballet schools are there in Belfast?
- 12 ballet schools teach in Belfast itself, with more across County Antrim.
- Where can I see ballet in Belfast?
- Ballet in Belfast is staged mainly at Grand Opera House. Upcoming productions include Melissa Hamilton's Grand Ballet Gala, NŌS, The Sleeping Beauty.
- What ballet shows are coming to Belfast?
- 3 productions are coming to Belfast: Melissa Hamilton's Grand Ballet Gala (October 2026); NŌS (November 2026); The Sleeping Beauty (March 2027).
- Which ballet companies perform in Belfast?
- Companies staging ballet in Belfast include Hamilton Christou Productions, LUAIL – Ireland’s National Dance Company, Sofia City Ballet.