Ballet in Derry
Where to take class in Derry, and what's on stage
5 ballet schools teach in Derry, 2 of them adults and 4 children. 2 ballet productions are also coming to the city, at Millennium Forum. For every school across the wider county, see ballet in County Derry.
Ballet classes in Derry
5 schools teach ballet in Derry itself. 2 teach adults, including complete beginners. 4 take children; ages taught vary by school, so check each listing.
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 Derry.
What's on in Derry
On Derry stages this season: Ballet Ireland · Sofia City Ballet
Where to see ballet in Derry
Derry: ballet in the Walled City
Derry’s ballet has a rising name in Ruaidhrí Maguire, from Moneymore in County Derry, who danced to principal at Poland’s Baltic Opera Ballet before joining Ballet Ireland, and who founded Six Dance Collective to grow ballet across Northern Ireland. In the city itself, generations of dancers trained with the late Mary Harrison, known as “Mary Hill”, whose school was a fixture of Derry ballet for decades.
The Millennium Forum, opened in 2001 inside Derry’s 17th-century walls, is the city’s main stage for touring ballet, with Ballet Ireland a regular visitor. Derry is the only completely walled city in Ireland and was the first UK City of Culture, in 2013, when Royal Ballet dancers performed at the Forum, so a show sits easily inside a cultural weekend.
- Ruaidhrí Maguire: From County Derry; danced to principal at Baltic Opera Ballet, now with Ballet Ireland, and founder of Six Dance Collective.
- Mary Harrison (“Mary Hill”): Derry ballet teacher whose school trained generations of local dancers.
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 Derry: FAQs
- Are there adult ballet classes in Derry?
- Yes. 2 of the 5 ballet schools in Derry teach adults, including complete beginners.
- Are there ballet classes for children in Derry?
- Yes. 4 ballet schools in Derry take children. The ages each school starts at vary, so check the individual listing.
- How many ballet schools are there in Derry?
- 5 ballet schools teach in Derry itself, with more across County Derry.
- Where can I see ballet in Derry?
- Ballet in Derry is staged mainly at Millennium Forum. Upcoming productions include Romeo & Juliet — Ballet Ireland 2026, The Sleeping Beauty.
- What ballet shows are coming to Derry?
- 2 productions are coming to Derry: Romeo & Juliet — Ballet Ireland 2026 (November 2026); The Sleeping Beauty (March 2027).
- Which ballet companies perform in Derry?
- Companies staging ballet in Derry include Ballet Ireland, Sofia City Ballet.