Ballet in Galway
Where to take class in Galway, and what's on stage
11 ballet schools teach in Galway, 7 of them adults and 10 children. 2 ballet productions are also coming to the city, at Coláiste na Coiribe and Town Hall Theatre Galway. For every school across the wider county, see ballet in County Galway.
Ballet classes in Galway
11 schools teach ballet in Galway itself. 7 teach adults, including complete beginners, and 3 offer a trial class first. 10 take children; ages taught vary by school, so check each listing. 6 offer private one-to-one lessons.
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 Galway.
What's on in Galway
On Galway stages this season: Ballet Ireland · Sofia City Ballet
Where to see ballet in Galway
Galway: an arts city that dances
Galway’s ballet story is carried by its teachers rather than a famous home-grown star. Ballet was taught in the city as far back as the 1950s by Marie Langan, and her Galway-born daughter Regina Rogers founded what is now the Galway Ballet Academy in 1986, building strong links with Russian ballet from the 1990s. That teaching tradition holds today: among the city’s established academies is Corrib Dance Academy, founded in 1997 by Phyllis Hayes, a University of Durham ballet graduate and, since 2005, a Royal Academy of Dance teacher-training mentor.
Here ballet belongs to a wider arts culture. Galway, the medieval “City of the Tribes” and one of Europe’s great festival cities, fills each July with the Galway International Arts Festival, and its stages, led by the Town Hall Theatre and the Black Box, carry dance of every kind through the year.
- Marie Langan: Taught ballet in Galway from the 1950s, part of the city’s earliest ballet lineage.
- Regina Rogers: Galway-born founder of the Galway Ballet Academy (1986).
- Phyllis Hayes: Founder of Corrib Dance Academy (1997); a University of Durham ballet graduate and Royal Academy of Dance teacher-training mentor since 2005.
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Two tickets to Ballet of Lights: Sleeping Beauty, Dublin, 8 Nov. Joining the newsletter is the entry.
Enter the drawBallet in Galway: FAQs
- Are there adult ballet classes in Galway?
- Yes. 7 of the 11 ballet schools in Galway teach adults, including complete beginners. 3 offer a trial class first.
- Are there ballet classes for children in Galway?
- Yes. 10 ballet schools in Galway take children. The ages each school starts at vary, so check the individual listing.
- Can you take private ballet lessons in Galway?
- Yes. 6 ballet schools in Galway offer one-to-one tuition, for exam preparation, technique work or starting out.
- How many ballet schools are there in Galway?
- 11 ballet schools teach in Galway itself, with more across County Galway.
- Where can I see ballet in Galway?
- Ballet in Galway is staged mainly at Coláiste na Coiribe and Town Hall Theatre Galway. Upcoming productions include Romeo & Juliet — Ballet Ireland 2026, The Sleeping Beauty.
- What ballet shows are coming to Galway?
- 2 productions are coming to Galway: Romeo & Juliet — Ballet Ireland 2026 (November 2026); The Sleeping Beauty (March 2027).
- Which ballet companies perform in Galway?
- Companies staging ballet in Galway include Ballet Ireland, Sofia City Ballet.