Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) is a world leader in the training of professional ballet dancers and teachers. NBS’s core program is the Professional Ballet Program, which provides full-time classical ballet training integrated with a comprehensive academic education and residence for students in grades 6 to 12, and intensive dance training for post-secondary students. NBS also offers a full-time Teacher Training Program as well as part-time programs for practicing teachers, children aged 6 to 17 (the Associates Program) and recreational classes for adults. Close to 1,200 students, ranging in age from 6 to 82, take classes at NBS’s award-winning facilities each week. Graduates can be found as dancers, teachers, choreographers and artistic directors in over 65 dance companies and even more schools around the globe. Canada’s National Ballet School celebrates its 50th anniversary starting in September, 2009.

Residence students stay at NBS' expanded and newly-renovated residence located on Maitland Street, one block from NBS. Our new residence is a wonderful combination of new and old architecture. A short walk from the dance studios and academics gives the students an opportunity to breathe some fresh Toronto air before the start and end of their busy day. The specifically trained residence staff are friendly, caring and take their responsibilities of providing a comfortable and safe home away from home for each student very seriously. They respect the special and specific needs of each student and work diligently to ensure they are met. The students can relax and socialize in the games room before and after homework is completed. They can enjoy some time alone playing one of their favorite instruments in the music room, or spend time with friends in the lounge area of their floor where they can watch TV, make a snack, chat and play a board game. Our residence also features wireless Internet access. Students will take their meals on site at either the Celia Franca Centre or the new residence dining hall.

Canada's National Ballet School's Jarvis Street Campus was the first of a two-stage, $106 million renovation campaign begun in 2003 and finished in 2007. The Jarvis Street Campus consists of the Celia Franca Centre, housing 12 dance studios and the Margaret McCain Academic Building. The building opened to public and critical acclaim in November 2005. Designed by Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg Architects and Goldsmith Borgal and Company Limited Architects, Architects in Joint Venture, the campus is a superb integration of heritage buildings and contemporary architecture that reflects the traditions of classical ballet while embracing its evolution. Stage II of the renovation was the expansion and refurbishment of the Maitland Street Residences, which were completed in fall 2007. Since its opening in 2005, Canada's National Ballet School's new facilities have won nine prestigious architectural awards. In 2006, the facilities won the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA) Award of Excellence for the category of Institutional B (greater than $10million). In January 2007, NBS received the coveted Institute Honor Award for Architecture from the American Institute of Architects (AIA), making NBS the sole Canadian building honoured in 2007 and only the fourth since the AIA first bestowed the awards in 1949. In 2008, the facilities were the recipient of the Urban Land Institute Award, the RAIC Medal for Architecture and the Governor General’s award for architecture.