The entrance exams for the Higher Professional School of Dance of the GNO, for the academic year 2025-2026, will be held in two rounds, the first round of selection on September 14 and 15 and the second round of finals on September 16, 2025. The presence of all candidates in both rounds is mandatory.

The times of the exams as well as the groups for the first round of exams will be announced in the “NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS” category of the official website of the Greek National Opera by Friday, September 5. An alphabetical order will be followed for the formation of the examination groups. The successful candidates of the first round will be invited to continue in the second round, from where the students of the new academic year will be selected. Candidates will be examined in the classical ballet, contemporary dance and rhythmic dance classes, in the presence of a jury.

An optional preparatory course will be held from September 10 to 13, with the aim of familiarizing participants with the techniques in which they will be examined. Candidates who do not attend the preparatory course retain the right to participate in the entrance exams. Candidates interested in attending the preparatory courses must declare this on the participation form and attend all the courses.

Each candidate is classified by the School into groups, without the possibility of change, except in exceptional cases and after consultation with the School.
•    On the first day of classes in the preparatory course, candidates must be at the School at least 45 minutes before the start of their classes.

The detailed program of the preparation cycle as well as the groups of candidates will be announced in the “NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS” section of the official website of the Greek National Opera by Friday, September 5.

The classes will be held at the facilities of the GNO Higher Professional School of Dance at the SNFCC.

Participants who arrive to the classes late will not be allowed entry.

Candidates should wear:

Girls:

Ballet
•    Black leotard
•    Pink tights
•    Soft ballet shoes
•    Pointes

Modern
•    Black tights or cut-off tights
•    No shoes

Boys:

Ballet & Modern
•    White t-shirt
•    Black tights
•    Black or white ballet shoes (for ballet class only)

Applications:
All candidates who have not exceeded the age of 25 are eligible to participate in the entrance exams. For those who have a degree from a higher educational institution, the age limit is 30 years.

The application period for the entrance exams to the Professional Departments will last from July 4th to September 2nd, 2025. Applications for the entrance exams to the Professional Departments of the School for the academic year 2025-2026 will be submitted only via email, specifically to the email: danceschool@nationalopera.gr

During the summer period in August, the secretariat will remain closed.

Please send the supporting documents in clearly scanned, attached files in pdf format.
Late applications will not be accepted.

Required Documents:

Application and Consent Document for the Processing of Personal Data, completed and signed
•    Photocopy of ID or passport
•    Photocopy of high school diploma

To download the application for the entrance exams, click here

Please make sure that you have been sent the protocol number by the application deadline (via email), as it is necessary for the announcement of the results.

Attention: The application to the Higher Professional School of Dance of the Hellenic National University does not replace the application that candidates must necessarily submit to the Ministry of Culture and Sports. (Information: Department of Theater and Dance Education, Ministry of Culture and Sports, tel.: 210 8201758).

Qualifying exams
Candidates with a Dancer’s degree from a Recognized Professional Dance School in Greece or a Teacher/Dancer’s Diploma from a Recognized Professional School abroad are eligible to participate in the qualifying exams.

Required Documents:

Application and Consent Document for the Processing of Personal Data, completed and signed
•    Photocopy of ID or passport
•    Photocopy of Dancer’s Degree from a recognized Higher Professional Dance School in Greece or Teacher/Dancer’s Diploma from a recognized Professional School abroad

Photocopy of high school diploma

Holders of foreign qualifications must additionally submit:

Official translation (by the translation service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs) of their degree into Greek
•    Certificate of studies (indicating the place, duration of studies, courses and teaching hours)
•    Official translation thereof into Greek
•    CV