Royal Ballet School

Classical ballet training facility in London

Royal Ballet School

Sign board at White Lodge showing school crest

Location

Floral Street, Covent Garden
White Lodge, Richmond Park

London

England

Information
Type| Private school
Motto| "Strength and Grace"
Established| 1926; 99 years ago (1926)
Founder| Dame Ninette de Valois
Department for Education URN| 102947 Tables
Artistic Director| Christopher Powney
Gender| Mixed
Age| 11 to 19
Enrolment| 221 as of April 2022[update]
Publication| Encore
Affiliations| The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet
Advisory Council| Carlos Acosta CBE
David Bintley, CBE
Dame Darcey Bussell, DBE
Sir Anthony Dowell, CBE
Kevin O'Hare CBE
Dame Antoinette Sibley, DBE
Sir Peter Wright, CBE
Website| www.royalballetschool.org.uk

The Royal Ballet School is a British school of classical ballet training[1][2] founded in 1926 by the Anglo-Irish ballerina and choreographer Ninette de Valois. The school's aim is to train and educate outstanding classical ballet dancers, especially for the Royal Ballet (based at the Royal Opera House in London) and the Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Admission to the school is based purely on dancing talent and potential, regardless of academic ability or personal circumstances, and 90% of current students rely on financial support to attend the school.[3] The school is based at two sites, White Lodge, Richmond Park (for students aged 11–16) and Covent Garden (for students from 16 to 19 years old) based in purpose-built studios on Floral Street, adjacent to the Royal Opera House.

The Royal Ballet School has produced dancers and choreographers of international renown, including Dame Margot Fonteyn, Dame Beryl Grey, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Dame Darcey Bussell, Alessandra Ferri, Viviana Durante, and Sergei Polunin, as well as the current director of The Royal Ballet, Kevin O'Hare. Graduates of the school have also achieved employment in musical theatre, contemporary and jazz dance, television and film.

## History

[edit]

In 1926, the Irish-born dancer Ninette de Valois founded the Academy of Choreographic Art,[4] a dance school for girls and the predecessor of today's Royal Ballet School. Her intention was to form a repertory ballet company and school, leading her to collaborate with theatrical producer and theatre owner Lilian Baylis.

Baylis owned the Old Vic theatre and acquired Sadler's Wells theatre in 1925. In 1928, she engaged de Valois to stage dance performances at both theatres and she re-opened Sadler's Wells theatre in 1931, with de Valois' school moving into studios on the site as the Sadler's Wells Ballet School, teaching both boys and girls. At the same time, the Vic-Wells Ballet Company was formed using students of the school and other notable dancers of the era. Both the school and the ballet company developed quickly and after ballet performances ceased at the Old Vic, the ballet company was renamed the Sadler's Wells Ballet.

In 1946, the company moved to become the resident ballet company at the newly re-opened Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and as a result, in 1947 the school moved from Sadler's Wells to premises in Barons Court, with academic education being introduced for younger students.

Following rapid expansion, in 1955 the school secured the premises at White Lodge in Richmond Park, London. This was established at the time as the Royal Ballet 'Lower School', a residential boarding school for children aged 11–16, combining general education and vocational ballet training. The Royal Ballet School 'Upper School' was established at the school's existing premises in Barons Court with students studying ballet on a full-time basis between the ages of 16–19.

In October 1956, a Royal Charter was granted officially linking the ballet company and school and they became The Royal Ballet School and Royal Ballet Company. A second smaller company still performed at Sadler's Wells and toured around the UK and this became the Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet. de Valois retired as Director in 1970.

In 1990, the Sadler's Wells company moved to become the resident ballet company at the Birmingham Hippodrome, in Birmingham, where it was renamed Birmingham Royal Ballet.

In January 2003, The Royal Ballet School's older students (aged 16–19) moved to a newly constructed studio complex in Floral Street, adjacent to the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, where The Royal Ballet remains the resident ballet company. A bridge was constructed between the school and the Opera House, linking the school with the theatre and The Royal Ballet Company's own studios. The designer of the bridge received an architectural award[5] and it is known as the Bridge of Aspiration.

## White Lodge

[edit]

The Royal Ballet School's younger students moved to White Lodge, Richmond Park in Richmond, London in 1955 when the school was split for the first time. The Georgian building is a former royal residence and hunting lodge built during the reign of King George II. It is the school's permanent premises and there has been extensive redevelopment of the site to provide dance and academic facilities and accommodation for students.

Children attend the school between the ages of 11-16 and entry to the school is by audition only. The school receives over twenty thousand applications every year and holds auditions in major UK cities. Having an international reputation, the school also receives applications from other countries. As a boarding school, the majority of students live on site, although there are a small number of day-students.

In dance, students study classical ballet, character dance, contemporary, gymnastics, Irish, Morris and Scottish dancing. Later in their training, students study ballet repertoire, solos and pas de deux and boys undertake upper body conditioning. The school offers academic study at the level of a typical secondary school, both at Key Stage 3 and Key Stage 4, with all students sitting GCSE examinations.

## Covent Garden

[edit]

Bridge of Aspiration linking the Royal Ballet Upper School on the left with the Royal Opera House, designed by Flint & Neill and Buro Happold with WilkinsonEyre

The Royal Ballet School's Covent Garden base was established in 1955, when the younger students were moved to White Lodge. The school remained at existing studios in Barons Court, London, with academic studies introduced for the first time. Later in 2003, the school relocated to new premises, and the former Barons Court site now houses the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.

The school relocated to new, purpose-built premises in Covent Garden in January 2003. The complex is a four-storey building with six dance studios, including a studio theatre with retractable raked seating for an audience of 200. The building also houses changing rooms and showers for male and female students, a gym and fitness room, a pilates studio, physiotherapy suite and students common room. Facilities for academic education include four classrooms, a library with computer equipment, an art studio and audiovisual suite. All the dance studios are linked to the audiovisual suite so that classes and rehearsals can be filmed as a training tool, enabling the dancers to analyse themselves.

Alongside a timetable of intensive ballet training, students also study pas de deux, solos, repertoire, character, contemporary dance, stagecraft, make-up, and body conditioning. 3rd year students get many opportunities throughout the year to train with The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Royal Ballet School, curtain call, Royal Ballet, 2007

## Performances

[edit]

Each year The Royal Ballet School presents its Summer Performances, featuring students from all age groups in a wide variety of classical and contemporary works. The highlight of the school's dance year is the annual matinée at the Royal Opera House, which showcases graduate students before they embark on their professional careers as well as featuring students from all years of the school. The programme includes new works and heritage pieces from the Royal Ballet repertory and culminates in a grand défilé, in which every student of the school appears on stage in a choreographed curtain call.

## Prima ballerina assoluta

[edit]

The Royal Ballet School is unique in having trained four of only a small number of dancers in history to have been recognised as prima ballerina assoluta, the ultimate honorary title for a ballerina. Exclusively trained at The Royal Ballet School and dancing her entire professional career with The Royal Ballet, Margot Fonteyn was appointed prima ballerina assoluta of the company by Queen Elizabeth II in 1979. Having trained at The Royal Ballet School from 1959 to 1966, Eva Evdokimova would go on to become an international guest ballerina, being recognised as a prima ballerina assoluta following her performances with the Kirov Ballet in the late 1970s. The title was later recognised officially by the German Senate. Phyllis Spira began training at the Royal Ballet School in 1959, joining the Royal Ballet touring company in 1960. Choosing to shun an international ballet career, she returned to her native South Africa, where she danced the majority of her career with CAPAB ballet, today's Cape Town City Ballet. She was appointed prima ballerina assoluta by the State President of South Africa in 1984. Most recently, Royal Ballet School graduate Alessandra Ferri was appointed prima ballerina assoluta of La Scala Theatre Ballet in 1992.[6] Another British ballerina, Alicia Markova, was also tutored by Royal Ballet School founder Ninette de Valois, and would go on to be a leading ballerina with the Ballets Russes, the first Prima Ballerina of The Royal Ballet, a founder ballerina with American Ballet Theatre, and co-founder of English National Ballet who now recognise her as the company's prima ballerina assoluta. Although not trained at The Royal Ballet School, this direct connection with school founder Ninette de Valois brings the total up to five.

## Notable students

[edit]

Main category: People educated at the Royal Ballet School

* Helen Anker
* Gary Avis
* Elisa Badenes
* Matthew Ball
* Hetty Baynes
* Leanne Benjamin
* David Bintley, CBE
* Deborah Bull, CBE
* Dame Darcey Bussell, DBE
* Dusty Button
* Joseph Caley
* Lady Camden
* Chris Channing
* Flora Cheong-Leen
* Imogen Claire[7]
* Michael Clark
* Simone Clarke
* Alina Cojocaru
* Lesley Collier, CBE
* Adam Cooper
* Lauren Cuthbertson
* David Dawson
* Daniel DeBourg
* Sir Anthony Dowell, CBE
* Samara Downs[8]
* Viviana Durante
* Wayne Eagling
* Jennifer Ellison
* Eva Evdokimova
* Alessandra Ferri
* John Field
* Elaine Fifield
* Dame Margot Fonteyn, DBE
* Clare Francis, MBE
* Christopher Gable
* Beryl Goldwyn
* Mary Goodhew
* Margaret Graham
* Christopher Hampson
* Francesca Hayward
* Momoko Hirata
* Vanessa Hooper
* Stephen Jefferies
* Lesley Judd
* Jiří Kylián
* Diane Kruger
* Rosalyn Landor
* Brandon Lawrence
* Douglas Lee
* Sir Kenneth MacMillan
* Sandra Madgwick
* Dame Monica Mason, DBE
* Debbie McGee
* Steven McRae
* Sonoya Mizuno
* Yasmine Naghdi
* Ayako Nakano
* John Neumeier
* Marcelino Sambé
* Marianela Núñez
* Kevin O'Hare
* Annette Page[9]
* Dame Merle Park, DBE
* John Partridge
* Sergei Polunin
* Ivan Putrov
* Samantha Raine
* Gillian Revie
* Louise Robey
* Peter Royston
* Emma Samms
* Tom Sapsford
* Lynn Seymour
* Jeremy Sheffield
* Dame Antoinette Sibley, DBE
* Joseph Sissens
* Wayne Sleep, OBE
* Phyllis Spira
* David Wall, CBE
* Edward Watson, MBE
* Sarah Wildor
* Christopher Wheeldon
* Sir Peter Wright, CBE
* Miyako Yoshida
* Wong Li Lin
* Wang Ji-won
* Nakamura Kazuha

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Taggart, Maggie (6 February 2007). "Ballet star dances his way back home". BBC News. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
2. ^ Thomas, Liz (15 August 2006). "Royal Ballet to welcome in BBC cameras". The Stage. Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 4 March 2009.
3. ^ "Fees". 11 August 2016. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
4. ^ "The Royal Ballet School - History". Archived from the original on 6 December 2008. Retrieved 28 January 2009.
5. ^ "The world-famous architect, the cancer victim and the dream that turned into a glittering prize". The Independent. 10 June 2004. Retrieved 6 May 2018.
6. ^ "Ballet Company - Teatro alla Scala". Archived from the original on 10 July 2010. Retrieved 10 July 2010. Citing Alessandra Ferri as prima ballerina assoluta of La Scala
7. ^ Theses and Dissertations Accepted for Higher Degrees (University of London, 1945), p. 37
8. ^ Samara Downs Retrieved 6 May 2018.
9. ^ Dean Speer & Francis Timlin, A Very Merry Couple Ronald Hynd and Annette Page talk about dancing, PNB and Merry Widow from Ballet-Dance magazine dated April 2005 online at ballet-dance.com, accessed 28 April 2012.

* v
* t
* e

Schools of professional ballet

Europe|

* Académie Royale de Danse
* Central School of Ballet
* Royal Danish Ballet school
* Elmhurst Ballet School
* English National Ballet School
* John Cranko Schule
* La Scala Theatre Ballet School
* Lviv State Choreographic School
* Moscow State Academy of Choreography
* The National Ballet Academy of Amsterdam
* Perm State Choreographic College
* Rambert School of Ballet and Contemporary Dance
* Royal Ballet School
* Royal Swedish Ballet School
* Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet

Americas|

* Canada's National Ballet School
* Cuban National Ballet School
* Goh Ballet Academy
* Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School
* Kirov Academy of Ballet
* Pacific Northwest Ballet School
* The Rock School for Dance Education
* Royal Winnipeg Ballet School
* San Francisco Ballet School
* School of American Ballet

Other|

* Tokyo Ballet
* K-ballet
* Cairo Opera Ballet Company
* Higher Institute of Ballet
* Australian Ballet School
* Beijing Dance Academy
* Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts
* The Music and Ballet School of Baghdad

* v
* t
* e

Performing arts schools in the United Kingdom

Acting

* Arts Educational Schools, London
* Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
* Central School of Speech and Drama
* City Academy
* Drama Studio London
* East 15 Acting School
* Guildford School of Acting
* Guildhall School of Music & Drama
* Identity School of Acting
* Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
* Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
* London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art
* London College of Music
* Manchester School of Theatre
* Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
* Oxford School of Drama
* Pauline Quirke Academy
* Redroofs Theatre School
* Rose Bruford College
* Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
* Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
* Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
* Stella Mann College of Performing Arts
* Tring Park School for the Performing Arts

Dance

* Bird College
* Central School of Ballet
* City Academy
* Elmhurst Ballet School
* English National Ballet School
* The Hammond School
* Laine Theatre Arts
* London Contemporary Dance School
* London Studio Centre
* Masters Performing Arts College
* Northern School of Contemporary Dance
* Pauline Quirke Academy
* Performers College
* Royal Ballet School
* Scottish School of Contemporary Dance
* Stella Mann College of Performing Arts
* Tring Park School for the Performing Arts
* Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance
* Urdang Academy

Music

See: Music Schools in the United Kingdom

Musical theatre

* Arts Educational Schools, London
* Bird College
* City Academy
* Emil Dale Academy
* Guildford School of Acting
* The Hammond School
* Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
* Laine Theatre Arts
* London College of Music
* London School of Musical Theatre
* Masters Performing Arts College
* Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
* Musical Theatre Academy
* Performers College
* Redroofs Theatre School
* SLP College
* Stella Mann College of Performing Arts
* Tring Park School for the Performing Arts
* Urdang Academy

Secondary

* Arts Educational Schools, London
* Birmingham Ormiston Academy
* BRIT School
* Dance School of Scotland
* The Hammond School
* Italia Conti Academy of Theatre Arts
* Sylvia Young Theatre School
* Tring Park School for the Performing Arts

Former

* Academy of Live and Recorded Arts
* Birmingham School of Acting
* Bush Davies School of Theatre Arts
* Drama Centre London
* London Theatre Studio

* v
* t
* e

Schools and colleges in the City of Westminster

Primary schools|

* Ark King Solomon Academy
* Hallfield Primary School

Secondary schools|

* Ark King Solomon Academy
* Grey Coat Hospital
* Harris Academy St John's Wood
* Marylebone Boys' School
* Paddington Academy
* Pimlico Academy
* St Augustine's Church of England High School
* St George's Catholic School
* St Marylebone School
* Westminster Academy
* Westminster City School

Independent schools|

* Abercorn School
* The American School in London
* Arnold House School
* Eaton House Belgravia Pre-Preparatory
* EIFA International School
* Francis Holland School
* International Community School
* Kensington Park School
* London Park School Mayfair
* Prince's Gardens Preparatory School
* Queen's College
* Royal Ballet School
* Southbank International School
* Sylvia Young Theatre School
* Westminster Abbey Choir School
* Westminster Cathedral Choir School
* Westminster School
* Westminster Under School
* Wetherby School

FE & sixth form colleges|

* City of Westminster College
* Fashion Retail Academy
* Harris Westminster Sixth Form
* Westminster Kingsway College

Defunct schools|

* Abbey Christian School
* Blewcoat School
* Hellenic College of London
* Lansdowne College
* North Westminster Community School
* Rutherford School
* St Marylebone Grammar School
* Sir Simon Milton Westminster UTC

* v
* t
* e

Schools and colleges in Richmond upon Thames

Primary schools|

* Sacred Heart Primary School
* St Richard Reynolds RC College
* St Stephen's School

Secondary schools|

* Christ's School
* Grey Court School
* Hampton High
* Orleans Park School
* Richmond Park Academy
* Richmond upon Thames School
* St Richard Reynolds RC College
* Teddington School
* Turing House School
* Twickenham School
* Waldegrave School

Independent schools|

* German School London
* Hampton Court House
* Hampton School
* The Harrodian School
* Kew College
* Kew Green Preparatory School
* King's House School
* Lady Eleanor Holles School
* The Mall School
* Newland House School
* Royal Ballet School
* St Catherine's School
* St Paul's Juniors
* St Paul's School
* The Swedish School in London
* Tower House School

Further education colleges|

* Richmond and Hillcroft Adult Community College
* Richmond upon Thames College

Defunct schools|

* Alcott House
* Corona Theatre School
* London Central Elementary High School
* Richmond County School for Girls
* Thames Valley Grammar School

Authority control databases

International|

* ISNI
* VIAF

National|

* United States
* Australia
* Norway
* Israel

*[v]: View this template
*[t]: Discuss this template
*[e]: Edit this template