Royal Ballet School students feature in The Royal Ballet’s Nutcracker for 2023

Since Rudolf Nureyev’s premiere of The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House in 1968, it has become a tradition for students at The Royal Ballet School to perform in The Royal Ballet’s sparkling festive ballet.

Now performing Peter Wright’s enchanting production, both White Lodge and Upper School students help bring the magic of The Nutcracker to life. From auditions to rehearsals, costume fittings and countless performances, many of which fall in school holidays, our students embrace the process and the opportunity to dance alongside The Royal Ballet. This year, our Upper School students also performed with Birmingham Royal Ballet and English National Ballet in their respective productions.

We’re thrilled to share insights from this year’s Nutcracker performances to celebrate the festive season.

Party children

Year 7-9 students at White Lodge take over Act I of The Nutcracker, cast as party children, soldiers, gingerbreads, and mice, and special featured roles as Sentry, Rabbit Drummer and Fritz.

Watch our students perform as party children at the Royal Opera House:

Angels

2nd and Pre-professional Year students also have the exciting opportunity to perform with members of the Company as snowflakes and angels.

See our students shine on stage as angels:

On stage at the Royal Opera House

View our 2023 Nutcracker gallery on Flickr, captured by Photography by ASH.

Congratulations to our dedicated staff and talented students on another successful Nutcracker season. We are incredibly proud of our students’ performances and grateful for the hard work of our staff in preparing them for the stage.