From Scotland to Birmingham Royal Ballet, Iain Mackay’s ballet journey 

Every student at The Royal Ballet School embarks on a unique journey, one that may lead to joining a company or inspire a new path entirely. Our mission is to nurture these young individuals into well-rounded artists. 

Iain Mackay, our new Artistic Director, embodies this journey in a remarkable way. From being the only boy in his ballet classes as a child in Scotland to training at the School, Iain’s path has come full circle as he returns to the School with a commitment to guiding the next generation of dancers. Recently, he spoke with our students at Upper School for a Creative Artist Talk, answering their questions about his time at the School, his career, and his vision as Artistic Director. 

Could you start by telling about your training in Scotland and how you first got into ballet? 

I owe my start in ballet to my older brother. He joined a local school in Scotland. He was the only boy in his class, and the teacher suggested I join too. I had no idea what ballet was, but I loved jumping around, being expressive and the structure of it all. 

At around eight or nine, I joined the Junior Associates at the School and performed in The Nutcracker with the Scottish Ballet. Watching the adult dancers, especially a phenomenal South African dancer named Vincent Hantam, was mesmerising. From that moment on, I was hooked. 

How was the transition to training at Upper School, especially since you hadn’t come from White Lodge? 

I attended White Lodge for a Summer Intensive, and they offered me a place. But my family decided to keep me in Scotland, which felt more manageable. I took Associate classes with The Royal Ballet School, travelling to London every other Sunday for the Senior Associate programme. 

When I joined Upper School, I went from being ‘the best’ boy (I was the only boy) in my ballet class in Scotland to realising the incredible talent around me. I remember my first day vividly—I was nervous and clueless, asking a man for directions, only to find out later it was Anthony Dowell, the Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet! It was overwhelming at first, but the atmosphere was inspiring. 

What were some challenges you faced? 

One major challenge was adjusting to the high level of talent in my year. My peers were exceptional, which was inspiring but also daunting. The two-year course felt intense, with the possibility of repeating a year always looming. 

I struggled with homesickness too; moving from Scotland to London was a big adjustment. I often questioned whether I belonged at The Royal Ballet School. The assessment process was tough,  and daily class in a studio we called the ‘goldfish bowl’ studio, where company members would often stop at the window to watch us, was always memorable – there was something surreal for a 16-year-old having the stars of ballet like Darcey Bussell, Irek Mukhamedov, and Tetsuya Kumakawa stopping to look in at grand allegro. 

How did you deal with injuries? 

Injuries always seem to strike at the worst times. I fell ill while working with Birmingham Royal Ballet on Romeo and Juliet as a student and thought I may have blown my chances of employment, which was of course not the case. After becoming a principal dancer, I tore my patellar tendon, which sidelined me for eight months. It was a tough time filled with feelings of imposter syndrome and self-doubt. 

During recovery, I focused on what I could do—improving flexibility and upper body strength—and learned to appreciate the time off as a chance to grow. Unfortunately, I sustained more injuries, but each taught me more about myself. After shoulder surgery, I shadowed various roles within the company, gaining insight into the broader arts organisation while managing my rehabilitation, this was a huge moment in what I have gone on to achieve after dance. 

Iain’s journey is a true example of resilience, dedication, and the power of the arts. Now, as he steps into his role as Artistic Director, we can’t wait to see how he’ll inspire and guide the next generation at The Royal Ballet School.