The sleeping beauty, photographed by tristram kenton

The Royal Ballet School announces its 2025 Summer Performances

The Royal Ballet School’s annual Summer Performances are a highly anticipated event on the School calendar and the pinnacle of the passion and dedication that our remarkable students apply to their training throughout the year. 

Ranging in age from 11 to 19, students from White Lodge and Upper School will showcase their talent in an eight-show season across three venues, allowing audiences of family, friends, supporters and ballet enthusiasts the opportunity to see the rising ballet stars of the future.  

This year’s season will open with the students performing in the Next Generation Festival at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre at the end of June, before returning to the idyllic open-air Opera Holland Park for five performances in early July, and culminating in a matinée performance on the revered Royal Opera House main stage on Saturday 12 July.  

The royal ballet school announces its 2025 summer performances

For his first season, Artistic Director Iain Mackay has curated a special programme to celebrate the outstanding skills and artistry of our students across all year groups at the School. 

Continuing the School’s legacy of classical ballet excellence, the programme will feature the polished classicism of Marius Petipa in the ‘Aurora’s Wedding’ suite from The Sleeping Beauty, re-staged especially for the School by Anthony Dowell in 2018 and performed by both White Lodge and Upper School students. Highlights from the piece will include crowd favourites the Fairies, White Cat with Puss in Boots, Little Red Riding Hood and the Wolf, the Blue Bird pas de deux, and Bronislava Nijinska’s virtuoso setting of the ‘Three Ivans’. 

The royal ballet school announces its 2025 summer performances

As Founding Choreographer of The Royal Ballet, we honour Frederick Ashton’s legacy by showcasing his charming Les Patineurs, staged by Ashton repetiteur Vanessa Palmer. As one of Ashton’s best-loved ballets, the amusing diversions of a party of ice-skaters are presented in trademark choreography demanding the best from all performers.  

Audiences at Opera Holland Park will be treated to Morgann Runacre-Temple’s playful, rhythmic Swingle Stepping and Act III pas de six and tarantella from August Bournonville’s vibrant, energetic production of Napoli, performed by our White Lodge students. 

The royal ballet school announces its 2025 summer performances

Exciting new works by Ruth Brill, Hannah Joseph, Jessica Lang, and Arielle Smith, specially created for our students, will premiere on stage at Opera Holland Park and the Royal Opera House. Iva Lešić will also bring a new piece to the stage, following her spirited Royal Remix at last summer’s performances.

The royal ballet school announces its 2025 summer performances

Before the curtains close on our 2025 season at the Royal Opera House, our matinée performance will culminate in the joyous Grand Défilé, uniting all 212 students of the School together on stage. 

Performance dates and ticketing information

Next Generation Festival

Linbury Theatre, Royal Opera House

Wednesday 24 June, 19.15
Thursday 25 June, 19.15


Tickets on sale soon

Opera Holland Park

Wednesday 2 July, 19.00
Thursday 3 July, 19.00
Friday 4 July, 19.00
Saturday 5 July, 14.00
Saturday 5 July, 19.00


Tickets on sale: Wednesday 5 March 2025

Royal Opera House

Main stage, Royal Opera House

Saturday 12 July, 12.00
 
Tickets on sale: Wednesday 19 March 2025


Find out more about our Summer Performances.

Thank you to Kinoshita Group – Centenary Corporate Partner of The Royal Ballet School.

Photography by Tristram Kenton and Rachel Cherry.