Graduation 2025
Following their final performance at The Royal Opera House as students of The Royal Ballet School, our Pre-professional students met their loved ones outside the stage door before heading into the Linden Studio Theatre for their graduation ceremony. Surrounded by family, friends, and teachers, the students celebrated their remarkable achievements and the culmination of their training at the School.
The ceremony
Artistic Director Iain Mackay opened the ceremony with a heartfelt message for his first graduating cohort. He shared the thoughts, feelings and emotions that he felt when he was sitting in their place, on the precipice of this next chapter.
He spoke of their tenacity and talent, and the many things he knows they will go onto achieve. He urged them to never forget what they are capable of and the power they now hold as artists to make people feel alive through their gift of dance.
Following this warm welcome, the graduating class was presented, and Chair Natasha Kaplinsky delivered a speech to the students. Natasha applauded the graduating class for their contributions to the School and wished them well for the future:
You possess the character and the skills to thrive, to meet whatever challenges come your way and to achieve remarkable things both on stage and beyond. The excitement and the glow of the morning that we have witnessed today in the performance will gradually fade to a glimmer, but it is an inextinguishable glimmer and it will always have a very special place because you have so many more to come.
We can’t wait to see what you do with your lives and your careers. We are going to be watching, willing you on with love and respect to the success that you deserve, cheering you on from the wings. Because as the curtain comes down on your time here and you rise to meet the exciting new challenges ahead, you may well be leaving The Royal Ballet School, but be sure of this, The Royal Ballet School will never leave you.
We were delighted to welcome Dame Darcey Bussell DBE, former principal of The Royal Ballet, alumna and now Artist Laureate of the School, to deliver the keynote speech at this year’s graduation.
Dame Darcey began by congratulating the graduates on their incredible performance at the Royal Opera House, praising their talent, hard work, and joy. She, like Mr Mckay, provided a candid reflection of her own journey after leaving The Royal Ballet School, and also emphasised the importance of tenacity and a proactive mindset to keep hold of your dreams.
As new professional dancers, she encouraged the graduates to not only uphold high standards, take responsibility and be adaptive, but to also form connections, value teamwork, be respectful of the skill and purpose of every role that supports a performance, and to give the same level of commitment to every opportunity that comes their way.
She also touched on what it means to be an artist in our current digital world, reminding the class of 2025 that dance is about emotional connection and storytelling through movement, not just flashy moves and social media show reels.
This might be an ending of one chapter, but I assure you it’s also a very exciting beginning of another for you all. To many of you the world might feel more complex both politically and environmentally. Don’t be daunted. History has always thrown us challenges. In this world, art has the most crucial part to play. It provides beauty, strength, and hope. It is a collaborative art form. It connects and it bonds us. So be completely confident in the knowledge that you are entering a career that will continue to make a profound contribution to society. To all you artists, be proud of your training and your discipline that has instilled in you. It will take you far. Never stop learning and evolving as an artist. Continue to be inspired in collaboration, nature, and other art forms. I know that your passion and tenacity will keep you and the beauty of ballet alive for decades to come. My congratulations to you all and thank you.
Alongside Artistic Manager Jessica Clarke, Dame Darcey then presented the graduates with their diplomas, which were met with enthusiastic applause.
Academic and Pastoral Principal, David Gajadharsingh shared that 100% of graduates on the Foundation Degree received a distinction, and one of the degree dissertations has been awarded the highest mark on record at the University of Roehampton.
Awards
Thanks to generous sponsors, the following awards were presented:
The Captain and Mrs John Moore Award
Three awards for excellence in the preparation, presentation and delivery of the final dissertation in the degree course, Classical Ballet and Dance Performance. Kindly supported in memoriam of Captain and Mrs John Moore.
Contextual dance studies: LilySophia Dashwood
Science related to dance: Krista Vaitkeviciute
Wider focus study: Sean Manzano Anderson
The Ashton Award
This prestigious award is presented to a graduate who embodies the style, personality, and technique of Ashton choreography. Kindly supported in memoriam of Robert Kimber.
Awarded to: Shani Moran-Simmonds
The David Norman Award
Sponsored by Geoffrey R W Smith, this award honours a graduating student who has demonstrated exceptional leadership qualities and good citizenship during their time at the School.
Awarded to: Axel Mero
The Dame Monica Mason Award (new in 2025)
Awarded to the male and female graduates who have the most progress in classical ballet training during their time at the School.
Awarded to: Amos Child and Yuki Nagayasu
The London Ballet Circle Dame Ninette Awards
Presented to the most outstanding male and female students graduating in 2025.
Awarded to: Aurora Chinchilla and Ptolemy Gidney
Graduating students LilySophia Dashwood and Axel Mero closed the celebration by reflecting on their experiences at the School and expressing gratitude to their fellow students, teachers, healthcare team, house parents and families for their unwavering support.
To the class of 2025 – a group of people that have become more than just classmates, but our second family. We’ve been through so much together and we have formed a bond that will last a lifetime. And even though we were forced to live together, we would choose to do this with you all time and time again. Today is not just a finish line, it’s a new beginning, a new chapter in our lives and it’s scary, but it’s also very exciting. Knowing we’ve been trained by the best, have friends who support us no matter the distance, and have an encyclopaedia of knowledge from this incredible school, no matter where we end up or what we do, we’re all going to shine. Now it’s time to celebrate this amazing achievement.
2025 graduate contracts
We are delighted to announce the contracts awarded to our 2025 graduates. Six students will join The Royal Ballet Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme this year, and one will join Birmingham Royal Ballet/BRB2. Other students will join prestigious companies worldwide.
Sofia Blok Lysvåg, Norwegian National Ballet 2
Amos Child, The Royal Ballet Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme
Aurora Chinchilla, The Royal Ballet Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme
Javier Cubillas Izaguirre, Joffrey Studio Company
Matteo Curley-Bynoe, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company
LilySophia Dashwood, The Australian Ballet
Ptolemy Gidney, American Ballet Theatre Studio Company
Alberto Gil Vicente, Boston Ballet II
Roo Jacobsen, Sacramento Ballet Second Company
Chiyo Kameda, Leipzig Ballet Junior Company
Yasemin Kayabay, Birmingham Royal Ballet/BRB2
Tahlia Kirke
Sean Manzano-Anderson, Oklahoma City Ballet Studio Company
Tristan-Ian Massa, The Royal Ballet Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme
Axel Mero, Bayerisches Staatsballet
Heewon Moon, National Ballet of Canada RBC Apprentice Programme
Shani Moran-Simmonds, The Royal Ballet Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme
Yuki Nagayasu, The Royal Ballet Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme
Erle Østraat, Norwegian National Ballet 2
Joe Parker, Nashville Ballet
Joe Parkinson, The Royal Ballet Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme
Edoardo Russo, Stuttgart Ballet
Krista Vaitkeviciute, Ballett Zürich Junior Company
Mingyang Xie, Finnish National Ballet Youth Company
Pietro Zironi, Royal Swedish Ballet Junior Company
Congratulations to all our graduates – we are immensely proud of their accomplishments and wish them the very best in their future endeavours.
