100 stories: Rishan Benjamin
As part of our centenary year, we are featuring 100 stories that make up The Royal Ballet School’s past, present and future. Today, we share the story of alum and Scottish Ballet First Artist, Rishan Benjamin.
Rishan started dancing with the Chance to Dance programme run by the Royal Opera House. She joined the School as a Junior Associate and trained with us through Senior Associates. She then trained at Central School of Ballet, where she graduated in 2018. She joined Scottish Ballet that same year and was promoted to First Artist in 2023.
We are revisiting an interview with Rishan about her time in our Associate Programme and how her early foundations supported her career.
How did you first hear about The Royal Ballet School’s Associate Programme?
I heard about the Associate Programme through my local dance classes, the Chance to Dance programme run by the Royal Opera House. After a year or two of training in ballet I was told to go for an audition for the Associates Programme, where I could get additional training and continue my dance career. I joined the Associate Programme as a Junior Associate in 2010 at the age of 10 and continued for five years, all the way up until my final year as a Senior Associate in 2015, aged 15.
Can you share something about the teachers who taught you?
I remember being taught by Sylvia Hubbard in Mid Associates and the uniform being a navy-blue leotard with a thin navy-blue belt and two ribbons in my hair.
In my last two years as a Senior Associate, I was taught by Julia Ellis, who also taught me in my first year of training at Central School of Ballet. I distinctly remember Miss Ellis always telling me to use my muscularity and strength to my advantage, which I didn’t fully understand at the time.
When you think back to your time as an Associate, what are the clearest memories?
A very clear memory I have as an Associate is always starting the day off with theraband exercises. We used to sit in a circle with our towels and therabands. I would always use my red Winnie the Pooh towel, as it was one of my favourites at the time!
What lessons did you learn that you took with you into your professional career and adult life?
This career requires dedication and hard work, which can sometimes be incredibly difficult but also rewarding, as you’re always progressing not just physically but creatively and personally as a dancer.
Rishan in rehearsal with Scottish Ballet
What advice would you give to a current Associate student?
Never run away from the things you find difficult. Whenever I found something difficult, I always had this natural urge to run away, but over the years I have discovered that everything in this career is difficult. You must somehow find the strength to push through, because the result will always surprise you.
What are some of your career highlights to date?
Some career highlights I have to date are getting to perform internationally in three different countries in 2025, and learning and training to do flying/harness work for the production Twice Born choreographed by Dickson Mbi.
What do you hope to see in the next 100 years of The Royal Ballet School and ballet in general?
In an effort to reserve the classical style, the ballet world is holding onto old narratives/stories that do not align with modern day society. Without change, I fear ballet will become vintage and left behind or forgotten. I feel with more diversity and inclusion across the board, ballet can stay relevant.
