Anthea M King School of Dancing shares how our new Cardiff Associate centre will support the Welsh dance community 

When the School announced a new Associate centre opening at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in September 2026, Cardiff-based dance school owner Anthea King said, ‘I was delighted to say the least!’   

With new Associate centres popping up around the UK – most recently Cardiff, Newcastle and Stroud – many regional dance teachers and families have wondered how the Associate Programme will impact their schools and students. Anthea shared her thoughts on why she is excited about the opportunities the new Cardiff Associate centre will provide for her students. 

Anthea is the founder of Anthea M King School of Dancing, which is based in Barry, just eight miles southwest of central Cardiff. She earned a Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Scholarship to attend the School’s Associate classes at our previous Cardiff centre in her youth. 

‘My former teacher, Marguerite Thomas, was a life member of the RAD and took the Associate classes in Cardiff many years ago. I remember being in the Associate Programme myself aged 11. It was quite a long journey from a train to a trolley bus to get to the hall in Cardiff, but it was the lessons that mattered and I loved them. After many years, the original Cardiff centre closed, and the nearest Associate centre to us was Bristol, which was too far to travel for some.’ 

Students in class at Anthea M King School of Dancing 

Anthea has passed on her love of the Associate Programme to her students, who attended our Cardiff Associate Insight Day in November 2025. 

‘The students absolutely loved it. Some were a bit nervous being in a different venue and having a different teacher, but the classes were enjoyable, and the students soon settled as the class progressed. They were excited and happy, and I was pleasantly surprised that some even answered questions in class, which showed confidence was blooming!  

Parents were happy and very grateful that their children were given this amazing opportunity to experience an awareness and understanding of working with other students and teachers. It was a high-quality, positive learning experience. The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama is the perfect setting, and I am proud to say that a former student from my dance school is the Head of Musical Theatre at the RWCMD. 

For aspiring professional dancers, the regional Associate centres provide a pathway for dancers to receive high-quality training and mentorship alongside their regular classes. Working together with the Associate Programme and local schools will provide valuable opportunities, especially if they wish to pursue full-time training.’ 

Junior Associates in our Leeds and London centres 

Anthea has incorporated many of the School’s resources into her own school’s curriculum. She widened access to dance following the pandemic by using our former Primary Steps on Demand platform. ‘Primary Steps on Demand primarily benefited our children with special educational needs, enhancing their creativity and well-being. Mainstream primary students, aged seven, also thrived with the programme, enjoying modules like Science/Balance and Art/Creativity.’ 

In 2025, the Anthea M King School of Dancing was awarded The Royal Ballet School’s Heroes Award in recognition of its work to promote healthy living, active movement, and creativity through its outstanding use of Primary Steps on Demand. 

‘Learning discipline through the School’s System of Training has helped shape me as a person as well as a dancer and then dance teacher. It taught me to show up every single day with integrity, patience and purpose. I am committed to continuous learning and have a deep respect for the responsibility we carry as teachers. Training with the School gave me a positive and sustained outlook on life, and this is something I want to pass onto future generations. 

I have always believed in delivering a holistic approach to training at our dance school – nurturing confidence, creativity and resilience through a growth mindset, which the Associate Programme supports. From the parent/child classes to our senior students, we want every child to thrive and experience a rich education in dance and music.’ 

From September 2026, the School will offer two Junior Associate classes and one Mid Associate class at the new Cardiff centre, and from 2027 we intend to offer an additional Mid Associate class and eventually introduce a Senior Associate (14-16 years) class. 

Applications for the 2026/27 Junior Associate cohort are now open. Learn more and apply here.  

The Associate Programme is generously supported by The Mercers’ Company, The Eranda Rothschild Foundation, Leverhulme Trust and Steel Charitable Trust, whose generosity ensure we deliver on our mission to increase national access to high-quality training and talent support across the UK.  

The Royal Ballet School is always looking for generous supporters to enable programmes such as this to thrive, so please contact Georgina Nash (Development Manager) if you would like to know more.