100 stories: Lauren Cuthbertson
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 Lauren Cuthbertson, now Guest Principal Artist of The Royal Ballet and current student of our Diploma of Dance Teaching, and how she has come full circle through the ecosystem of the School.
When Lauren Cuthbertson reflects on her career as an English dancer and Principal of The Royal Ballet, she traces its origins not to a single performance, but to a moment of quiet possibility: being accepted into The Royal Ballet School’s Junior Associate programme at eight years old. Born in Torquay, Devon, Lauren progressed through White Lodge and Upper School before joining The Royal Ballet in 2002. Looking back, she describes that first acceptance as ‘the beginning of this magical trajectory’ – one that would shape her not only as an artist, but as a person.
As a young student, Lauren admits she did not find discipline easy. Ballet class demanded concentration, structure and control – qualities that did not come naturally to her. Yet it was this rigorous foundation that proved transformative. ‘I ended up falling completely in love with the discipline and technique of class,’ she says. The School showed Lauren how structure and creativity could coexist. For the first time, she learnt how to control her body and channel her imagination with purpose. ‘It gave me more than I realised at the time.’
Left: Lauren as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, The Royal Ballet. © ROH 2025, photographed by Tristram Kenton
Lauren speaks often of an inner certainty that ballet was her path. ‘Everything seemed to align and connect with my mind and body. There was never any doubt – it felt like a pull from my chest leading me forward,’ she recalls. That sense of destiny was tested and refined at the School, where she was encouraged not only to master technique but to preserve her creative spirit. Teachers did not try to suppress her personality; instead, they guided her to harness it. ‘Had they tried to beat my nature down,’ she reflects, ‘I probably wouldn’t have made it.’
The influence of her teachers remains vivid. Lauren can trace her growth through those who guided her and every stage of her training brought a mentor whose pearls of wisdom would last a lifetime: Shirley Graham, gently stripping away habits and instilling clarity; Christine Beckley’s lessons on plié and the use of footwork, and who recognised her spark on stage; Patricia Linton, whose attention to detail and wealth of knowledge opened her eyes to ballet’s rich history; and Jackie Barrett’s mentorship in sculpting technique to suit each dancer’s individual personality.
‘The teachers are with you day in, day out,’ she says. ‘That influence is profound and it stays with you.’
Beyond technique, The Royal Ballet School prepared Lauren for life. She attributes her self-authority and confidence to make decisions for her future to the way she was nurtured in her Upper School years. ‘You already feel like you’re within a career,’ she says. ‘You learn to reflect, reassess, and think about what you want for your future and where you want to be.’
This ability to step back, evaluate and evolve later guided Lauren to return to the School to pursue the Diploma of Dance Teaching. As she sits in the School’s Teacher Training office outside the studios she once trained in, Lauren shares, ‘I’ve realised it’s not just what you pass on to students, but how you pass it on. That is the key.’
For Lauren, the School’s impact extends beyond the studio. Despite their careers dotting them across the globe, the friendships formed at the School remain among the strongest in Lauren’s life.
‘Nearly every theatre in the world, I know someone from the School,’ she smiles. ‘There’s a global connection there which is quite unique. Nobody knows you better than your friends from White Lodge,’ she laughs. ‘Still to this day, they know me better than anyone.’
Left: Lauren (centre top) with fellow students Top: Paul Kay and Jonathan Watkins; Bottom: Zac Faruque, Ludovic Ondiviela and Leanne Cope
For donors, she says the impact of their support cannot be overstated. ‘I’ve known supporters of the School since I was 11 – and they’re still coming to see me perform today. Having those familiar faces of support around when you have left home, and who are committed to bettering the environment that you are in, is very special and it is felt by the students.’
To those considering supporting the School, her message is simple: ‘It really can make a profound difference in someone’s life.’ Today’s School, she believes, is richer and more layered than ever. ‘It’s not just about reaching your dreams or not. It’s about where we can take these passionate and talented young people into the future, within the art form or not. The School’s training fosters individuals with discipline, curiosity and creative intelligence…qualities that shape not just dancers, but people who go on to excel far beyond the studio. Your support is what makes that possible.’
Learn more about supporting the School here.
Bridget Clark is the Marketing and Communications Manager at The Royal Ballet School and joined the School in 2024. She enjoys sharing the untold stories of the School and its students, and updating the wider arts community with news, events and announcements.
