A day in the life of a full-time student at The Royal Ballet School

The Royal Ballet School is a full-time vocational boarding school where students from around the world come to train. With audition applications opening each autumn for our White Lodge and Upper School programmes, prospective students often wonder what a day in the life looks like at the School. 

Follow along with White Lodge student Mirabelle and Upper School student Giulia to learn about a typical day. Each year group has a unique schedule, but they will have consistent wake up times, meal times, academic lessons and artistic training. 

Wake up

White Lodge: 7.00 

Upper School: 6:30 

Students wake up early to get dressed and eat breakfast together. At White Lodge, students in Years 8-11 all go to the same canteen on-site with their year groups. Upper School students eat at their boarding houses, Aud Jebsen Hall in Pimlico (1st and 2nd Years) and Jebsen House in Covent Garden (Pre-professional Year). 

‘I normally wake up around 7.00 and start my day with the amazing School breakfast. There’s always lots of different cereals, fruits, bacon, sausages, eggs, toast and more to give us a nutritious start to the day. Then I do my hair in a bun and tidy my dorm,’ says Mirabelle, Year 10. 

‘We have breakfast all together like one big family. Then, I put on my leotard and uniform, style my hair, grab my bag and catch the bus from our boarding house in Pimlico to Covent Garden,’ says Giulia, 2nd Year. 

White Lodge students don’t have to commute to their classes as everything is situated on-campus. Upper School students either take the bus or walk to the School. 

Academics 

White Lodge: 8.30 

Upper School: 9.00 

Each morning at White Lodge starts with assembly, where teachers and Heads of Years make announcements about upcoming School events. Next are 40-minute academic lessons for two hours and a snack break at 10.30. Years 8 and 9 then prepare for ballet classes while Years 10 and 11 continue academics until 14.00. The academic rooms are in converted stable blocks, and the library is tucked in the tunnels beneath the academic block, providing a quiet space to focus. 

At Upper School, 1st and 2nd Year students begin the day with academics from 9.00 – 11.00. ‘In Upper School, we study for a BA in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance, alongside an Academic Enrichment Program with courses chosen by individual students,’ says Giulia. Classrooms are on the top floor at Floral Street, next to the entrance to the Bridge of Aspiration. A small library of books is stored in cabinets in the hallways, available for students to reference during their degree studies. Upper School assembly is at 11.00. 

Pre-professional Year students have ballet class first, from 9.30-10.45, before rehearsals and degree coursework. 

Ballet class 

White Lodge: 11.00-13.00 and 14.00-16.00 

Upper School: 11.00-13.30 

Year 8 and 9 students have ballet class from 11.00 to 13.00. They occasionally have Pilates for 30 minutes before an abbreviated class. Years 10 and 11 have a similar class structure starting at 14.00. 

At Upper School, class start times fluctuate depending on when Pre-professional Year classes and rehearsals finish, but they will also have an hour-and-forty-five-minute-long ballet class. Different days have different physical loading levels, where some classes will have reduced or no jumping. For example, at the start of term when students are returning from holiday, they will have a ‘green’ loading week without jumping to ease back into the routine. The students will gradually move to ‘yellow’ and ‘red’ loading weeks as they regain fitness. During performance weeks, classes will shift back to ‘green’ to support the dancers’ recovery. 

Lunch is between 13.00-14.00 at White Lodge, with warm, nutritious meals served on-site in the canteen. At Upper School, students can walk around Covent Garden or relax in the common room inside the School. Fuelling stations are also set up around the School with fruit to help keep the students energised and prevent Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs), one aspect of The Healthy Dancer Programme. 

Afternoon artistic classes, rehearsals and strength and conditioning 

White Lodge: 14.00-18.30 

Upper School: 14.00-18.00 

At White Lodge, Years 10 and 11 have ballet classes in the afternoon, then all year groups have a range of classes, including variations, repertoire, contemporary, Irish and Scottish dancing, Year 8 pointe and Year 11 pas de deux. ‘The afternoon artistic classes are my favourite,’ says Mirabelle. ‘I love applying what we worked on in the morning to something new.’ 

At Upper School, the afternoons are filled with repertoire, pas de deux, character, contemporary, Pilates, and strength and conditioning sessions. Students will either go to the in-house gym, or our healthcare team will bring weights into the studio so students can easily transition while they are still warm from class. ‘I’m really devoted to my Pilates and stretching sessions to avoid any unpleasant injuries,’ Giulia says. ‘We have a professional healthcare team, including physios, nutritionists and psychologists, to help us deal with these challenges.’ 

Pre-professional Year students will occasionally cross the Bridge of Aspiration to rehearse with The Royal Ballet in main stage productions. Evening performances add onto their schedule. Younger students have the opportunity to perform in The Nutcracker and other productions with children’s roles. 

Dinner and wind down in boarding houses 

White Lodge: 18.15 

Upper School: 18.00 

Dinner at White Lodge is at 18.15, followed by house meetings, homework and free time to unwind from the day and call home. Lights are out at 9.30. 

Upper School students return to their boarding houses for dinner at 18.00. 

Weekends 

On most Saturdays, students return to the studios for a half day of classes, including choreography for the Ninette de Valois Choreographic Programme performances, and other dance techniques such as contemporary, musical theatre, jazz, improvisation and stagecraft.  

White Lodge students can then take part in organised activities, like an outdoor movie night or trips to local shops or attractions. Upper Schools can explore local landmarks, parks and markets in central London or stay in-house and participate in activities such as silent discos or baking. 

Catja Christensen is the Marketing and Communications Executive at The Royal Ballet School and joined the School in 2025. She enjoys interviewing students, staff and guest artists for news stories and crafting eye-catching newsletters.