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Anthony kneels on both legs sitting back on his feet wearing black tights with no shirt. He faces downstage right with his head towards the audience. His arms hang by his sides. Antoinette stands beside him, one hand on a barre and the other a la seconde. She wears a loose white tunic with her hair down. She also faces the audience.

100 stories – Anthony Dowell and Antoinette Sibley 

Centenary, Alumni news

100 stories – Anthony Dowell and Antoinette Sibley  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 Anthony Dowell and Antoinette Sibley, a celebrated Principal partnership in The Royal Ballet.  The British prima ballerina Dame Antoinette Sibley was born in Bromley, Kent on 27 February 1939. After starting her ballet studies at […]

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100 stories: christopher saunders

100 stories: Christopher Saunders

Alumni news, Centenary

100 stories: Christopher Saunders 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, Rehearsal Director and Principal Character Artist of The Royal Ballet Christopher Saunders.  Christopher joined White Lodge in 1975 at the age of 11 and joined The Royal Ballet in 1983. He celebrated 40

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100 stories: barbara fewster

100 stories: Barbara Fewster

Alumni news, Centenary

100 stories: Barbara Fewster 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 Barbara Fewster, former Ballet Principal and Associate Director of the School. Barbara was born 4 September 1928 and began dancing at the Wessex School in Bournemouth. She joined the Sadler’s Wells

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100 stories: lesley collier

100 stories: Lesley Collier

Alumni news, Centenary

100 stories: Lesley Collier 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 former Principal and rèpetiteur at The Royal Ballet Lesley Collier CBE.  Lesley was born in Orpington, Kent and joined The Royal Ballet School at White Lodge aged 11. After graduating from Upper School, she

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Samara downs has her dark short hair tied back in a ponytail and wears a long black t-shirt with 'birmingham royal ballet' written on the front left. Her arms are gesturing in front of her, and her head is turned to the right in profile, looking towards the students.

‘Refine all the time:’ alum Samara Downs on staging Checkmate and Swan Lake for our Summer Performances 

Alumni news, Performances and events

‘Refine all the time:’ alum Samara Downs on staging Checkmate and Swan Lake for our Summer Performances  School alum and Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal dancer Samara Downs recently returned to the School to set Ninette de Valois’s Checkmate and Peter Wright’s Swan Lake on our Upper School students for our 2026 Summer Performances. She has previously worked with our students on Frederick Ashton’s La Valse for our 2024 Summer Performances.  Samara talked to us about her experience working with the students after a Swan Lake Spanish divertissement rehearsal. ‘The students were

‘Refine all the time:’ alum Samara Downs on staging Checkmate and Swan Lake for our Summer Performances  Read More »

100 stories: lauren cuthbertson

100 stories: Lauren Cuthbertson

Alumni news, Centenary

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

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Jake stands in front of a backdrop with colourful muted brush strokes. He wears a black polo shirt with a white undershirt. He has short brown hair and some facial hair.

Alum and artist Jake Walker on creating movement through brushstrokes 

Alumni news, Associate Programme

Alum and artist Jake Walker on creating movement through brushstrokes  From The Royal Ballet School to Slade School of Fine Art, alum Jake Walker has expanded his artistry in exciting, multidisciplinary forms. He returned to the School for the first time in over a decade this April, reminiscing on his time in the Associate Programme and full-time training at White Lodge and reflecting on how his

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100 stories: nandita shankardass

100 stories: Nandita Shankardass

Alumni news, Centenary

100 stories: Nandita Shankardass 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, dance artist, choreographer, teacher, multidisciplinary facilitator and the Founder of Welcome Movement® Nandita Shankardass.  We spoke with Nandita this April as she returned to White Lodge for the first time since she graduated

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