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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 […]

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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

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Strength and grace: portraits of the royal ballet school

Introducing Strength and Grace: Portraits of The Royal Ballet School

Alumni news, Announcements, Centenary

Introducing Strength and Grace: Portraits of The Royal Ballet School We are thrilled to announce the release of a landmark coffee-table book, Strength and Grace: Portraits of The Royal Ballet School, featuring portraits of more than 60 of the School’s influential alumni, photographed by Rick Guest and Olivia Pomp, and interviewed by Sarah Crompton. Produced to

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100 stories: dame beryl grey

100 stories: Dame Beryl Grey

Alumni news, Centenary

100 stories: Dame Beryl Grey 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 Dame Beryl Grey, former Principal with Sadler’s Wells Ballet (now The Royal Ballet) and former Artistic Director of London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet).  Born Beryl Elizabeth Groom

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