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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100 stories: Jonathan Watkins 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 choreographer and director, Jonathan Watkins. Born in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, Jonathan discovered his love for movement by dancing on his living room carpet in his childhood home. His talent
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100 stories: Yaoqian Shang 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, Yaoqian Shang, Principal dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet. Born in China, Yaoqian trained with Beijing Dance Academy from the age of 9. Whilst competing at the Youth America
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‘A festivity of knowledge:’ Centenary Insight Days recap Over three Sundays in March, we invited the public to dive into The Royal Ballet School’s past, present and future at our Centenary Insight Day series. Conceived and curated by Manager of Special Collections Dr Anna Meadmore, each day focused on one period in the School’s history, with special guest speakers, unique performances and
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Introducing The Royal Ballet School x Freed of London centenary dancewear collection We are thrilled to announce that The Royal Ballet School has partnered with Freed of London to release a limited-edition dancewear collection that blends heritage craftsmanship with timeless ballet elegance. Marking 100 years of excellence, the collection has been designed in close collaboration with the School and created exclusively for this milestone, reflecting
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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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2nd Year students Harry and Maria on reuniting with choreographer Jessica Lang for our 2026 Summer Performances When Artistic Director Iain Mackay announced the 2026 Summer Performance programme early in the autumn term, 2nd Year students Harry and Maria were thrilled to learn that they would continue working with acclaimed international choreographer Jessica Lang. Jessica worked with the pair and their classmates last year, when she created Sweet Morning Blooms for our 2025 Summer
Choreographer Jessica Lang returns with a new work inspired by Dame Ninette de Valois’ poems for the School’s 2026 Summer Performances Choreographer Jessica Lang returns to the School for the second consecutive year to create a new work for the centenary edition of our annual Summer Performances. It’s so exciting to be a part of the centenary celebration. I’m super honoured as an American to be contributing to this programme to honour the School’s legacy. Jessica is working with
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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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
