© 2026 the royal ballet school. Founder dame ninette de valois at her retirement gala at the royal opera house. Photographed by donald southern.

Past, present, future: the School announce a series of insight events to open centenary year

Past, present, future: the School announce a series of insight events to open centenary year We are excited to kick off our public centenary celebrations with three insight days exploring the past, present and future of the School. Taking place across March 2026, these full-day events will explore the School’s 100-year evolution, examine current thinking and practices, and consider the living legacy of its founder, Dame Ninette de Valois, as […]

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Black and white photograph of charlotte edmonds looking up, wearing a black tank top and blazer.

Jan 18 2026

100 stories: Charlotte Edmonds

Alumni news, Centenary

100 stories: Charlotte Edmonds 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, Charlotte Edmonds. Driven by a passion for storytelling through movement, Charlotte Edmonds is a choreographer and director whose work occupies a space between mainstream

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Black and white photograph of kenneth olumuyiwa tharp dancing shirtless with white leggings.

Jan 16 2026

100 stories: Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE

Centenary, School life

100 stories: Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE As part of our centenary year, we are featuring 100 stories that make up The Royal Ballet School’s past, present and future, which will be released over the next 12 months. Today, we share the story of Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE. Kenneth Olumuyiwa Tharp CBE began his dance journey at the age

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Black and white photo on monica mason in a leotard, tutu and tiara in the arabesque position.

Jan 11 2026

100 stories: Dame Monica Mason

Alumni news, Centenary

100 stories: Dame Monica Mason As part of our centenary year, we are featuring 100 stories that make up The Royal Ballet School’s past, present and future, which will be released over the next 12 months. Today, we share the story of alum Dame Monica Mason DBE, former Principal dancer, Répétiteur and Director of The Royal Ballet. In 2023, Mason returned to

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Jan 6 2026

100 stories: Dame Ninette de Valois

Centenary

100 stories: Dame Ninette de Valois To kick off our centenary year, we will be featuring the first of 100 stories that make up The Royal Ballet School’s past, present and future, which will be released over the next 12 months. Our story begins with Founder Dame Ninette de Valois. Dame Ninette was born Edris Stannus on 6 June 1898 in County Wicklow, Ireland. After training at the Lila Field Academy for Children in London,

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The royal ballet school launches centenary campaign

Nov 6 2025

The School launches 2026 centenary campaign to celebrate 100 years of nurturing the next generation

Announcements, Centenary

The School launches 2026 centenary campaign to celebrate 100 years of nurturing the next generation We are thrilled to reveal The Royal Ballet School’s centenary campaign as we prepare to celebrate 100 years in 2026. In 1926, founder Dame Ninette de Valois created a foundation that would transform British ballet for years to come. A

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