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Adesola stands on the right with her head tilted to the side, watching two dancers rehearse. She wear a grey patterned shirt, black trousers and brown ballet shoes. The dancers face each other. The lady on the left plies on her left leg with her right leg tendu back. Her left arm is down to the side, and she looks up to her right arm, raised on a diagonal. The second lady, to her right, tendus her left leg towards her and plies her right leg. She also gazes up towards her right arm, raised in a diagonal. Her left arm is held to the side. They wear black trousers. The first lady wears a long-sleeved black top. The second wears a navy cap sleeve leotard.

Guest choreographer Dr Adesola Akinleye on reclaiming ballet in her work ‘Sycorax’s Tempest’ for our Centenary Insight Days

Centenary, Performances and events

Guest choreographer Dr Adesola Akinleye on reclaiming ballet in her work ‘Sycorax’s Tempest’ for our Centenary Insight Days Content warning: story includes references to slavery, racism and misogyny. Readers may find themes in this interview sensitive or upsetting, but we feel it is important to share this commentary.   How can ballet be a force for healing and change? Guest […]

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Rex wheeler as lady camden, wearing a light pink tutu and matching pink wig in an elegant updo. She looks into the camera intensely without a smile, her hands framing her face.

100 stories: Rex Wheeler 

Alumni news, Centenary

100 stories: Rex Wheeler  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, dancer, choreographer and drag queen Rex Wheeler/Lady Camden.  Rex attended White Lodge before graduating from Elmhurst Ballet School. He danced professionally with Slovak National Ballet, Sacramento Ballet and Smuin Contemporary Ballet.

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1st year students in red tutus and grey unitards pose in a pas de deux demonstration

Chair’s Circle 2026 opens a landmark year of centenary performances 

Centenary, Performances and events

Chair’s Circle 2026 opens a landmark year of centenary performances  On Wednesday 21 January, our Chair, Natasha Kaplinsky OBE, welcomed a group of our most dedicated supporters to our centenary edition of the annual Chair’s Circle event. This performance is the first of our 2026 season and kicks off our year-long celebrations. Our valued Chair’s Circle supporters enable the School to nurture and train exceptionally gifted young dancers and are vital in securing

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Rishan benjamin wearing an olive green leotard balancing upside-down on her hands with her back arched and legs pointing down to the floor

100 stories: Rishan Benjamin

Alumni news, Centenary

100 stories: Rishan Benjamin 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 and Scottish Ballet First Artist, Rishan Benjamin.  Rishan started dancing with the Chance to Dance programme run by the Royal Opera House. She joined the School as a Junior Associate and trained with us through Senior Associates. She

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100 stories: thomas forster mbe

100 stories: Thomas Forster MBE

Alumni news, Centenary

100 stories: Thomas Forster MBE 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, Thomas Forster MBE.  Thomas is a Principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre. He joined The Royal Ballet School first as a Junior Associate then as an Upper School student in 2002. He graduated into

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© 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

Announcements, Centenary

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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