Two female dancers stand mirroring each other holding a barre. They lunge with the outside leg bent and forward with an extended leg to the back, both turned out. They tilt their heads away from the barre. They wear sepia grey leotards and wide headbands with pink tights and pointe shoes.

Alum Louise Flanagan on designing the costumes for Cathy Marston’s A Line in Reflection

Alum Louise Flanagan on designing the costumes for Cathy Marston’s A Line in Reflection We were thrilled to welcome alum Louise Flanagan back to the School this year to design the costumes for fellow alum Cathy Marston’s new work, A Line in Reflection, created especially for our Centenary Summer Performances. Louise drew from her experience […]

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Harry and maria hold each other with one hand and gaze into each other's eyes in front of a long-exposure background of dancers moving behind them.

2nd Year students Harry and Maria on reuniting with choreographer Jessica Lang for our 2026 Summer Performances 

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

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The cast of sweet morning blooms pose in a final group pose at opera holland park. The dancers wear white leotards, tights and long tulle skirts for the ladies. The men have pastel washes of colour on the bottom half of their tights.

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 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

Choreographer Jessica Lang returns with a new work inspired by Dame Ninette de Valois’ poems for the School’s 2026 Summer Performances  Read More »

Summer performance grand defile 2025

In review: 2025 Summer Performance at the Royal Opera House

In review: 2025 Summer Performance at the Royal Opera House Saturday 12 July marked the final show of our 2025 Summer Performance season on the Royal Opera House main stage, following two stellar performances at the Linbury Theatre and five at Opera Holland Park. Each year, our students exceed expectations, bringing energy, passion and immense

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Overheard at opera holland park: student soundbites from backstage

Overheard at Opera Holland Park: student soundbites from backstage

Overheard at Opera Holland Park: student soundbites from backstage We have now wrapped up our annual Summer Performances with our students performing a selection of new choreographies and classical works. These performances are a highlight of the school year, marking the debuts of some students and the final bows of others.  We went backstage at

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Healthcare at opera holland park

Behind the curtain: how the Healthcare Team support our students during performance week

Behind the curtain: how the Healthcare Team support our students during performance week Our annual Summer Performances are a highlight of the school year and a culmination of months of training, rehearsals and dedication by our students. Behind every pirouette and pas de deux is a team working tirelessly to ensure our students are healthy,

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Swingle stepping, morgann runacre-temple ©2021 the royal ballet school. Photographed by tristram kenton

Summer Performance spotlight: Morgann Runacre-Temple on Swingle Stepping 

Summer Performance spotlight: Morgann Runacre-Temple on Swingle Stepping We are delighted to welcome Morgann Runacre-Temple back to the School for the staging of her rhythmic and playful contemporary work, Swingle Stepping, six years on from when she first choreographed the piece for our students.  This year, her piece will be re-mounted for the third time

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Two dancers, male and female, in each other arms about to begin to dance with diana cuni mancini

Summer Performance spotlight: Diana Cuni Mancini on the legacy of Bournonville’s Napoli 

Summer Performance spotlight: Diana Cuni Mancini on the legacy of Bournonville’s Napoli 220 years on from the birth of August Bournonville, this summer students of The Royal Ballet School will have the unique opportunity to perform Napoli in our annual performances, staged by renowned répétiteur and Bournonville specialist Diana Cuni Mancini. A former soloist with

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Summer performance spotlight: ruth brill on her new work 

Summer Performance spotlight: Ruth Brill on her new work 

Summer Performance spotlight: Ruth Brill on her new work   Ruth Brill is a freelance choreographer and the Artistic Director of the renowned London Children’s Ballet. As a dancer, she performed with both English National Ballet (2007-2012) and Birmingham Royal Ballet (2012-2019).  Ruth was last at the School in 2022, when she created Summer Dreams for our Year 7 students. This

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Steven mcrae performing the blue boy on stage at the royal opera house

Summer Performance spotlight: Vanessa Palmer on Les Patineurs

Summer Performance spotlight: Vanessa Palmer on Les Patineurs  Former alumna of the School, Vanessa Palmer joined The Royal Ballet in 1989 before later moving up the ranks to Soloist and Assistant Ballet Mistress. She was awarded an I.S.T.D  Fellowship and has completed the RAD Benesh Movement Notation for Ballet course. In 2019, Vanessa was asked

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