Christopher saunders, tracy (née brown) saunders, jenny (née plank) porter and paul porter pictured smiling.

Love after the Lodge: four alumni share their love stories for Valentine’s Day 

Love after the Lodge: four alumni share their love stories for Valentine’s Day  The Royal Ballet School brings together like-minded young people who share a love of ballet. However, as they get older, that love can grow beyond the art form. Alumni Christopher Saunders, Tracy (née Brown) Saunders, Jenny (née Plank) Porter and Paul Porter shared their stories, from first meeting as classmates at White Lodge to […]

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Dance city, newcastle

The School announce new Associate centre in Newcastle

The School announce new Associate centre in Newcastle We are thrilled to share that from September 2026, we will expand our national Associate Programme to offer regional training at Dance City in Newcastle.  This new location will increase the School’s total Associate centre count to nine across the UK – alongside existing centres in Birmingham, Eastleigh, Edinburgh, Leeds, London, and Manchester, and recently announced

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Royal ballet school students performing in the commonwealth dance relay film. © 2026 the commonwealth resounds.

Year 10 students work with alumni to create a dance relay ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games 

Year 10 students work with alumni to create a dance relay ahead of the 2026 Commonwealth Games We are thrilled to share that the School has partnered with The Commonwealth Resounds to create a dance film to share around the world in the lead up to the 2026 Commonwealth Games.  Commissioned by The Commonwealth Resounds, 11 of our Year 10 students were recently invited to work with School alum and choreographers Shevelle Dynott and

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1st year students perform in echo eternal, dressed in all black against a blue backdrop

1st Year students perform in Echo Eternal, a Holocaust remembrance project presented by CORE Education Trust 

1st Year students perform in Echo Eternal, a Holocaust remembrance project presented by CORE Education Trust  On 26 January, The Royal Ballet School hosted the annual Echo Eternal performance in partnership with National Youth Music Theatre, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and CORE Education Trust students. 1st Year students Billy, Daisy, Joel and Nico performed in the cast of young multidisciplinary artists. ‘It’s been so special to get to come together with

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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 

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

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

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

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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