Students return to The Royal Ballet School

After an extended period of lockdown, The Royal Ballet School has finally opened its doors to welcome back students and staff for the first time in six months.

Since April, The Royal Ballet School became a virtual school for the Summer Term with Artistic and Academic classes and Healthcare and Pastoral support all moving online. Although a success, students and staff were delighted to return to the School sites for the Autumn Term.

Almost every student has now returned to the School after undergoing a two week self-quarantine to help mitigate any risk of COVID-19 within the School. The School aims to manage any case, or suspected case, in accordance with the latest Public Health England advice to ensure the safety of our community.

The School has taken measures such as students forming ‘household bubbles’ within their year groups, with each year group being one ‘bubble’. Mealtimes will be staggered and classrooms and studios will have marked out ‘teacher zones’ which students will not enter.

The School will be offering students as full a programme of academic, artistic and healthcare activities as possible whilst meeting all Department for Education (DfE) guidance in terms of being a COVID-safe environment.

Artistic Director, Christopher Powney said: ‘I’ve seen lots of happy faces and heard much laughter ringing throughout the School corridors and I know that our students are as happy to be back as we are to have them back. It has been extraordinary to hear live music and to see dancing in the studios once again. An amazing moment in time!’