100 stories: Barbara Fewster 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 Barbara Fewster, former Ballet Principal and Associate Director of the School. Barbara was born 4 September 1928 and began dancing at the Wessex School in Bournemouth. She joined the Sadler’s […]
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The evolution of The Royal Ballet School crest The crest is one of the most recognisable symbols of The Royal Ballet School, but what does it really represent? In honour of our centenary, we are reflecting on the evolution of the School’s Coat of Arms over the past decades. Who created The Royal Ballet School’s crest? ‘The School crest, or more accurately, its
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Student choreography shines at Benefact Group’s Service of Celebration at St Paul’s Cathedral On Wednesday 3 June 2026, eight Pre-professional Year students performed classmate Layla’s site-specific choreography at Benefact Group’s Service of Celebration in St Paul’s Cathedral. Left: Pre-professional Year student choreographer Layla; right: the students performing under the dome in St. Paul’s Cathedral Development Manager Georgina Nash writes of the
100 stories: Lesley Collier 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 former Principal and rèpetiteur at The Royal Ballet Lesley Collier CBE. Lesley was born in Orpington, Kent and joined The Royal Ballet School at White Lodge aged 11. After graduating from
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‘Refine all the time:’ alum Samara Downs on staging Checkmate and Swan Lake for our Summer Performances School alum and Birmingham Royal Ballet Principal dancer Samara Downs recently returned to the School to set Ninette de Valois’s Checkmate and Peter Wright’s Swan Lake on our Upper School students for our 2026 Summer Performances. She has previously worked with our students on Frederick Ashton’s La Valse for our 2024 Summer Performances. Samara talked to us about her experience working with the students after a Swan Lake Spanish divertissement rehearsal. ‘The students were
Remembering Susan Lucas The Royal Ballet School is deeply saddened to learn that Susan Lucas, a former Birmingham Associate Teacher and alum of the School, has died. Susan (Sue) first joined the School aged 16 after winning the Cyril Beaumont Scholarship to attend the Upper School. She graduated following a performance of Coppélia, dancing the role of Swanhilda across Sir David Bintley’s Dr Coppelius. She joined the
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100 stories: Lauren Cuthbertson 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 Lauren Cuthbertson, now Guest Principal Artist of The Royal Ballet and current student of our Diploma of Dance Teaching, and how she has come full circle through the ecosystem of the School. When Lauren Cuthbertson
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The School announces future changes to Upper School full-time training audition We are pleased to announce a change to full-time training at The Royal Ballet School’s Upper School. Effective from September 2026. 2nd Year students will no longer be required to audition to enter the Pre-professional (3rd) Year at Upper School, and will instead take part in an assessment process, like that
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The Royal Opera House opens part one of The Royal Ballet School’s centenary exhibition, designed by Exhibitions Curator Robin Footitt Early on Monday, 18 May, the Royal Opera House lobby transformed into a flurry of mannequins, archival costumes and light fixtures to set The Royal Ballet School’s centenary exhibition. Designed by the Royal Ballet and Opera’s Exhibitions Curator Robin Footitt, this display marks the first of three exhibition
Frederick Ashton Emerging Choreographer 2026 On Wednesday 6 and Thursday 7 May, our 2nd Year students participated in the annual Frederick Ashton Emerging Choreographer performances, held at the Upper School Linden Studio Theatre. Named for the Founding Choreographer of The Royal Ballet, Frederick Ashton, this event invites students to develop and present their own choreography under the guidance of Choreographic Course Coordinator & Tutor Mikaela Polley. The 15 student
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