The Royal Ballet School

✨ It’s showtime! We’re premiering five new creations tonight by Cathy Marston, Jessica Lang, David Bintley, Andrew McNicol and Kristen McNally at the Next Generation Festival at the Royal Opera House ✨

We’re so proud of all our students’ hard work and wish them the best of luck for the first night of our Summer Performances.

Tickets are sold out but if you would like to see these exciting new works, book for our performances at Opera Holland Park from 8-11 July.

Book here: https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/summer-performances/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026_FEB_ALL_PERFORMANCES_SUMMER&utm_term=programme-announcement&utm_content=image

📸 Photograph by ASH

📸 1/ A Line in Reflection by Cathy Marston
📸 2/ The First Voice by Jessica Lang
📸 3/ Beauchamp’s Garden by David Bintley
📸 4/ Of Strength and Grace by Andrew McNicol
📸 5/ Proceedings by Kristen McNally

🖼️ Portraits of people working in the School: Patrick Orkney, Parent Finance Officer 🖼️

Throughout our centenary year, we’re spotlighting staff from different departments in the School to give you a behind-the-scenes glimpse of how the School runs.

This month, we’re highlighting our Parent Finance Officer, Patrick Orkney. Patrick plays a vital role in the means-testing process of all our full-time students and the allocation of financial assistance to families who need it.

We hope you enjoy these insights from the people who make the School a joy to train and work in.

✨ 100 stories for 100 years: Lesley Collier ✨

Today, we share the story of alum, Lesley Collier CBE, former Principal dancer and rèpetiteur at The Royal Ballet.

Lesley joined The Royal Ballet School aged 11. After graduating from Upper School, she joined The Royal Ballet in 1965 and was promoted to Principal in 1972. She was lauded for her musicality and rapid footwork. Notably, Frederick Ashton choreographed Rhapsody on her and acclaimed dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov in 1980.

After a 30-year performance career, she retired in 1995 and returned to the School as a Ballet Mistress. In 2000, she became a coach with The Royal Ballet.

'I remember Madam, Dame Ninette de Valois, went to Russia and she came back and talked to us about how the girls were trained in port de bras, and how they had to imagine they were holding oranges in their hands. It was so interesting. Then Nora Roche arrived and began to teach us in the Cecchetti Method. She was a wonderful teacher, giving us all fantastic épaulement, but as a child you don’t really understand anything about the actual technique. You just absorb everything.'

Read more about Lesley's life and training here: https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/2026/06/09/100-stories-lesley-collier/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026_JUN_ALL_LATEST_NEWS&utm_term=LC-100-stories&utm_content=image

*Interview excerpt taken from Strength and Grace: Strength and Grace: Portraits of The Royal Ballet School.

☀️ Don’t miss our PTA Summer Fair this Saturday 13 June at White Lodge in Richmond Park ☀️

Enjoy:
☀️ Tours of the School
☀️ Exclusive performances
☀️ Stalls from independent sellers
☀️ Street food and drink
☀️ Crafts and games
☀️ A raffle with incredible prizes
☀️ The opportunity to meet alum of the School, Matthew Ball and Mayara Magri, Principal dancers with The Royal Ballet.

We look forward to welcoming you from 11.00-17.00!

Find out more and get tickets in advance via the link or get your tickets on the gate: https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/100-years/summer-fair/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026_JUN_ALL_EVENT&utm_term=summer-fair&utm_content=image

🕯️ Celebrating the Benefact Group and their support of £250 million to over 10,000 charities since 2014 at St Paul's Cathedral 🕯️

Pre-professional Year student, Layla, choreographed a special piece for this momentous occasion featuring eight dancers in her year group. The piece was set to Alexis French’s Bluebird, played by the School’s Head Pianist Liz Sluman, and Ali Rowland’s poem Kindnesses, recited by the School’s Chair, Natasha Kaplinsky OBE.

Benefact Group is kindly donating to our Centenary Fund and is a valued member of the School’s Chair’s Circle Grand Tier.

Read more about the Benefact Group’s Service of Celebration: https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/2026/06/10/student-choreography-shines-at-benefact-groups-service-of-celebration-at-st-pauls-cathedral/?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026_JUN_ALL_LATEST_NEWS&utm_term=benefact-gala&utm_content=image

📸 Performance photos courtesy of the Benefact Group. Costumes created by Sinead Skinner with tights by Imperfect Pointes. Students featured in the performance: Addison, Aislynn, Cian-You, Samantha, Millán, Wendel, Denis and Julian.

🩰 Get summer studio ready with Freed of London's Royal Ballet School centenary collection ☀️

Inspired by the iconic Bridge of Aspiration and a remarkable lineage of artists who have shaped the School’s first century, this line of dancewear captures the spirit and global reputation for excellence that continue to define both brands today.

Shop the collection: https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/100-years/centenary-dancewear/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026_JUN_ALL_STORE&utm_term=Freed-collection&utm_content=image

📸 Inside the studio preparing for our Summer Performances: rehearsals for Swan Lake Act III with alum and Principal dancer of Birmingham Royal Ballet, Samara Downs 📸

‘The students were brilliant and so receptive. It’s also particularly lovely to be touching on Sir Peter Wright’s version of Swan Lake. I know the production very well having danced in it for many, many years, so it’s nice to be in a position to teach it to the next generation.’

Read our interview with Samara and book tickets for our Summer Performances: https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/2026/06/03/refine-all-the-time-alum-samara-downs-on-staging-checkmate-and-swan-lake-for-our-summer-performances/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026_JUN_ALL_LATEST_NEWS&utm_term=summer-performances-SD&utm_content=image

☀️ One week until our PTA Summer Fair at White Lodge - the only day of the year our Richmond Park location is open for tours ☀️

Enjoy:
☀️ Exclusive performances
☀️ Stalls from independent sellers
☀️ Street food and drink
☀️ Crafts and games
☀️ A raffle with incredible prizes
☀️ The opportunity to meet alum of the School, Matthew Ball and Mayara Magri, Principal dancers with The Royal Ballet.

We look forward to welcoming you on Saturday 13 June from 11.00-17.00!

Find out more and get tickets in advance via the link or get your tickets on the gate: https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/100-years/summer-fair/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=2026_JUN_ALL_EVENT&utm_term=summer-fair&utm_content=image