Join us for a series of three centenary insight events at White Lodge, Upper School and online on 8, 15 and 22 March.
These three events will explore the past, present and future of The Royal Ballet School and its place in the wider cultural landscape through performance, student demonstrations and varied presentations.
The events include live repertoire performances by our Upper School students, featuring a recreation of Dame Ninette de Valois’ The Arts of the Theatre (1925) along with a new choreography by Dr Adesola Akinleye, created especially for this centenary celebration.
Internal speakers will include Artistic Director Iain Mackay, Head of Teacher Training Karen Berry with The Royal Ballet School Healthcare Team and Dr Anna Meadmore. We are also privileged to welcome external guests including Professor Susan Jones, dance critic Sarah Crompton, Dr Susan Crow and Dr Adesola Akinleye.
15 MARCH 2026 - Shaping Change: Innovation and Evolution in Ballet Training
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- Dr Susie Crow, School alumna, teacher-choreographer, and formerly a member of both Royal Ballet companies, reflects on ‘the Ballet Class’, and the wider education of creative dance artists. She considers how cultural contexts have shaped ballet training in the past and introduces relevant current debates
- Karen Berry, Head of Teacher Training with oversight of the School’s Diploma of Dance Teaching and other teaching programmes, outlines and examines Our Philosophy, Practice and Impact in Action: Research, Deliver, Evolve
- Karen Berry will be joined by members of the School’s Artistic staff, including Vanessa Donkin and Ricardo Cervera, who will lead student demonstrations of current pedagogical practice
- In a short introduction to an in-depth examination of the scientific approach to ballet training and pedagogy, Dr Anna Meadmore considers how the complex ‘athlete and/or artist’ debate has played out in de Valois’ School over time
- Scientific research and innovations in Dancers’ Healthcare: key members of the School’s multi-disciplinary Healthcare team demonstrate how evidence-based healthcare and dancer-teacher training can work together for optimum student outcomes, looking at challenges that arise and considering future objectives. Illustrated by student demonstrations of applied practice
- Concluding panel and audience discussion with Artistic Director Iain Mackay, School staff, and invited guests.
