Joe Parkinson

Joe Parkinson joined The Royal Ballet’s Aud Jebsen Young Dancers programme at the beginning of the 2025/26 Season.   

Born in Doncaster, Joe began dancing at the age of three, training at Cre8ive Dance and Allegro Theatre Dance Academy. He later became a Junior Associate of The Royal Ballet School for one year before joining The Royal Ballet School full time in 2017. Joe progressed through the School, graduating from the Royal Ballet Upper School after eight years of full time training. 

During his training at the School, Joe received the Progress and Endeavour Award and was a prize-winner of the Lynn Seymour Award for Expressive Dance, performing Frederick Ashton’s Hamlet. He also performed Ashton’s Les Patineurs White Couple pas de deux for the 2025 Europe Day Gala at St Peter’s Square. 

Performances whilst at the school include roles in Anthony Dowell’s Aurora’s Wedding and Arielle Smith’s Culmination. In his graduate year, Joe worked alongside The Royal Ballet in Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Wayne McGregor’s MADDADDAM, Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella and Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet.