The Royal Ballet School / School of American Ballet
The Royal Ballet School / School of American Ballet
The Royal Ballet School / School of American Ballet
A special joint showcase shared by The Royal Ballet School and School of American Ballet.
A special joint showcase shared by The Royal Ballet School and School of American Ballet.
A special joint showcase shared by The Royal Ballet School and School of American Ballet.
Background
As part of Next Generation Festival, these two leading dance schools jointly present a special showcase of their young performing talent.
About The Royal Ballet School
The Royal Ballet School is one of the world’s most celebrated centres for classical ballet training. It is the leading classical ballet school in the UK and an international institution, attracting dancers with exceptional potential from the UK and worldwide. Founded in 1926, former students include greats such as Margot Fonteyn, Anthony Dowell, Kenneth MacMillan, Darcey Bussell and Christopher Wheeldon. Each year, the School’s graduates go on to professional careers with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and other leading UK and international companies. Matthew Ball, William Bracewell, Lauren Cuthbertson, Francesca Hayward, Yasmine Naghdi and Marcelino Sambé are alumni currently making their mark on the world stage.
The Royal Ballet School presents its 2026 graduates in this special joint showcase. This performance will celebrate the culmination of years of dedication and passion these young artists have applied to their training, before they embark on professional careers that will shape the international arts landscape for generations to come. This showcase will also mark the School’s 100th cohort of graduates – a milestone moment honouring both legacy and future.
About the School of American Ballet
In 1934, George Balanchine and Lincoln Kirstein established the School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York City as the first and most essential step in their mission to establish a uniquely American style of ballet. The school not only fostered the creation of New York City Ballet in 1948, but over the past nine decades its alumni have shaped the trajectory of ballet in America—founding companies, serving as artistic leaders, choreographing and teaching for dance companies and schools worldwide.
Included in the performance by the School of American Ballet’s advanced students will be George Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie, a windswept waltz for six dancers which provides a dynamic showcase for Balanchine's celebration of musicality, expansive movement and speed.
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Access
For step free-access and wheelchair spaces in the Linbury Theatre, you will need to book seats on the right-hand side of the auditorium. There is an assistive listening system available. Join our Access Scheme for priority access to tickets and to inform of your access requirements. See our Accessibility page for more information or view a visitors guide (PDF, 12.0 MB).
Pointe Shoe Appeal
Every Season, The Royal Ballet dance through more than 6,000 pairs of pointe shoes—but that’s just the starts of what our dancers wear throughout the year.
With shoes in every style and colour, our footwear team works year-round to ensure that every dancer has the perfect fit, allowing them to step confidently onto the stage night after night. Help them perform to the best of their ability by making a donation to our Pointe Shoe Appeal.
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