The Royal Ballet
Based at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, The Royal Ballet unites tradition and heritage with innovation and artistry to produce extraordinary theatre.
The Royal Ballet's extensive repertory embraces 19th-century classics, the legacy of works by Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton and Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan, as well as compelling new productions by Resident Choreographer Sir Wayne McGregor and Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon.
The Royal Ballet is committed to enriching people’s lives through ballet, which is reflected in the deep relationships it forges through digital and learning platforms and international touring, as well as through innovative commissions, choreographic initiatives and links with The Royal Ballet School.
Director of The Royal Ballet
Appointed in July 2012, Kevin O'Hare is responsible for driving the artistic direction of the Company. He is committed to the promotion of outstanding creativity and artistic excellence, developing talent and widening the Company’s performing platform.
Dancers of The Royal Ballet
From Principals to Artists and Aud Jebsen Young Dancers, the dancers of The Royal Ballet are the heart of the Company, bringing exceptional performance to the stage in over 100 shows each Season.
Music Director of The Royal Ballet
Koen Kessels made his Royal Ballet debut in 2008 conducting The Nutcracker, and was appointed Music Director in 2015. Conducting repertory includes The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, and Symphony in C, as well as world premieres including Raven Girl, Untouchable, Woolf Works, Frankenstein, and Multiverse.
The Company Choreographers
Two choreographers have permanent positions with The Royal Ballet: Resident Choreographer Sir Wayne McGregor and Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon.
Staff
Behind every performance by The Royal Ballet dancers is an equally exceptional support team. From répétiteurs to producers, administrators and clinicians, the staff of The Royal Ballet are integral to bringing outstanding performances to life.
The Royal Ballet School
For generations The Royal Ballet School has produced outstanding dancers and choreographers of international renown. Founded in 1926 by Ninette de Valois as the Academy of Choreographic Art, the School is the official school of The Royal Ballet.
The School offers an eight-year carefully-structured dance programme, aligned with extensive academic courses, giving the students the best possible education to equip them for a career in the world of dance. As well as its full-time training programme, the School runs a thriving outreach programme – in any one year, the School engages with over 4,500 aspiring young dancers in the UK.
Governors of The Royal Ballet
The Governors were established to be the custodians of the traditions established by Ninette de Valois and to oversee the Company's future. In 1931, de Valois relocated her Academy of Choreographic Art to Sadler’s Wells Theatre and transformed it into The Vic-Wells Ballet School, which fed dancers into The Vic-Wells Ballet Company. Later, in 1939, the school was renamed The Sadler’s Wells Ballet School and the Company became The Sadler’s Wells Ballet.
In 1956 Queen Elizabeth II granted the then Sadler’s Wells Ballet and Sadler’s Wells School a Royal Charter, and they became respectively The Royal Ballet and Royal Ballet School. Under the Charter a body of Governors was formed whose ultimate duty it is to safeguard the future of the Company, now The Royal Ballet.
CHAIR:
- Dame Sue Owen DCB
VICE CHAIR:
- Jeanetta Laurence OBE
GOVERNORS
- Anne Bulford CBE
- The Baroness Bull CBE
- Hilary S Carty OBE
- Sir Lloyd Dorfman CVO CBE
- Sir Nicholas Hytner
- Natasha Kaplinsky OBE
- Ida Levine
- Isabel McMeekan
- Stephen Maddock OBE
- Sir David Normington GCB
- Sir Luke Rittner CBE
- Lindsay Tomlinson OBE
- Alexander Whitley
HONORARY SECRETARY:
- Jacqueline Mistry
History of The Royal Ballet
The Royal Ballet owes its existence to the vision of Dame Ninette de Valois, dancer, choreographer and entrepreneur, who assembled a small company and school, the Vic-Wells Ballet, and, in 1931, persuaded Lilian Baylis to provide it with a home at the Sadler’s Wells Theatre in North London. They remained at Sadler’s Wells Theatre until 1939 and spent the war years touring widely in Great Britain and, to a lesser extent, in Europe, performing for the Allied troops. Immediately afterwards, in February 1946, they transferred to the Royal Opera House, premiering a new full-length production of The Sleeping Beauty to reopen Covent Garden as a lyric theatre after its war-time closure. In 1956, to mark its 25th anniversary, the name The Royal Ballet was granted by Royal Charter.
The Royal Ballet celebrated its 75th anniversary on May 15, 2006. The Company marked this occasion with a recreation of The Sleeping Beauty. In December 2006, following the award-winning success of Chroma, Wayne McGregor was appointed The Royal Ballet’s Resident Choreographer. In April 2007, conductor Barry Wordsworth was re-appointed Music Director for the Company. Monica Mason was created a Dame Commander for her services to dance in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List published on 13 June 2008. She became Director of The Royal Ballet in December 2002 and was succeeded by Kevin O’Hare in 2012. That year Christopher Wheeldon, former student of The Royal Ballet School, was appointed to his current position as Artistic Associate. From the start of the 2015/16 Season conductor Koen Kessels took over as Music Director, while Wordsworth continues as Principal Guest Conductor.
HM The King
The Lady Sarah Chatto
Heather Baxter
Shane Kelly
The Royal Ballet is one of the great ballet companies of the world. Under the leadership of Director Kevin O’Hare, grand balletic tradition and an illustrious heritage are united with innovation, daring and exceptional standards of artistry, creativity and stagecraft to produce supreme theatre. It is a beacon in the cultural life of Britain and a driving force behind the development of ballet as an artform. From the Company’s base at the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden, today’s most dynamic and versatile dancers come together with a world-class orchestra and leading choreographers, composers, conductors, designers and creative teams to share an awe-inspiring theatrical experience with diverse audiences worldwide. The Company’s commitment to enriching people’s lives through ballet is reflected in the deep relationships it forges through digital and learning platforms and international touring. The extensive repertory of The Royal Ballet follows a unique trajectory from 19th-century classics to the singular legacy of works by Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton and Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan and the compelling new canon of work by Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon. Along with innovative commissions and choreographic initiatives across the main stage and Linbury Theatre and strong links with The Royal Ballet School, the Company continues to refresh and surprise.
Royal Opera House Covent Garden Foundation, a charitable company limited by guarantee incorporated in England and Wales (Company number 480523) Charity Registered (Number 211775)