How International Partnerships Expand the Reach of the Royal Ballet School
In recent years, the Royal Ballet School has expanded its global presence by developing strategic partnerships and outreach programmes aimed at bringing elite ballet training to broader communities. These efforts have helped position the institution not just as a centre for full-time education in London, but also as an international reference point for excellence in classical dance. From collaborative intensives abroad to digital resources accessible worldwide, the School’s influence now reaches dancers and educators far beyond the United Kingdom.
One significant avenue for this outreach is the international delivery of its Spring and Summer Intensive Courses. In 2024, the Royal Ballet School hosted intensives in cities such as Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Milan, in addition to its established London sessions. These week-long courses offer international students a condensed yet immersive version of the School’s training methods. Students receive coaching in ballet, repertoire, and contemporary dance, all taught by faculty from the main programme.
The success of these international events is grounded in the School’s commitment to its unique System of Training. By maintaining consistency in teaching philosophy across locations, students worldwide experience the same pedagogical standards. This consistency also allows the School to identify talent globally, sometimes guiding dancers from these courses to apply for full-time training programmes in London.
Digital access plays a key role in extending this international reach. The School’s video-on-demand platform includes technical demonstrations, interviews with Artistic staff, and guided exercises for teachers and students alike. The material covers topics ranging from pirouette technique to artistry in performance, enabling consistent access to high-quality training materials regardless of geography. For educators, these resources offer an opportunity to align their own methods with those upheld by the Royal Ballet School.
Affiliate partnerships, such as those established through the Affiliate Training and Assessment Programme (ATAP), allow the School to certify teachers in its methodology. These affiliates, spread across twelve countries as of 2024, deliver local classes that reflect the values and standards of the Royal Ballet School. By equipping local instructors with pedagogical tools and assessment frameworks, ATAP helps ensure that more students can benefit from high-calibre ballet training without relocating.
In addition to student-facing programmes, the School also provides development opportunities for teachers through its Enlighten and Inspire webinars. These sessions cover topics such as flexibility training, postural alignment, and dance school management. With participants attending from all over the world, the webinars create a shared learning space where international teachers can benefit from the expertise of the School’s senior staff.
Through these combined efforts, the Royal Ballet School is cultivating a global network of dancers, teachers, and institutions connected by shared values and training excellence. Whether through in-person intensives, digital classrooms, or certified teacher programmes, the School continues to shape the future of ballet on an international scale. Its evolving network underscores the belief that access to top-tier dance education should not be confined by geography.