The Royal Ballet School is delighted to partner with Kate Stanforth Academy of Arts, an award-winning inclusive arts organisation dedicated to accessible dance education.
This partnership represents a shared commitment to broadening access to ballet and championing inclusivity within dance education. The sessions will offer dancers of all abilities the opportunity to experience world-class ballet training in a supportive and accessible environment.
A driving force behind this collaboration has been Rachael Hunt, Artistic Manager, International Intensive Courses and Auditions at The Royal Ballet School, who first met academy Founder Kate Stanforth at the School’s inaugural Let’s Dance public open day earlier this year. Hunt has played a vital role in developing and shaping this project from the beginning and will jointly lead the inclusive ballet sessions alongside Stanforth, with support from Isobel Jones and Lily Hawes. Together, they will combine their expertise to deliver engaging, adaptive ballet classes that celebrate every dancer’s individuality and potential.
Iain Mackay, Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet School, said of this initiative, “We are proud to partner with Kate Stanforth Academy of Arts to deliver these inclusive ballet sessions. This initiative reflects our ongoing dedication to making ballet training accessible to all, while celebrating the diversity and creativity of every dancer.”
Founded by disabled dancer, educator, and activist Kate Stanforth, the academy is recognised internationally for its inclusive approach to performing arts training. By combining the academy’s experience in accessibility with The Royal Ballet School’s excellence in classical ballet, this initiative aims to create a truly inclusive model for dance education.
Stanforth added, “It’s an incredible honour to partner with The Royal Ballet School. Together, we’re creating a space where every dancer, regardless of ability or health, can experience the beauty of ballet. When our sessions filled within hours, it confirmed what we already knew: the demand for accessible, high-quality dance opportunities is immense. I couldn’t be prouder of our incredible team, both dancers and staff, whose passion and hard work have made this vision a reality.”
The next inclusive ballet session will take place on Sunday 2 November, at the School’s studios in Covent Garden, with further sessions planned each term. The addition of live-streamed classes, supported by MK Moves, Allied Mobility and Moving Art Management, ensures that dancers who cannot attend in person, whether for health, mobility, or other reasons, can still participate fully and feel part of the experience.
The announcement of this partnership comes ahead of the return of World Ballet Day on 12 November. This year, World Ballet Day moves from its theme of access behind-the-scenes to a focus on access as a way to make dance a welcoming space for all. Companies around the world will explore social questions about accessibility and co-create work with disabled perspectives to offer broader access to ballet. Students of The Royal Ballet School will feature in The Royal Ballet’s stream, sharing their creative process in response to a special workshop with blind artist Devon Healey.
