The Royal Ballet School and Royal Ballet and Opera are partnering to host free ballet classes for school children across the UK – “100 classes for 100 years.”
From 12 – 16 October, primary school halls and classrooms across the country will be transformed into dance spaces as The Royal Ballet School and Royal Ballet and Opera deliver 100 free ballet classes to celebrate 100 years of the world’s leading ballet school.
Around 2,500 students in Years 3 and 4 will take part in free one-hour creative ballet workshops to discover the joy and benefits of ballet.
Fifty-eight schools across Blackpool, East Anglia, Devon, Manchester, Newcastle and Westminster are participating in the project, with schools hosting one or two classes each.
The six regions were selected as they are areas where The Royal Ballet School currently operates its national Associate Programme and Primary Steps Legacy Programme, or where it intends to expand its presence in the future.
The Royal Ballet School is committed to nurturing talent wherever it is found by bringing world-leading training and opportunities like this to young people in their own communities.
For many children, these workshops will be their first ever experience of ballet, so the project aims to introduce ballet in a fun, creative and stimulating way.
Based around The Royal Ballet’s production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the workshops will use simple ballet-inspired movements and imaginative storytelling to encourage participation, creativity and confidence, regardless of previous experience.
The project also seeks to encourage primary school teachers to embed ballet and dance into school life as teachers will be signposted to free CPD led by Royal Ballet and Opera following the workshops.
Royal Ballet and Opera Schools Dance brings world‑class dance into schools through free teacher CPD, classroom resources and live dance lessons, with no prior dance experience needed. Primary and secondary teacher can access free, curriculum-led CPD, delivered nationwide by the award-winning Royal Ballet and Opera Schools team, to help bring ballet into their classroom with confidence.
Victoria Collinson, Head of Associates and Primary Steps Legacy at The Royal Ballet School, said of the initiative, “The Royal Ballet School is committed to creating opportunities for children and young people across the UK to engage with dance, regardless of background or circumstance. As part of this year’s centenary celebrations, we are thrilled to partner with Royal Ballet and Opera Schools Dance to offer students and teachers the chance to experience a ballet class in-person. These sessions will not only encourage creativity but also help pupils build confidence, develop musicality, and gain a deeper understanding of this inspiring art form.”
Tina Ramdeen, Director of Learning and Participation at Royal Ballet and Opera, added, “The Royal Ballet and Opera is committed to providing equitable access to high-quality dance experiences to children and young people across the country, and the partnership with the Royal Ballet School is a powerful way to celebrate 100 years of inspiring young people through dance. For many children, these workshops will be their first experience of ballet, opening the door to creativity, confidence and self-expression, and we are excited to work with schools and teachers to continue the journey through Royal Ballet and Opera Schools Dance initiatives both within and beyond the classroom.”
