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Royal Ballet School Centenary Unites Students and Two Companies at Covent Garden
A three-performance celebration brought together the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and their training institution in a programme spanning heritage works and premieres.
The Royal Ballet School's centenary was marked at the Royal Opera House with A Centenary Celebration, uniting students with dancers from the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
The programme combined twelve works across approximately three hours. It opened with a suite from Ninette de Valois's Checkmate and included Frederick Ashton's Birthday Offering, alongside choreography associated with Kenneth MacMillan, Wayne McGregor and David Bintley.
New works included Christopher Wheeldon's Beautiful Shadow and Cathy Marston's Night Falling. Valentino Zucchetti created the concluding Centenary, bringing together pupils from different school levels and professionals from both companies.
Reviewing the 8 October performance for Gramilano, Georgina Butler praised the programme's breadth and its intergenerational spirit, while noting occasional performance imperfections. The event celebrated the school founded by de Valois in 1926 and its continuing contribution to British ballet.