Inside The Royal Ballet School's Ninette de Valois Choreographic Programme
Long before dancers take centre stage as performers at the world's most prestigious ballet companies, The Royal Ballet School nurtures another fundamental aspect of their artistic development: choreographic creativity. The school's Ninette de Valois Choreographic Programme stands as a testament to this commitment, fostering original movement invention and artistic expression among its students at every level.
A Legacy of Creativity
The programme's namesake reflects the school's deep roots in choreographic innovation. Dame Ninette de Valois, who founded The Royal Ballet School in 1926 as The Academy of Choreographic Art, was herself a pioneering choreographer who recognised that the future of ballet depended on developing new creative voices alongside technical excellence.
This philosophy remains foundational to the School's approach, positioning choreography not as an afterthought, but as a central pillar of classical ballet education.
Programme Structure
The choreographic programme provides structured opportunities for students at different stages of their training to develop their unique creative voices. Currently, the programme features three distinct choreographic events each academic year:
- Ursula Moreton Emerging Choreographer – for White Lodge Years 7, 8, and 9 (ages 11-14)
- Kenneth MacMillan Emerging Choreographer – for White Lodge Years 10 and 11 (ages 15-16)
- Frederick Ashton Emerging Choreographer – for Upper School 2nd Year students (age 17-18)
Each event is named after a significant figure in British ballet history, emphasizing the continuity between the school's illustrious past and its forward-looking future. Throughout the programme, students are supported in experimentation, working with mentors to find their unique choreographic voices and develop essential skills that extend beyond dance technique.
Ursula Moreton Emerging Choreographer 2025: A Showcase of Young Talent
The White Lodge showcase in March 2025 highlighted the remarkable creative talents of younger students at the School. Choreographic tutor Rhian Robbins mentored 11 young choreographers from Years 7, 8, and 9 who presented their original works, each piece reflecting their unique interpretations of music, movement, and staging.
These pieces spanned diverse themes including transit, time, and emotions. Year 9 student Filippa explained her inspiration: "My choreography focuses on the relationship between a train and its passengers. My goal was to represent the motion and mechanics of a train through the dancers' movement. Through this process, both unite and show the crowded, chaotic, and often fatalistic nature of the train and of life."
What makes the programme particularly valuable is its holistic approach to choreographic education. Students gain insight into the entire production process, selecting their own music and contributing to costume and lighting design. This year, students enhanced their understanding of stagecraft through a dedicated lighting workshop with Production and Theatre Technician Daniel Philipson.
The students' work was presented in four performances, with one showcase reviewed by an esteemed panel of industry professionals: Diana Cuni Mancini, a former soloist with the Royal Danish Ballet; and choreographers Andrew McNicol and Ludo Ondiviela. Their feedback provided valuable insights to help students refine their choreographic skills.
"What an inspiring afternoon and huge congratulations," said panelist Andrew McNicol. "It's wonderful to be back here at White Lodge to witness this performance because my whole choreographic journey started doing exactly this. Choreographing on your peers is a very different thing and it's really interesting to see so many of you working with large groups as well. All of the pieces were filled with so many ideas and I'm very curious to see where you will take this in the future."
McNicol emphasised the importance of nurturing new choreographic voices: "I hope that this is just the beginning for many of you to continue more choreography. It's so important and is really the lifeblood of our art form, so it's incredibly inspiring to see you all already thinking in that way."
Looking Ahead: From Student Studios to Professional Stages
The choreographic journey continues throughout the academic year. The final event of the programme, the Frederick Ashton Emerging Choreographer, will be held on 7-8 May 2025.
Select pieces from these performances are then chosen to be performed at the Next Generation Festival at the Linbury Theatre at the Royal Opera House in June. This prestigious opportunity allows student choreographers to present their work on one of the world's most respected stages, bridging the gap between educational exploration and professional presentation.
This year's Next Generation Festival will take place on 24-25 June 2025, providing an exciting platform for the students' work to reach wider audiences.
Nurturing the Future of Ballet
The School's commitment to choreographic development reflects its understanding that the future of ballet depends not just on technical brilliance, but on creative innovation. Through the Ninette de Valois Choreographic Programme, students learn that ballet is not simply an art form to be preserved, but one that must continually evolve through new creative voices.
The programme has helped launch the careers of some of today's most influential choreographers. By encouraging students to experiment with movement, music, and staging from an early age, the school nurtures the next generation of dance makers who will shape the future of ballet.
As students progress from creating their first tentative choreographic studies to presenting polished works at the Next Generation Festival, they develop skills that extend far beyond technique — confidence, artistic vision, communication, and collaboration. These qualities are essential not only for those who will go on to choreograph professionally, but for all dancers seeking to make meaningful contributions to the art form.
Through this comprehensive approach to choreographic education, The Royal Ballet School continues to honor Dame Ninette de Valois' visionary understanding that the future of ballet depends on nurturing both extraordinary dancers and innovative creators.