The Royal Ballet School is intensifying its focus on choreography and artistic development through a series of creative practice initiatives that extend well beyond traditional technique. While classical ballet training has always been at the heart of the institution’s philosophy, recent years have seen a strategic emphasis on nurturing students as versatile artists, capable of interpreting and creating original work.
Creative practice at the Royal Ballet School is embedded across multiple programmes, including full-time training, Affiliate Training and Assessment Programme (ATAP), and weekend Associate sessions. This focus is rooted in the belief that a strong choreographic foundation not only enhances performance capabilities but also supports long-term career sustainability in an evolving dance industry.
At the centre of this initiative is the development of a curriculum that integrates improvisation, collaborative creation, and exploration of narrative. Students are encouraged to approach dance not just as performers but as storytellers and visual composers. This approach is supported by expert faculty members and visiting artists who provide mentorship in the construction of solos, duets, and ensemble pieces.
The School’s digital library now includes choreographic resources accessible to ATAP teachers and Associate instructors, allowing them to incorporate creative practice into their own classrooms. These resources offer examples of compositional strategies, guided improvisation tasks, and thematic prompts that can be adapted to different training levels. The aim is to give students across all locations the tools to investigate and express movement on their own terms.
In performance settings, the School showcases student choreography through internal showings and public events. These opportunities allow emerging artists to present original work for critique and feedback. Some students go on to have their pieces performed at larger showcases, offering early exposure to the realities of production, lighting, casting, and audience engagement. Faculty also invite feedback from industry professionals, strengthening the connection between academic exploration and practical application.
Creative practice is further reinforced through workshops with notable choreographers and alumni. These sessions often serve as laboratories for movement experimentation and are scheduled throughout the academic year. Recent workshops have covered topics like abstraction in dance, the relationship between music and movement, and the process of translating literature into physical theatre.
Even at younger training levels, such as Junior Associates, creative tasks are integrated into ballet classes. Students may be asked to create short sequences inspired by a particular quality—lightness, tension, or fluidity—or by music from different genres. These tasks teach dancers to engage with movement dynamically, rather than only as a fixed sequence of steps.
Instructors within the ATAP framework are also trained to encourage choreographic thinking from early stages. By focusing on process-oriented learning rather than performance outcomes, the programme cultivates a mindset of inquiry and adaptability. According to programme leaders, this approach helps students understand that creativity is not reserved for professionals—it is something dancers can access and refine throughout their journey.
The Royal Ballet School’s emphasis on choreographic development signals a broader commitment to comprehensive dance education. By equipping students with creative skills in addition to technical ones, the School prepares them to become not only performers but future creators and leaders in the ballet world.