LOWER SCHOOL

Students 11-16 years

A former Royal hunting lodge, White Lodge became home to The Royal Ballet Lower School in 1955. Since the School moved to the site, there has been continuous development of its facilities in order to keep it at the forefront of ballet training in the UK.

The Lower School has recently undergone an extensive three year redevelopment totalling £22m. This has provided the site with two new dance studios, the extension of a third studio, state of the art accommodation facilities for the 126 students that reside within the School grounds, a new Dining Hall as well as major works to the original building, nearly 300 years of age. You can read more on the redevelopment of White Lodge by clicking here.

There are now 6 studios, one of which is the Fonteyn Studio Theatre, named after Margot Fonteyn, one of the School's first and most illustrious graduates. The Fonteyn Studio Theatre converts from a fully equipped theatre with a seating capacity of 250, into one large studio or two smaller ones.

Recreational facilities at White Lodge include an indoor heated swimming pool, a tennis/netball court, and a small football pitch. The student common rooms provide darts, snooker, table tennis and television.

There is private residential accommodation for both boys and girls in the main building and also in the new boarding blocks that were completed in 2006. Each dormitory area has its own bathroom and common room facilities. Designated members of the residential house-staff oversee routines and care for each student under their supervision.

UPPER SCHOOL

Students 16-18 years

The Upper School is in Floral Street, Covent Garden adjacent to the Royal Opera House and is linked by a spectacular bridge spanning Floral Street at fourth floor level, providing the students with safe and easy access to The Royal Ballet.

The four-storey building provides six air-conditioned, state of the art studios, one of which doubles as a performance studio with retractable seating for 200.

To support the studios the School provides full changing and shower rooms for male and female students, a gym/body fitness room, a pilates studio, physiotherapy suite and students common room.

The education area consists of four classrooms supported by a comprehensive library, the latest computer equipment, art studio and audiovisual suite, all of which are located on the fourth floor to take advantage of the natural daylight.

All studios are linked to the audiovisual suite so that classes and rehearsals can be recorded, enabling both students and staff to enhance technique and performance quality.

The studios in Covent Garden ensure that our Upper School students enjoy the very best facilities, and that The Royal Ballet School remains one of the foremost classical ballet schools worldwide.