The Royal Ballet School is one of the world's greatest centres of
classical ballet training. The School's aim is to train and educate outstanding classical ballet dancers for
The Royal Ballet (based at the
Royal Opera House in
London) and
Birmingham Royal Ballet. Admission to the School is based purely on talent and potential, regardless of academic ability or personal circumstances, and more than 90% of current students rely on financial support to attend the School. The school is based over two sites,
White Lodge, Richmond Park (for students aged 11–16) and
Covent Garden (for students from 16–19 years old) based in purpose-built studios on
Floral Street, adjacent to the
Royal Opera House. The Royal Ballet School has, for generations, produced dancers and choreographers of international renown, including
Dame Margot Fonteyn,
Dame Beryl Grey,
Sir Kenneth MacMillan,
Darcey Bussell,
Alessandra Ferri and
Viviana Durante, as well as current Director of
The Royal Ballet Kevin O'Hare. Graduates of the school have also achieved employment in
musical theatre,
contemporary and
jazz dance, television and film.