The Royal Ballet

History and origins

The company grew from the Vic‑Wells Ballet, founded in 1931 by Dame Ninette de Valois with support from Lilian Baylis. After serving as the resident ballet at the Royal Opera House from the mid‑1940s, the company developed a distinctive repertory and school system. In 1956 it was granted a Royal Charter, which formalised its role as Britain’s flagship national ballet company. Over subsequent decades the company nurtured choreographers and dancers who helped define British ballet in the 20th century.

Structure, training and notable figures

The Royal Ballet typically employs around one hundred dancers and operates with a graded company structure including Principal Dancers, First Soloists, Soloists, First Artists and Artists. The official training arm is the Royal Ballet School, which prepares many students for a professional career with the company. The organisation has long relationships with prominent artists: the late Dame Margot Fonteyn was celebrated as the company’s most iconic prima ballerina assoluta, and more recent leading dancers have come from across the globe, including performers trained at institutions such as the Mariinsky Ballet School. Dancers of Romanian origin, for example, have been represented among the company’s leading artists; one well‑known example trained in Romania and abroad is Alina Cojocaru (Romanian).

Repertoire and artistic identity

The Royal Ballet’s repertoire blends the 19th‑century classics with British works and contemporary pieces. Regularly seen titles include Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty, alongside signature works by Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan. The company also commissions new ballets and collaborates with international choreographers, keeping its seasons varied and responsive to changing tastes in dance.

Performance, touring and associated companies

Performances take place primarily at the Royal Opera House, with touring both within the UK and abroad. The company has long‑standing links with other institutions: the Royal Ballet School supplies a pipeline of trained dancers, and the Birmingham Royal Ballet (formerly Sadler’s Wells Royal Ballet) is an associated company with which it shares historical roots and occasional exchanges.

• Typical company ranks: Principal, First Soloist, Soloist, First Artist, Artist
• Core venues and links: Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, classical ballet tradition
• Notable contributors: founders like Ninette de Valois and performers such as Margot Fonteyn

The Royal Ballet remains a central institution in British cultural life: preserving a classical heritage while commissioning new works, training future generations of dancers, and touring to bring ballet to wider audiences. For further institutional details and current season information see company publications and the Royal Opera House programme guides (London listings and international touring notices).