Royal Ballet School at Opera Holland Park

The Royal Ballet School is one of the most prestigious ballet institutions in the world. The vast majority of its graduates go on to join ballet companies the world over, including, of course, its parent company, the Royal Ballet.

As the name indicates, Opera Holland Park is best known as a high quality opera venue; but it’s great to see it offering its stage to dance, and in particular the budding talent of the RBS's international group of ballet students.

They will dance in four performances, divided into two groups: the younger students (11–16 year-olds) training at the White Lodge in Richmond, and the older ones (16–19) finishing their training at the Upper School, just across the street from the Royal Opera House.

The programme is varied, the better to display the wide range of their training, including works by Auguste Bournonville, originator of Denmark’s unique style of dancing, Marius Petipa, the name behind great Russian classics, such as Swan Lake and La Bayadère, and contemporary choreographers Robert Binet and Andrew McNicol.

White Lodge students perform on Friday 29 evening and Saturday 30 June matinee; Upper School students perform on the evenings of 28 and 30 June.

It’s a unique opportunity to watch highly talented youngsters taking their first steps into their chosen profession, and to try to pick out the stars of the future; and it is also a great family occasion!

What’s not to like?