The Royal Ballet School Alumni Network Grows into a Global Force for Artistic Excellence
The Royal Ballet School stands as a beacon of excellence in classical ballet training, nurturing generations of dancers who have graced stages worldwide. Founded in 1926 by Dame Ninette de Valois, the School has produced luminaries such as Dame Margot Fonteyn, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, and Dame Darcey Bussell. Today, its alumni continue to shape the global dance landscape, reflecting the School’s enduring legacy.
Today, The Royal Ballet School’s alumni network flourishes as a global community of dancers, choreographers, and creative leaders. This article celebrates how former students continue to shape the world of dance and give back to the next generation, extending the School’s legacy far beyond the studio walls.
A Global Community Rooted in Shared Experience
What makes The Royal Ballet School’s alumni network exceptional is not only the calibre of its members, but the lifelong connection they maintain with one another and the School. Graduates become part of a vibrant international community that celebrates shared values, nurtures talent, and supports the next generation of dancers. Through newsletters, School events, and alumni initiatives, the network fosters ongoing engagement and collaboration long after the final curtain call.
Alumni Spotlights: Dancers Taking Centre Stage Worldwide
The School’s recent International Dance Day 2025 celebration spotlighted the global success of its alumni. Guillem Cabrera Espinach, who joined the School in Year 7 from Spain, is now dancing with Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. He recently performed in the US premiere of Cathy Marston’s Atonement after developing his own choreography during his training in London.
Italian dancer Eleonora Ancona has also made her mark since graduating in 2021. Now dancing with the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre in the Czech Republic, she was nominated for a Jantar Award in 2023 for her performance as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake.
Other notable alumni include Basil James (Hong Kong Ballet), Koko Bamford (Dutch National Ballet), Danielle Muir (Staatsballett Berlin), and Brandon Lawrence (Ballett Zürich), all of whom continue to bring their Royal Ballet School training to international audiences.
While many alumni continue to shine on the world’s biggest stages, others are forging innovative paths that reflect the diversity and adaptability of their Royal Ballet School training.
From School to Stage: A Royal Journey
The School’s strong relationship with The Royal Ballet creates exceptional opportunities for alumni. Ella Newton Severgnini and Viola Pantuso exemplify this connection, both having recently made their debuts as Alice in Christopher Wheeldon’s “Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.”
Severgnini’s journey with the School began as a Junior Associate before joining White Lodge in Year 7. She joined The Royal Ballet as an Aud Jebsen Young Dancer in 2022 and is now an Artist with the Company. Being cast as Alice in her first official season came as a shock: “I was shocked. I was at the end of my first official season so I wasn’t expecting to be cast in a principal role. I’d never done a solo on stage with the Company and the prospect of dancing a three-act ballet was daunting, but I felt more excited than anything else,” she shared.
American dancer Viola Pantuso, who joined the School in Year 11, graduated into The Royal Ballet as an Aud Jebsen Young Dancer in 2021 and was promoted to First Artist in 2024. For Pantuso, performing as Alice held special significance: “What made it more special was that Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland was the first ballet I saw the Company perform while a student at the School.”
Both dancers appreciate Christopher Wheeldon’s choreography. Severgnini notes that “Chris’s choreography is clever in the way it works in tandem with Joby Talbot’s music. He does a lot of narrative ballets so it’s not all about the steps.” Pantuso adds, “I love how detailed his footwork is, and that every movement has a purpose. There’s also this perfect marriage between the music and movement.”
Beyond Ballet: Alumni Forging New Paths
Not all Royal Ballet School graduates follow traditional ballet careers, demonstrating the versatility their training provides. Rex Wheeler, an alumnus who trained at White Lodge before attending Elmhurst Ballet School, exemplifies this diversity of experience.
After dancing with companies including Slovak National Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, and Smuin Contemporary Ballet, Wheeler discovered drag while living in San Francisco. “When I was at school, I thought I’d be a bunhead forever – classical ballet until I die! As I got older, I realised there was more in my heart and mind than being a silent dancer,” Wheeler reflected.
He created the drag persona Lady Camden, which eventually led him to compete on RuPaul’s Drag Race, reaching the final two. During this time, he filmed a docu-fiction film “Lady Like” following the story of Rex Wheeler and Lady Camden.
Wheeler’s ballet training proved invaluable in his drag career: “I think that was down to my ballet background. I’m used to being compared to my peers and I’ve learnt not only physical strength but how to be smart with my body, how to be patient with progression, how to take care of my brain and emotions and how to keep my eye on the prize even when there are knock-backs.”
Supporting the Next Generation: Mentorship and Community
The alumni network provides crucial mentorship and support for new generations of dancers. Jade Heusen, who attended the School before joining Birmingham Royal Ballet until 2018, exemplifies this commitment to giving back.
Heusen recently established Ballet Buddy, an initiative providing personalised mentorship “that bridges the gap between dancer, teacher, and therapist, offering a safe space for guidance, reassurance, and clarity.” Her insights from both her training and professional career, including the challenges of burnout and depression, now benefit young dancers navigating similar experiences.
“At the same time my son was born, Dancer’s Career Development released a new programme for ex-dancers to mentor Royal Ballet School students in their final year,” Heusen explained. “I had the pleasure of working with recent alum, Tianie-Finn Grainger. I could pay forward my experiences, offering empathy and alternative approaches to the challenges she faced.”
This cycle of support reflects the School’s deeper mission of fostering a community that sustains the art form. As Heusen noted about her mentoring work, “Her mother thanked me for being there for Tianie, which meant so much and added to my hope that I might be able to make a positive difference doing more of this work.”
Through its alumni network, The Royal Ballet School ensures that the values, artistry, and sense of community instilled during training continue to thrive across generations. With regular updates, invitations, and mentoring opportunities, the School remains a lifelong partner in its graduates’ artistic journeys. Find out more here: https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/discover/alumni/