The Royal Ballet

One of the world’s greatest ballet companies

Under the directorship of Kevin O’Hare, the Company unites tradition and innovation in world-class performances at our Covent Garden home.

The Company’s extensive repertory embraces 19th-century classics, the singular legacy of works by Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton and Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan and a compelling new canon by Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon.

The Royal Ballet is committed to enriching people’s lives through ballet.

Find out more about The Royal Ballet

Kevin O’Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet

Kevin O’Hare has been Director of The Royal Ballet since 2012.

Marcelino Sambé in rehearsal for The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, The Royal Ballet © 2017 ROH. Photograph by Bill Cooper

Dancers of The Royal Ballet

Discover more about each of The Royal Ballet’s world-class dancers.

Koen Kessels, Music Director of The Royal Ballet

Conductor Koen Kessels has been Music Director of The Royal Ballet since 2015.

Wayne McGregor, Akane Takada and Federico Bonelli in rehearsal for Tetractys, The Royal Ballet © ROH/Johan Persson, 2014

The Company Choreographers

Two choreographers have permanent positions with The Royal Ballet: Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon.

Christopher Saunders and Alexander Agadzhanov in rehearsals for Don Quixote © ROH / Johan Persson 2013

Staff

Discover more about the support team behind the performances on stage.

The Sleeping Beauty. Garland waltz, Act I. The Royal Ballet. 2011. ©ROH/Johan Persson

Governors of the Royal Ballet Companies

The Governors are the custodians of the traditions established by Ninette de Valois with the founding of the School and Company in 1931.

Margot Fonteyn as Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty (1946), Sadler's Wells Ballet (later The Royal Ballet). Photograph by Frank Sharman © ROH

The Royal Ballet’s History

Find out more about the Company’s founder Ninette de Valois and how she forged a British ballet tradition.

The Royal Ballet School

Founded in 1926 by Ninette de Valois, The Royal Ballet School is the official school of The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.

The Royal Ballet

Patron: HM The Queen

President: HRH The Prince of Wales

Vice-President: The Lady Sarah Chatto

Director: Kevin O’Hare CBE (Position generously supported by Lady Ashcroft)

Music Director: Koen Kessels

Resident Choreographer: Wayne McGregor CBE

Artistic Associate: Christopher Wheeldon OBE (Position generously supported by Kenneth and Susan Green)

The Royal Ballet is one of the great ballet companies of the world. Under the leadership of Director Kevin O’Hare, grand balletic tradition and an illustrious heritage are united with innovation, daring and exceptional standards of artistry, creativity and stagecraft to produce supreme theatre. It is a beacon in the cultural life of Britain and a driving force behind the development of ballet as an artform. From the Company’s base at the Royal Opera House in London’s Covent Garden, today’s most dynamic and versatile dancers come together with a world-class orchestra and leading choreographers, composers, conductors, designers and creative teams to share an awe-inspiring theatrical experience with diverse audiences worldwide. The Company’s commitment to enriching people’s lives through ballet is reflected in the deep relationships it forges through digital and learning platforms and international touring. The extensive repertory of The Royal Ballet follows a unique trajectory from 19th-century classics to the singular legacy of works by Founder Choreographer Frederick Ashton and Principal Choreographer Kenneth MacMillan and the compelling new canon of work by Resident Choreographer Wayne McGregor and Artistic Associate Christopher Wheeldon. Along with innovative commissions and choreographic initiatives across the main stage and Linbury Theatre and strong links with The Royal Ballet School, the Company continues to refresh and surprise.

Principals: Matthew Ball, Roberto Bolle*, Federico Bonelli, Alexander Campbell, Lauren Cuthbertson, David Hallberg*, Francesca Hayward, Ryoichi Hirano, Sarah Lamb, Steven McRae, Laura Morera, Vadim Muntagirov, Yasmine Naghdi, Marianela Nuñez, Natalia Osipova, Marcelino Sambé, Thiago Soares*, Akane Takada, Edward Watson

*Guest Artist