10 Ways You Can Support The Royal Ballet School

The Royal Ballet School is well known as a world leader in classical ballet training.

The School nurtures talented young dancers in preparation for careers as performers and choreographers with The Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, and other UK and international dance companies. 

As a registered charity, the School relies on donations from multiple sources to deliver an outstanding dance education to its many pupils.

Though the Department for Education provides funding to the School as part of the Government’s Music and Dance Scheme, inflation and the rising costs of training mean that the generous support of individuals and organisations is more crucial now than ever before.

For those interested in supporting The Royal Ballet School, here are 10 ways to donate, provide sponsorship, or otherwise financially contribute to its many funds, programmes, and causes.

Along with the sense of pride and satisfaction in knowing you’ve helped future ballet stars achieve their potential, the School offers a number of perks and benefits to show thanks to supporters.

1. Donate to the General Fund

The fastest and simplest way to support The Royal Ballet School is to donate to its General Fund.

This flexible approach to donation allows the School unrestricted allocation of funds wherever they are most needed.

The School is hugely thankful for any donation amount, and all General Fund donors receive a subscription to the School’s e-newsletter, Encore, and acknowledgement in the Annual Review.

Higher-level supporters can expect further benefits including invitations to watch students training and performing at events like the Summer Performance at the Royal Opera House.

There are numerous ways to contribute to the General Fund:

• Making a one-off donation.
• Setting up a regular payment straight from your monthly salary through the government’s Payroll Giving service (Give As You Earn).
• Making a tax-efficient gift of shares.
• Joining the Corps and committing to a regular donation via direct debit.

Corps members receive additional benefits depending on their contribution.

Those who donate £100 per month (£1,200 per annum) or more receive complimentary tickets to Royal Ballet School events and the Summer Performances.

Those who donate £41.66 per month (£500 per year or £400/£33.33 with Gift Aid) enjoy priority booking for Royal Ballet School events, a hotline to the School’s Development Office, and termly updates on students’ progress.

2. Student Sponsorship

Perhaps you would like to direct your contribution to a more specific aspect of life at the School.

In this case, student sponsorship could be for you. The Royal Ballet School’s admissions process is purely based on talent and potential and does not take into account personal circumstances or academic ability.

The School’s vision is that talented children should be able to access an excellent classical ballet education, no matter their economic situation. 

This is why 87% of students currently depend on financial support to attend the School, with one-sixth of students coming from families who earn less than £15,000 per annum and 40% from families who earn under £40,000 per annum.

Upper School international students are particularly in need of sponsorship and bursaries.

Individuals keen to support foreign students studying at the School might consider donating to the Student Bursary programme.

Contributions begin at £5,000 and go up to the cost of covering a full, three-year bursary that will cover a student through their entire Upper School journey.

As well as the unique opportunity to help a young person fulfil their goal of becoming a professional ballet dancer, those who opt into student sponsorship receive:

• Tickets and/or priority booking for the Summer Performances and the VIP reception.
• VIP tickets to all Royal Ballet School events throughout the year where sponsored students are performing.
• Invitations to post-event receptions to meet students and other supporters.
• Regular updates on the progress of sponsored students.
• Opportunities to watch sponsored students train in class and meet them informally over lunch.

3. Contributing to Student-Specific Funds

Continuing the student sponsorship theme, individuals may want to consider contributing to a specific fund.

Each of the three following audition, hardship, and Associate programme funds are important sources of financial support for students.

Audition Fund

With ballet companies around the world facing increasing financial pressure, students will sometimes have to attend several auditions before securing a job.

The combined cost of flights, accommodation, and other travel necessities can become prohibitive for some students, which is where support from the audition fund comes in handy.

Hardship Fund

This fund helps pay for those regular, daily necessities required to be a dance student, such as ballet shoes, travel, music lessons, audition photographs, and more.

As these are not covered by a student’s grant or bursary, the hardship fund is invaluable to those who may otherwise struggle to afford the basics.

Associates

Almost 100% of students accepted into White Lodge, The Royal Ballet School’s home for students aged 11 to 16, begin their training in the School’s Associate programme.

It’s vital that the costs of the programme, an important step on the journey to becoming a vocational student, do not act as a deterrent for any aspiring young dancers.

While students can benefit from generous bursaries provided by the Leverhulme Trust, further support is always welcome.

4. Performance Sponsorship

In addition to helping young dancers involved in the Associate Programme, the vital support of various trusts, foundations, and grant-giving bodies enables The Royal Ballet School to commission new choreography and stage its yearly School performances.

Individuals can also support this aspect of School life through performance sponsorship.

Summer Performances

At the end of each academic year, students of all ages take to the stage at Opera Holland Park and the Royal Opera House to showcase their dedication and talent at the Summer Performances. Along with grateful acknowledgement and a subscription to Encore, performance sponsors receive:

• VIP tickets to the chosen sponsored performance and VIP reception (alternatively, a private drinks reception for the sponsor’s guests).
• Invitations to other School events throughout the year.
• Branding opportunities at Opera Holland Park.
• Prominent recognition in the printed programme and a full page of advertising in both performance programmes.
• Inclusion in any media and promotional material relating to the Summer Performances.

Ballet and Choreography

Every year, the School’s Artistic Director devises fresh classical and contemporary programmes to demonstrate the skills of its hard-working students.

The School also commissions two or three new works annually from current and emerging choreographers.

Sponsorship of a ballet or new piece of choreography can range from £5,000 to £10,000, though supporters can help in other ways by meeting various travel and performance costs and performance or music rights fees.

Benefactors can expect similar perks to the Summer Performances sponsors and an invitation to come and watch the visiting choreographer or répétiteur work with students.

5. The Creative Artist Programme

Another great way to contribute to the student experience is to help fund the Creative Artist Programme.

This Programme provides students with various outings and trips, stagecraft lessons and workshops, and sessions from guest teachers.

The Guest Teacher Programme gives students the chance to learn from the greatest minds in ballet today, including Royal Ballet School alumni, Royal Ballet principal dancers, and some of the world’s finest coaches.

To cover teacher transport costs, each year, the School seeks five sponsors each contributing £2,500. These sponsors receive:

• Opportunities to watch guest teachers in action.
• A subscription to the e-newsletter Encore.
• Acknowledgement from the School in its Annual Review.
• Invitations to Royal Ballet School events.
• Tickets and/or priority booking for the Summer Performances.

The Creative Artist Programme offers graduate year students the opportunity to perform overseas thanks to international tours and exchanges.

Recent tours have seen students gain valuable performing experience in New York, Tokyo, and Rome, and there have been exchanges with the Royal Danish Ballet School, Paris Opera Ballet School, and more. Benefits for the sponsors of international tours and exchanges include:

• Chances to attend pre-tour classes and rehearsals.
• VIP tickets to a preview performance in London and additional tickets to performances overseas.
• Acknowledgement in the tour programme.

6. Corporate Support

For businesses searching for a unique charity to support, The Royal Ballet School may be the ideal option. Corporate partners can fund any of the previous student, performance, or programme options and in return expect various networking and brand enhancement opportunities.

The School offers two exclusive evening events for its corporate partners per year.

Held at the impressive venue of the School’s Covent Garden studios, near the Royal Opera House, businesses can also request a pre-dinner performance for guests by Royal Ballet School students.

7. Gifts in Wills

Contributing to The Royal Ballet School Endowment Fund means helping future generations of ballet dancers and choreographers achieve their dreams.

Those who pledge gifts in their wills become cherished members of the Dame Ninette Circle and receive invitations to events and visits to the School.

8. Friends of The Royal Ballet School

Friends of The Royal Ballet School provide invaluable support through ongoing membership and regularly attending events.

Safe in the knowledge that they are helping talented young dancers progress, Friends benefit from:

• Regular updates from the School.
• Invitations to special Open Days for Friends, which offer unique opportunities to watch students perform and practise in daily classes and rehearsals.
• Priority booking for choreographic presentations and other events such as the Summer Performances.

9. American Friends of The Royal Ballet School

Those living in the U.S. can make tax-deductible contributions to the School by joining the American Friends of The Royal Ballet School.

North and South American students looking to train in the UK are especially in need of support, and generous American Friends can assist by contributing donations starting at $10,000 per annum to The Royal Ballet School Student Scholarship Programme. Benefits for this group of dedicated American Friends include:

• Regular progress updates and personal correspondence from sponsored students.
• An open invitation to visit the School in London and watch students training in the classroom.
• VIP tickets to the Summer Performances and other Royal Ballet School events in the UK and U.S.

10. One-Off Purchases and Fundraiser Events

Of course, you also support the School whenever you purchase tickets to events, buy from their online shop, or take part in special fundraising events.

Some recent examples include the annual Summer Fair, which saw the School raise £18,000 in ticket sales for a day of summer fun and student performances, and The Big Give Christmas Challenge 2021, which made £45,835.24 in donations in a single week in support of the School’s Healthy Dancer Programme.

Whichever way you choose to support The Royal Ballet School, your contribution will make a big difference to the lives of its students.

Donate to The Royal Ballet School.

About The Royal Ballet School

The Royal Ballet School is a world-class ballet training institution that provides talented young dancers with a thorough academic and dance education through its full-time, eight-year course in London.

Educating students since 1926, some of its famous alumni include Margot Fonteyn, Darcey Bussell, and Johnathan Cope.

A new generation of ballet greats who trained at the School includes Steven McRae, Marianela Nuñez, and Christopher Wheeldon.

Alongside a carefully structured dance course, academic programme, and top-quality pastoral care, students benefit from the close support of 20 healthcare professionals as part of the Healthy Dancer Programme.

Starting in their first year at White Lodge, the Healthy Dancer Programme attends to the well-being of each student, continuing right through to their graduating year.