The Royal Ballet

Founded in 1931 by Dame Ninette de Valois, The Royal Ballet rose from the Vic-Wells company to become one of the defining classical ensembles of the twentieth century. Its identity was forged by the choreography of Frederick Ashton and Kenneth MacMillan, whose narrative ballets — from "La Fille mal gardée" to "Manon" and "Romeo and Juliet" — remain pillars of the international repertoire. Resident at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden since 1946, the company pairs a meticulously preserved classical tradition with an ambitious commissioning programme under successive directors. Its dancers are drawn from the Royal Ballet School and from companies worldwide, and its principals rank among the most celebrated artists of their generation. The Royal Ballet performs roughly 150 times each season, sharing the Opera House stage with The Royal Opera, and reaches global audiences through its cinema relay programme broadcast to thousands of venues.