Covent Garden and The Royal Ballet School will come together this summer for a landmark Piazza takeover marking the School’s centenary year, transforming one of London’s most iconic public spaces into an open-air celebration of ballet, performance and creativity.
An open-air celebration of ballet in Covent Garden
Launching from 22nd June, the six-day activation will transform the iconic Piazza into an immersive hub of dance and creativity. Inspired by the School’s 100-year legacy, the takeover will feature daily screenings of students in class, on stage and in student choreography showcases, live public participation, open-air film screenings and interactive experiences. For the very first time, The Royal Ballet School will give public access to full length classes, all screened for free on Covent Garden’s Big Screen.
Founded in 1926 by Dame Ninette de Valois, The Royal Ballet School has shaped generations of world class dancers and remains at the forefront of shaping the next century of classical ballet. With the Upper School located in the heart of Covent Garden alongside the Royal Opera House, home of The Royal Ballet and Opera, the School has been a cornerstone of the wider Covent Garden community for the last 23 years, playing a defining role in the neighbourhood’s cultural identity and artistic heritage.
Alongside the live programme, visitors will be able to enjoy a curated series of dance-inspired films screened across the Piazza, including Billy Elliot the Musical, Center Stage, An American in Paris, Save the Last Dance, Step Up and Ballerina.
Landmark installations in Covent Garden
The celebration will feature a new sculpture created by former English National Ballet dancer and artist Amber Hunt. The ‘Strength and Grace Butterfly’, crafted from pointe shoes previously worn by Amber and students from the School, will be unveiled on Covent Garden’s North Piazza, creating a striking visual tribute to ballet heritage. Positioned with sight lines towards the Royal Opera House, the sculpture will create a symbolic connection between The Royal Ballet School’s past, present and future.
The celebration will also extend above the Piazza with a major ballet-inspired aerial installation suspended within Covent Garden’s historic Market Building, set to be unveiled later this summer as part of The Royal Ballet School centenary celebrations.
A Piazza-wide Summer experience
As part of the wider Piazza experience, running from 20th to 28th June, Chapel Down will partner with Covent Garden as the drinks partner, offering a picnic-style setting for guests to stay, sip and enjoy the programme of activities. Coinciding with English Wine Week, drinks will be available alongside a curated menu from Courtyard Wine Cellars, featuring a selection of afternoon tea treats and charcuterie, expertly paired with Chapel Down wines.
Spanning the Piazza, the celebration will also feature a line-up of food, drink and lifestyle pop-ups. Highlights will include a “Black (sesame) Swan Matcha” from TOKKIA, inspired by legendary ballet Swan Lake and featuring a feather-like black-and-white design, while Blondies Kitchen pink strawberry shortcake “Sugar Plum Fairy” cookie will be available exclusively to Covent Garden. Alternatively, take a break from the activities and indulge in a theatre-style interval ice cream.
Throughout the celebration, visitors will also be able to shop official Royal Ballet School merchandise and have the chance to win a range of ballet and performance-inspired prizes.
Celebrating culture in the heart of the West End
Covent Garden’s connection to ballet and performance extends beyond the Piazza itself, with a number of landmarks tied to the history of dance across the area. Stroll through the neighbourhood’s streets to discover Enzo Plazzotta’s life size bronze sculpture, “The Young Dancer” on Broad Court, or head to Long Acre to see a historical blue plaque honouring Dame Margot Fonteyn, one of the School’s alumni who is widely regarded as the greatest ballet dancer of her generation. Elsewhere in Covent Garden, suspended above Floral Street is the striking “Bridge of Aspiration”, the architectural landmark connecting The Royal Ballet School with the Royal Ballet Opera House, symbolising the journey from student to professional dancer.
Alongside the activation and the wider cultural setting, visitors will be able to explore everything Covent Garden has to offer, from world-class shopping and dining to cultural and entertainment experiences across the Piazza, Market Building and surrounding streets.
A centenary celebration for London
Bringing together performance, storytelling and immersive public experiences, Covent Garden’s celebration of The Royal Ballet School’s centenary will honour 100 years of dance excellence while inviting visitors to experience ballet in a new and accessible way in the heart of London.
