The Royal Ballet School has named Patrick Harrison as its inaugural full-time Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Harrison, who joins from the English National Ballet, will lead the School’s continued development as it nears its centenary in 2026.
The School decided to appoint a full-time CEO in January 2024. This move followed the announcement that Artistic Director and CEO Christopher Powney would step down at the end of the 2023/24 academic year after a decade in the role. The School has now appointed a new Artistic Director, Iain Mackay, to guide its creative evolution and work alongside Harrison.
Introducing Patrick Harrison
Throughout his career, Harrison has distinguished himself in leadership roles in arts management and strategic development.
Since 2016, he has led English National Ballet as Executive Director, helping the company expand its global influence and strengthen its audience engagement. He also managed the company’s relocation to a new purpose-built facility and handled its response to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Harrison was previously Executive Director at Cambridge Arts Theatre and Director of Commercial Operations at the National Theatre.
As Director of Commercial Operations, he led the development of commercial and audience experience provision. These efforts were part of the £80 million NTFuture project and resulted in the National Theatre’s trading company achieving an annual turnover of £13 million.
Harrison chairs Battersea Arts Centre’s Enterprises Board and is one of the centre’s Trustees. Additionally, he volunteers with smaller arts organisations, offering guidance on commercial opportunities, operations, and capital projects.
A New Era of Leadership at The Royal Ballet School
This is the first time in its nearly 100-year history that The Royal Ballet School has appointed a full-time CEO. Powney has combined his role as Artistic Director with that of CEO since 2022. As Artistic Director, he has been instrumental in the School’s growth, solidifying its status as a global leader in nurturing dance talent.
Powney has also forged key partnerships with other ballet companies and implemented over 40 initiatives to enhance the student experience. These initiatives include the Healthy Dancer Programme, improved safeguarding measures, and increased mental health support for students.
The School says creating separate Artistic Director and CEO positions aligns with its continued development and the scope of its ambition. The two roles will remain distinct for the foreseeable future.
Chair of Governors Christopher Rodrigues CBE said: “Christopher’s decision to leave has given us an opportunity to review our management structure at an important point in the School’s history.”
Rodrigues acted as interim CEO until Harrison’s recent appointment to the role. For medical reasons, Rodrigues has now stepped down from his role as Chair. Interim Chair Anna Birkett will remain in the position until the School finds a replacement.
Birkett said the School’s Governors are delighted to welcome Harrison as CEO. “His experience, expertise, and passion for the arts make him an exemplary candidate for leading the School’s journey to its centenary and placing it on a sustainable footing, both artistically and financially, into its next century,” she said.
Delivering The School’s Vision for the Future
Founded in 1926, The Royal Ballet School has established a legacy of excellence in classical ballet training and dance education. While Harrison is the School’s first CEO, he joins a long line of distinguished leaders who are eager to advance its storied tradition.
Harrison says he feels “thrilled to join The Royal Ballet School at such an exciting time in its evolution.” He will help further the School’s potential as “an internationally renowned cultural institution and a world leader in the training and education of extraordinary young people.”
“I look forward to working with the Board of Governors and the School’s highly dedicated and skilled senior management team and staff to deliver the School’s vision for the future,” Harrison said.
About The Royal Ballet School
Established by Dame Ninette de Valois, The Royal Ballet School is one of the world’s premier classical ballet training centres. Renowned for its excellence, the School attracts exceptionally talented dancers from the UK and overseas. It has produced legendary performers and choreographers like Margot Fonteyn, Kenneth MacMillan, Darcey Bussell, and Christopher Wheeldon.
Today, the School’s alumni continue to make significant impacts in the ballet world. Performers like Matthew Ball, Lauren Cuthbertson, Steven McRae, Marcelino Sambé, and Francesca Hayward are inspiring the next generation of dancers. The School recently named Hayward as the Lead Ambassador of its Affiliate Programme.
The School’s admissions process focuses purely on talent and potential in classical ballet. On average, 88% of students receive financial support to train full-time, ensuring that personal circumstances do not hinder access to top-tier training. Graduates of the School often join prestigious companies such as The Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
The School also sets the benchmark for the future of classical ballet education through its comprehensive teacher training programmes. Additionally, the School promotes the benefits of dance and broadens access to classical ballet via in-person and online programmes for dance students, primary school children, and the general public.
