The Royal Ballet School has introduced a growing portfolio of online training tools aimed at equipping ballet educators with practical, evidence-based strategies. Its Enlighten webinar series, developed as part of its professional development initiatives, reflects a shift toward more accessible, flexible education for dance teachers worldwide. These digital offerings make it possible for educators to learn directly from one of the most respected ballet institutions, regardless of location.
Each webinar in the Enlighten series focuses on a distinct theme designed to support the modern ballet classroom. Subjects range from understanding dancers’ physical development to exploring the business of running a dance school. This targeted approach has made the sessions a valuable resource for both early-career instructors and seasoned professionals seeking to adapt to contemporary training needs.
Among the offerings is “The Healthy Dancer 2: Understanding Flexibility,” which explores strategies for improving dancers’ range of motion. It addresses physiological changes during adolescence and provides insights on maintaining joint health during peak growth years. Emma Porter, the Royal Ballet School’s Training and Access Healthcare Lead, leads this session, grounding the material in current scientific research.
Another session, “Postural Alignment with the Franklin Method® 2,” takes a biomechanical approach to ballet instruction. Led by Sarah Daultry, the School’s Teacher Training Manager, the class teaches how to apply movement imagery and anatomy-based exercises to enhance body alignment. The webinar ends with a guided assessment of spinal mobility, offering practical applications for the studio.
For those managing independent dance schools, “Maximising Your Dance School’s Potential” focuses on business and leadership. Karen Berry, the Senior Teacher Training Manager, presents on entrepreneurship for arts educators, covering everything from financial sustainability to performance programming. This webinar is tailored for instructors looking to balance artistic excellence with organisational longevity.
One of the newer additions to the series is “The Healthy Dancer 3: Understanding RED-S in Dance,” which introduces the topic of Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (RED-S). The session outlines the physiological and psychological effects of energy imbalance on dancers, helping educators identify early signs and create supportive environments for student health.
By delivering these sessions online, the Royal Ballet School expands its pedagogical reach. Each webinar is timed and scheduled to accommodate international audiences, and they can be booked individually or as part of a broader development path that includes the Inspire seminar series. The modular format allows teachers to customise their training around their professional goals and availability.
The webinars are also compatible with the School’s broader professional development ecosystem, including ATAP and in-person workshops. Those who attend webinars are given access to additional materials such as teaching frameworks, anatomical diagrams, and class templates. This ensures that learning extends beyond the virtual classroom into practical application.
This initiative is part of a larger shift at the Royal Ballet School to offer education not just to dancers, but to the professionals who shape them. Through Enlighten and similar digital programmes, the institution provides a direct link between its expertise and studios around the world. In doing so, it reinforces its role not just as a training centre, but as a hub for global dance education.