Royal Ballet School to move to Covent Garden

The Royal Ballet School has announced that it will be moving into new premises in Floral Street, opposite the Royal Opera House.

The 35,000 square feet School is due to be constructed over the next 2 years in a building recently sold by the ROH for more than £20 million. 45 Floral Street stretches between Long Acre and the ROH and will provide state-of-the-art facilities for classical ballet in the UK.

The School is currently based at Baron's Court, West London. The move to the new site, so close to the ROH, will undoubtedly bring great benefits to its students. David Norman, Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Royal Ballet School, said: "The proximity to the Royal Ballet Company will provide a source of inspiration with students offered the opportunity to rehearse and perform with the Company and be taught by the Company's artistic staff and dancers".

The move is likely to be of enormous benefit to the School, providing the finest classical ballet training facilities in the world. It will also stop the site from becoming yet another bland, speculative office development. The ROH obtained planning permission for either an office scheme or the ballet school. The redevelopment of the site also includes some prime retail space along Long Acre and some residential accommodation in Floral Street. It is regrettable, however, that the Ballet School scheme is even bulkier and higher than the office scheme, resulting in the loss of light and outlook for nearby residents.

If all goes to plan, work on the huge site will begin in the Summer of 2000 and the School will be completed by September 2002.

© Covent Garden Community Association, 21^st January 2000

 

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