THE WHITE LODGE REDEVELOPMENT APPEAL - Securing a future for British Ballet

White Lodge in Richmond Park has been the home of the Lower School since the School’s Royal Charter was granted more than 50 years ago. Dating from the 18th century, this stunning former Royal Hunting Lodge was in need of significant improvements to comply with prevailing government regulations. In 2005, plans were unveiled for an extensive redevelopment project designed to transform White Lodge into a unique, state-of-the-art centre of excellence for future generations. The project was completed on time and on budget in February 2009 and is now a much safer and comfortable environment for its students and staff and more conducive to the training and development of its 125 young dancers. New purpose-built facilities, including two completely new dance studios, new classrooms and new accommodation, form part of the vision of a new White Lodge and a new chapter in British cultural history.

As part of the redevelopment and taking forward The Royal Ballet School’s key objective of becoming more accessible to the nation, White Lodge now houses Britain’s first-ever permanent ballet museum. This is open to the public further extending the School’s reach to the world’s ballet enthusiasts, students and academics.

Support for the redevelopment project was received from English Heritage, the Crown Estate, as freeholder, and the Royal Parks, with planning permission approved by the London Borough of Richmond-upon-Thames and endorsed by the Greater London Authority. The School’s President, HRH The Prince of Wales, took great interest in this project and marked the opening of the ‘new White Lodge’ by hosting a Royal Gala in the new studios in May 2009.

The Government’s Department for Children, Schools and Families (now Department for Education) most generously supported this project and with our many donors, parents and friends helped us to meet our £22m Appeal total in April 2010. Thanks to all our donors’ support, White Lodge has been returned to its former glory and now boasts an outstanding teaching environment offering the students of today and future generations, facilities worthy of The Royal Ballet School’s pre-eminent position.

Our most heartfelt gratitude goes to all those who supported
The White Lodge Appeal and helped secure the future of British Ballet

For further information about The White Lodge Appeal, or to support one of our many other projects please contact:

Sarah Eliot-Cohen, Head of Development
The Royal Ballet School, 46 Floral Street, London WC2E 9DA, UK
t: +44 (0)20 7845 7070 / e: sarahec@royalballetschool.co.uk