A 12-year-old dancer from Brighton has successfully completed her first year at the world-renowned Royal Ballet School, securing her place for a second year of intensive training.
Emma Pettigrew is one of only 14 students selected for her year group at White Lodge, the school’s Lower School base located in Richmond Park, London. Her achievement follows an exceptionally competitive audition process, which saw more than 1,300 young dancers from around the world apply for a handful of places.
Having completed her initial year in July, Emma has now transitioned into Year 8 as of September 2026. Before joining the prestigious academy, she trained at the Brighton Ballet School under the guidance of Principal Sonya Pettigrew.
A new era for White Lodge
Emma’s progression comes as the Royal Ballet School enters a period of institutional change. In July 2025, the school announced a move away from its traditional full-time boarding model for its youngest students. From September 2026, the school will no longer accept Year 7 pupils for full-time boarding, moving instead to a “UK Scholars” model for that age group.
This policy shift means Emma is part of one of the final cohorts to experience the traditional full-time boarding environment at White Lodge from the very start of their secondary education. The school has stated that it prioritises “artistic spark” and physical potential over technical perfection during its selection process, looking for dancers who can meet the demands of a professional career.
For aspiring dancers looking to follow a similar path, applications for the 2027/28 intake for both full-time and Associate programmes typically remain open until October. Detailed guidance on the audition process and the different levels of training available can be found via the Royal Ballet School training FAQs.
