NYB’s Beyond Ballet® is an unparalleled initiative that supports emerging creative artists from all areas of the theatre industry to develop a professional career in the creative-industries, especially those who are currently under-represented.

in the early stages of their professional careers. Each year we select a number of emerging choreographers, dance leaders, rehearsal directors and young industry professionals working in lighting design, costume design and stage management aged 18-25 to take part.

Beyond Ballet® emerging artists gain invaluable practical skills through working alongside established professionals and talking to industry professionals about their practice.  They also have opportunities to create and share their own work and work together to develop their professional network.

Between 2023 and 2024 Beyond Ballet® Choreographers Amy Groves,  Rosie Mackley and Savannah Ffrench created work with our Residential Performance Company, working alongside Beyond Ballet® Assistant Lighting Designer Ros Chase, Beri Valentine and Becky Hyson as Beyond Ballet® Assistant Stage Managers and Polly Mitton as Beyond Ballet® Assistant Costume Supervisor. Together Rosie, Amy, Ros and Polly created two original Beyond Ballet® works which were performed at Sadler’s Wells as part of our Evolving Visions performance.

In addition, young Choreographers Ross Black and Hannah George worked alongside Beyond Ballet® Lighting Designer Ros Chase and Beyond Ballet® Costume Supervisors Elisa Mozzanica and Polly Mitton on our All In! inclusive ballet programme, their work was also performed at Sadler’s Wells as part of our Evolving Visions performance.

In 2023 we created a Beyond Ballet® Network to support even more young, early careers professionals. Choreographers Catherine Sleeman, Harry Wilson, Anna Smith and Joeley Gibson joined us as part of this wider Network, and they took part in the online professional skills development activities.

Choreographers Catherine, Joeley, Amy and Hannah created a short film in collaboration with English Heritage Shout Out Loud Young Producers called  Beyond The Plaques. The film has been nominated for several awards including Cinedanza Festival and Miami Light Screendance Festival and selected for festivals including the Dance East Film Festival. You can find out more about the film here: @beyondtheplaques_thefilm

In 2021/22  Beyond Ballet® artists Bianca Mikahil, Alice O’Brien and Tierney Lawlor worked with NYB and received mentoring opportunities with the company, their time with the company culminating in opportunities for all three artists to create short pieces of choreography for the National Youth Ballet.

Former Beyond Ballet® artist (2015/16) Arielle Smith co-choreographed The Nutcracker with English National Ballet in 2024 and is an associate choreographer with San Francisco Ballet.

There has never been a more crucial time to support and nurture the creative talent of the future. In addition to a creative opportunity, the Beyond Ballet® emerging artists gain invaluable practical skills through working alongside and talking to established industry professionals about their practice. Having improved skills as a freelancer, increased confidence and wider industry networks will in turn enhance future prospects and chances of further employment, creating new pathways on the NYB participant journey.

Photo (c) Lachlan Monaghan

Beyond Ballet® is supported by the Abderrahim Crickmay Charitable Settlement, The Leche Trust CIO and Garrick Charitable Trust. NYB’s new commissions for performance in 2024 are supported by Cockayne – Grants for the Arts: a donor advised fund held at The London Community Foundation.

THE LECHE TRUST CIO