Mentoring the Next Generation

In 2024/2025, I was given the privilege of mentoring three students from the Royal Ballet School and the English National Ballet School. This opportunity was not only an honour but also a deeply personal journey for me. While guiding these talented young men, I couldn’t help but reflect on how much I would have benefited from having that kind of support during my own training years.

These young dancers — full of drive, curiosity, and honesty — opened up to me in ways that reminded me of my younger self. They asked questions about the future, shared their uncertainties, and expressed feelings I too once carried but never had the chance to voice. Being able to listen, guide, and simply be there for them felt incredibly meaningful. At the same time, I found myself uncovering and working through emotions from my own past. In many ways, I was learning just as much as they were.

Looking back, I realise how fortunate I was to train alongside a talented and supportive year group. Many became not just colleagues but lifelong friends. Yet even within that circle, I always knew my journey would be different. My path wasn’t something they could fully understand — and that was okay.

What struck me most during this mentoring experience was noticing how much has changed in the profession. The landscape for dancers today is not the same as it was when I was starting out. Social media, for instance, plays a huge role. On one hand, it’s an incredible tool — offering visibility, inspiration, and community. A young dancer today can see thousands of others from around the world who look like them, creating a sense of belonging and possibility that I never had. But on the other hand, it also brings the pressure of constant comparison, something that can be both distracting and damaging.

Despite these challenges, I have no doubt that these three young kings will go on to have incredible careers. Their passion, determination, and openness to growth will serve them well. More importantly, I believe they will one day pass the baton to the generation that follows, offering the same guidance and encouragement they once received.

For me, this experience reaffirmed the importance of mentorship. It reminded me that while dance is an art form rooted in discipline and tradition, it is also a human journey — one that thrives when stories, struggles, and wisdom are shared.

The next generation is ready. And I feel proud to have played even a small part in their path forward.