Celebrating Ninette de Valois: a conversation with Gailene Stock

In 2026 Voices of British Ballet is celebrating the life of Ninette de Valois, to mark the centenary of the Royal Ballet School, with a series of interviews and special episodes that illuminate her life and artistic practice.

In this episode, Jay Jolley, introduces an interview with Gailene Stock who was the Director of the Royal Ballet School from 1999 until her death in 2014. The interview was recorded in 2011 at a conference dedicated to Ninette de Valois and Gailene talks about meeting de Valois as a student at the Royal Ballet School aged 16 and reflects on de Valois’ achievements.

Jay Jolley is a former Assistant Director of the Royal Ballet School was one of the organisers of that conference in 2011.