Celebrating Ninette de Valois: Gailene Stock

Celebrating Ninette de Valois: Gailene Stock

As part of the centenary celebrations of The Royal Ballet School in 2026, Voices of British Ballet is highlighting the life of Ninette de Valois, founder of The Royal Ballet and The Royal Ballet School, through a series of interviews and special episodes that illuminate her career and artistic practice.

In this episode, Jay Jolley introduces an interview with Gailene Stock, who was 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 Stock talks to Patricia Linton, founder and director of Voices of British Ballet, about meeting de Valois for the first time at the School when she was a 16-year-old student. She also reflects on de Valois’ achievements.

Jay Jolley is former assistant director of The Royal Ballet School and was one of the organisers of that conference in 2011.