Anthea M King School of Dancing shares how our new Cardiff Associate centre will support the Welsh dance community
(This artical was written by Catja Christensen and originally published by the Royal Ballet School on their Website on 13th March 2026).
When the Royal Ballet School announced a new Associate centre opening at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in September 2026, Cardiff-based dance school owner Anthea King said, “I was delighted to say the least!”
With new Associate centres popping up around the UK – most recently Cardiff, Newcastle and Stroud – many regional dance teachers and families have wondered how the Associate Programme will impact their schools and students. Anthea shared her thoughts on why she is excited about the opportunities the new Cardiff Associate centre will provide for her students.
Anthea is the founder of Anthea M King School of Dancing, which is based in Barry, just eight miles southwest of central Cardiff. She earned a Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Scholarship to attend the School’s Associate classes at our previous Cardiff centre in her youth.
“My former teacher, Marguerite Thomas, was a life member of the RAD and took the Associate classes in Cardiff many years ago. I remember being in the Associate Programme myself aged 11. It was quite a long journey from a train to a trolley bus to get to the hall in Cardiff, but it was the lessons that mattered and I loved them. After many years, the original Cardiff centre closed, and the nearest Associate centre to us was Bristol, which was too far to travel for some.”
Anthea has passed on her love of the Associate Programme to her students, who attended our Cardiff Associate Insight Day in November 2025.
“The students absolutely loved it. Some were a bit nervous being in a different venue and having a different teacher, but the classes were enjoyable, and the students soon settled as the class progressed. They were excited and happy, and I was pleasantly surprised that some even answered questions in class, which showed confidence was blooming!”
“Parents were happy and very grateful that their children were given this amazing opportunity to experience an awareness and understanding of working with other students and teachers. It was a high-quality, positive learning experience. The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama is the perfect setting, and I am proud to say that a former student from my dance school is the Head of Musical Theatre at the RWCMD.”
“For aspiring professional dancers, the regional Associate centres provide a pathway for dancers to receive high-quality training and mentorship alongside their regular classes. Working together with the Associate Programme and local schools will provide valuable opportunities, especially if they wish to pursue full-time training.”
Anthea has incorporated many of the School’s resources into her own school’s curriculum. She widened access to dance following the pandemic by using our former Primary Steps on Demand platform. “Primary Steps on Demand primarily benefited our children with special educational needs, enhancing their creativity and well-being. Mainstream primary students, aged seven, also thrived with the programme, enjoying modules like Science/Balance and Art/Creativity.”
In 2025, the Anthea M King School of Dancing was awarded The Royal Ballet School’s Heroes Award in recognition of its work to promote healthy living, active movement, and creativity through its outstanding use of Primary Steps on Demand.
“Learning discipline through the School’s System of Training has helped shape me as a person as well as a dancer and then dance teacher. It taught me to show up every single day with integrity, patience and purpose. I am committed to continuous learning and have a deep respect for the responsibility we carry as teachers. Training with the School gave me a positive and sustained outlook on life, and this is something I want to pass onto future generations.”
“I have always believed in delivering a holistic approach to training at our dance school – nurturing confidence, creativity and resilience through a growth mindset, which the Associate Programme supports. From the parent/child classes to our senior students, we want every child to thrive and experience a rich education in dance and music.”
From September 2026, the Royal Ballet School will offer two Junior Associate classes and one Mid Associate class at the new Cardiff centre, and from 2027 we intend to offer an additional Mid Associate class and eventually introduce a Senior Associate (14-16 years) class.
UPCOMING EVENTS:
We are delighted several of our students will be attending the following organised by British Ballet Org – in Elmhurst Ballet School, Birmingham – A Centre of Excellence.
March 31st to April 2nd 2026 – Junior Dance Days, Ages 6 to 7 Years – Children take part in 2 classes, watch a class in the theatre and enjoy a tour of of the prestigious Elmhurst Ballet School
March 31st to April 2nd 2026 – Residential Course, Ages 8 to 18 Years – 3 days of multi-genre classes and work towards a showcase at the end of the course.
March 31st to April 2nd 2026 – CPD for Teachers – Structured Observation.
Saturday 28th March 2026 – Principality Stadium Event
Friday 24th July 2026 – Glastonbarry Juniors – Tiny Tots Disco
Back to the Studio: Insights from Three Dance Schools using Primary Steps on Demand (PSOD)
The above news article features the Dancing School and was published on The Royal Ballet School Website. Please Click Here to read the full post
This is a true fairytale story and it began 24 years ago when a little boy named Philip age 6 years come to dance class. He had been asking him mum for sometime if he could start as he came every Saturday morning with his mum to bring his sister and finally she said he was getting on her nerves and could he please come to a class also saying I don’t know how long it will last but I’m happy for him to give it a try ….after numerous Medal Tests, shows,performances in London, lead parts in our yearly school pantomime he left to go to University, but never really left because he still called in with fresh cream cakes, made cups of tea and was always ready to ‘fix’ and repair anything that needed attention, during those years a very strong bond grew between us and he became such a huge part of our family , he was an usher at Alicia’s wedding and he was always there for me I only had to ask and it would happen! …….. in those early years a little 6 year old girl named Jessica also started dancing and joined the same class , everyone got on really well and it was a very happy,friendly and supportive class and it was one of those classes where most children were exceptionally good and whatever you gave them they would keep working at it until they got it right.
Jessica, like all the other girls really enjoyed having Philip in class, I never had to deal with anyone saying ‘I don’t want to hold a boy’s hand ‘ etc , as time passed and the ups and downs of daily life took its toll with some of the girls Philip was always there to give his support but when Jessica went through a difficult time the friendship grew stronger.
Jessica also headed off to University but still continued to attend classes. Jessica like Philip took numerous Medal Tests, appeared in every show and also took lead parts in our yearly pantomimes plus danced in Disneyland Paris and appeared in all the leading London Theatres. Philip became a Chaperone and helped with the boy’s choreography, fitting the boy’s costume etc and on one occasion at the end of a dance in a London show carried Karys from one side of the stage to the other up 3 flights of stairs to the dressing room after she sustained an injury at the end of the dance ….. I always felt if Philip was with us I didn’t have to worry about anything he took command and dealt with the situation.
Christmas 2016 Philip proposed to Jessica and they got engaged and it really came as no surprise as we all knew it would eventually happen! We were all waiting in anticipation for the ‘big day’ and last year they started making plans for their wedding and just a few weeks ago they asked Robert if he would choreograph their ‘first dance‘. Thrilled and excited we were all looking forward to their Wedding Day which took place yesterday Saturday 12th May 2018. A rainbow 🌈 themed wedding which filled the whole event with the colours in their lives and we hope that ‘pot of gold’ at the end of the rainbow will be full of love, health and happines for these two very special people who richly deserve to be blessed with all that they wish for …. they have given me unbelievable joy because through the dancing school they met and became ‘husband and wife’. ❤️XX
