From Student to Star is an exclusive Ballet News interview series featuring graduates from vocational ballet schools – such as The Royal Ballet School – as they begin their professional careers. 

Shani Moran-Simmonds has graduated from The Royal Ballet School and joins The Royal Ballet Company.

Shani Moran-Simmonds. Photo  ©2025 The Royal Ballet School. Photography by ASH

You’ve been studying at The Royal Ballet School (RBS). When did you join the School and what made you decide to train there ?

I joined The Royal Ballet School when I was 10 years old in 2017. Previous to this, I attended The Royal Ballet School Junior Associates programme (JA’s) for 2 years, and was then asked to audition a year early for The Royal Ballet Lower School, White Lodge. It was my dream to go to White Lodge after watching the Dancing the Nutcracker: Inside The Royal Ballet documentary. Before this, I didn’t really know much about the School or the Company. I then stayed at the School for 8 years. 

Prior to joining RBS, where did you train, and how early did you start ballet ?

I started dancing at the age of 4 at a local dance class in Birmingham. I think I then must have watched a ballet DVD at my grandmother’s house as one day I announced that I wanted to do ‘proper ballet’. My parents were quite shocked as it was out of the blue. I then started Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) classes at Siobhan Collins-McCarthy Dance Academy in Birmingham, and at the same time, I was selected through my primary school for the Dance Track programme which is run by Birmingham Royal Ballet. I continued my training at Nicholson School of Dance in Digbeth, Birmingham and then later on started as a JA. 

What do you think are the important things to focus on during training if you want to become a professional ballet dancer ?

I think it’s very important not to compare yourself to others, as everyone has their own journey. Refining and maintaining your technique is a very important part to focus on during your school training years, and is something that I will continue to do throughout my career. It’s important to enjoy the process and to not take yourself too seriously, especially on the more difficult days. I remember reading a quote that has always stuck with me which is “Take your work seriously, but not yourself seriously”. Whilst at the School, I would set myself goals inside and outside of the studio to help keep myself motivated and focused, while also developing myself as a person as I believe that it’s important to not only shape yourself as a dancer, but as a person too. 

Shani Moran-Simmonds. Photo :  ©2025 The Royal Ballet School. Photography by ASH

Talk us through going on pointe for the first time, and how has your technique strengthened since then ?

I was 10 years old when I started pointe work and I remember it hurting so much at the beginning. I have always had very flexible feet with high arches so it was hard for me to feel safe on pointe at a young age. My mum used to say I looked like ‘Bambi on ice’.  I then strengthened my feet and ankles a lot and had advice and support on how I can make them stronger, as I also have hypertension in my legs, which adds to the instability. I think when I joined RBS Upper School that was when I started to feel at one with my pointe shoes and I remember the difficulty level increasing quite significantly from year 11 to 1st year. In my grad year at the School, I felt the strongest and most comfortable I have ever felt dancing in pointe shoes; however, as I recently got a foot injury, it’s something that I will have to build back up for when I start with the company. 

You’ve accepted a contract with The Royal Ballet  under the Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme.Congratulations ! Take us through the process of getting the contract and when do you start work?

Thank you! It still feels like a dream! It all happened quite quickly. We had just finished a rehearsal and a member of the admin team came in to the studio and asked me to check my emails (which is quite funny because I’m known not to check my emails). After looking, I saw that I had an email saying that I have an urgent meeting with our director Iain Mackay in the afternoon. My best friend had the first meeting, and when he came out of the office with the biggest smile on his face we both burst into tears. It was then obvious that the contracts were being offered that day. It’s all a bit of a blur as I was so in shock, but I remember sitting down with the director of The Royal Ballet, Kevin O’Hare, and him offering me the contract. I just couldn’t believe it! I start with the company this month and I’m super excited. 

What do you know about the Company & have you spent much time with them during school ?

The Royal Ballet company is filled with so much history and is known for its rich legacy of classical ballet. During my time at the school, I am fortunate to have performed in a variety of different productions with The Royal Ballet. These productions include The Nutcracker, Manon, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Cinderella and Romeo and Juliet. Even though I have performed in many different productions with the Company, it’s still a pinch me moment that I’m going to be dancing alongside so many world class dancers!

Shani Moran-Simmonds. Photo : Jimmy Parratt/adancerslens

What are you looking forward to about joining the Company ?

I’m really looking forward to performing as many different roles as possible on The Royal Opera House stage. I’m also super excited to make new friends within the Company and dance amongst many of my inspirations and idols. 

How do you think company life will differ from your student days & what do you hope to bring to the Company ?

I think one of the main differences between school life and company life is that we will be performing a lot more compared to school. I’m also looking forward to finding a new sense of independence within myself in this new chapter. The Company is filled with so many incredible and well-established dancers, that have a true passion for this incredible art form. I hope that my passion and love for ballet will radiate to the audience on stage, and that I will be a positive addition to the company. 

Are there any improvements in ballet that you’d like to see developed ?

There have already been many positive changes and improvements within the ballet world. I think that making ballet and dance more accessible to everyone, and having more people of colour in the ballet world would be a great improvement as it allows for more representation of different ethnicities. 

How are you preparing yourself for your first professional contract?

Whilst navigating through my recovery from injury, I’m trying to keep myself as fit and active as possible in preparation for starting with the company this month. I often watch The Royal Ballet’s World Ballet Day, which I really hope to be a part of this year, and many other videos and performances of the Company to keep motivated. By doing this, it makes me more and more inspired and excited to start working with so many talented dancers.

What are you your best achievements as a student?

I think my biggest achievement whilst being at the school would have to be winning The Lynn Seymour Award for Expressive Dance. I also was awarded The Artistic Prize for Progress and Endeavour years 7, 8 and 9, and then The Valerie Adams Award for Exceptional Musicality and Artistry in year 11.  In my graduate year, I was chosen to represent the school in The Prix de Lausanne Partner School Choreographic Project. I was so grateful to have been given this opportunity, as I feel that I hugely benefited from this experience, and is a memory that I will always treasure. At my graduation, I was very grateful to receive The Ashton Award for showing ‘style, personality and technique in Ashton ballets’. I felt very humbled and honoured to receive such a prestigious award. 

Shani Moran-Simmonds

Why ballet?

I think deep down I always knew it was going to be Ballet. I just love how the music makes me feel when dancing and performing, and how it brings out so many different emotions. Ballet is such a beautiful art form and has been a part of my life ever since I was 4 years old. As a child, I also did Rhythmic Gymnastics, and there came a time where I had to choose between the two. I had a love for both rhythmic gymnastics and ballet which are very different yet do have some similarities, but from the beginning I had always loved ballet just that little bit more.

How do you pick yourself up on the days when things aren’t going so well?

Being a dancer, you will always have days that are tougher than others. I find that connecting with family and talking about my day, whether it’s good or bad, helps me to feel better, as my parents always cheer me up and know the right thing to say. Seeing my dog, Demon (who we didn’t name) either in person or on FaceTime, always cheers me up too. I personally find that writing things down helps me to get things off my chest, and putting a good movie on or a series also helps to keep my mind from overthinking. As a dancer, it’s always very easy to get wrapped up in all of the negatives, but remembering the positives too helps me to realise that having one bad day isn’t the ‘be all end all’. 

Do you have a dream role and/or dance partner and if so what/who are they?

There’s too many to choose from! As a little girl I always wanted to perform The Lilac Fairy from The Sleeping Beauty after seeing Claire Calvert perform it so beautifully on TV. My absolute dream role would have to be Juliet in Romeo and Juliet. I just love the choreography, the music, and all of the different emotions that go into the role. As for the classics, my two dream roles would have to be Odette/Odile from Swan Lake, and Princess Aurora from The Sleeping Beauty. I was very grateful to be cast for the roles of Princess Aurora and The Lilac Fairy in our end of year summer performances with the School this year; however I unfortunately got injured and wasn’t able to perform. I’m hoping that someday in the future I will get another opportunity to perform these amazing roles! As for my dream dance partner, there are so many incredibly talented male dancers in the company and I would be so grateful to work with any of them! 

What would you say to students entering their graduate year ?

I personally was very nervous for my graduate year as it was a year full of change, and it flew by so fast! There are many focuses of the year such as getting a job, assessments, solos and auditions, however I think it’s super important to stay in the present as much as possible, as it’s very easy to worry about the future and to panic about the weeks ahead.  It goes by very fast and I would say to try and enjoy every second of the year. There may be ups and downs, but it’s important to stay positive and to remember that everyone has their own individual journey. 

Where would you like to be this time next year and how will you measure your progress over the year?

This time next year, I hope to have had a very successful season with the Company, and would love to still be a part of The Royal Ballet. I will measure my progress by keeping track on how I develop myself as an artist performing in many different ballets and roles, and exploring choreographies and characters throughout the repertoire. I’m very much looking forward to beginning this next chapter and will continue to work hard and grow as an artist. I’m so grateful to everyone that has been part of my journey, and helped me to make my dream come true!