The Royal Ballet School partner with The Commonwealth Resounds to create a dance film to share around the world in the lead up to the 2026 Commonwealth Games.

Royal Ballet School students performing in The Commonwealth Dance Relay. © 2026 The Commonwealth Resounds

Commissioned by The Commonwealth Resounds, 11 of the School’s Year 10 students were recently invited to work with School alum and choreographers Shevelle Dynott and Sebastian Loe, to create a six-minute dance interpretation film to start the Commonwealth Dance Relay.

A global celebration of youth, culture, and creativity, the Commonwealth Dance Relay brings together young dancers from across the UK and around the Commonwealth in a powerful, competitive dance relay.

Dance groups, schools, music centres and others across all 56 Commonwealth countries are invited to continue the relay by choosing a section of the dance according to region and creating their own dance interpretations to the soundtrack.

This cross-cultural, multi-disciplinary project builds towards one confirmed major live performance at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings in Antigua and Barbuda in November 2026, and a proposal for similar activity at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in July/August 2026.

School alum and co-creator of the piece, Shevelle Dynott, said of the initiative:

‘Having the opportunity to create a work at The Royal Ballet School, a place I once called home alongside a friend I met there, working with the dancers of tomorrow to music by emerging composers from across the Commonwealth, was an absolute joy. What began as a small meeting of minds, rooted in a desire to inspire, grew into something far larger, engaging a new generation of young artists. This way of working – creating space for others to grow – is something that has deeply aligned with me since stepping away from the stage.’

Submissions for the relay are now open. To enter, follow these steps:

1. Go to commonwealthresounds.com/project/commonwealth-dance-relay/ to watch the demonstration film, access helpful tips and download the audio file.
2. Choose a section of the dance according to region and film your own interpretation
3. Upload your recording using the form here.