Royal Ballet Benevolent Fund

The fund offers help in cases of illness or injury, as well as financial or personal difficulties. It also provides upskilling grants to boost career prospects. Support is available to UK residents who have trained or worked in the UK within ballet, contemporary, or musical theatre dance. The fund covers a range of needs, including medical costs and hardship relief, and is designed to help dance professionals recover from setbacks or develop their careers.

The fund supports individuals working in the dance industry, including professional ballet dancers, contemporary dancers, choreographers, dance teachers, and others employed in dance presentations. Applicants must be UK residents who have trained or worked in the UK in ballet, contemporary, or musical theatre dance. The fund prioritises those experiencing adversity, such as illness, injury, or financial hardship, and requires applicants to be in receipt of all state benefits they are entitled to and have limited savings.

The fund does not support students who have yet to commence their career in dance, those working in therapeutic arts (e.g. dance therapy), or movement teachers in schools. It also excludes registered business costs, business arrears, debt repayments, loans, and funding for creating artistic work such as rehearsal or production costs.

The fund provides modest grants to individuals as a safety net for those facing adversity and a springboard for career development. It offers confidential, respectful aid and welcomes unsolicited applications from eligible dance professionals.