English dancer Sophie Schulten joins The Royal Ballet’s Aud Jebsen Young Dancers programme at the beginning of the 2026/27 season. 

Born in Buckinghamshire, Sophie began dancing at the age of three. She trained locally at Baylins Ballet Barn before joining The Royal Ballet School Mid Associate programme and London Junior Ballet Associate programme. She went on to study primarily under former Royal Ballet dancers José Martin and Sarah Wildor. Following a year of vocational training at the European School of Ballet in Amsterdam at age 15, she entered The Royal Ballet School’s Upper School in 2023.  

While at the School, Sophie won first prize in the prestigious Lynn Seymour Award for Expressive Dance, performing David Dawson’s Metamorphosis. Her performances with the School include roles in Paquita, Frederick Ashton’s La Valse, Anthony Dowell’s The Sleeping Beauty, and Hannah Joseph’s Gridlock. During her time as a student, she also performed with The Royal Ballet in productions of The Nutcracker and Kenneth MacMillan's Mayerling.