One day, William Tuckett's big sister decided that she wanted to take ballet classes. Soon after, Tuckett's mother realized that if both her children went to the class, she could have two hours free to herself. He may have had no choice attending classes at age 6, but the now world-renowned dancer and choreographer still vividly recalls how "it was all great fun jumping around to music with lots of other children."
Tuckett's early introduction to ballet in the central English city of Birmingham, helped him become "a good enough dancer" to enter the Lower School of the Royal Ballet School (RBS) in London at age 10. But, he says modestly, he was not good enough to stay there. After two years, he says he was "thrown away" by the school and he returned to a regular school in the western city of Bristol. It was there that he became involved in theater activities and learned to sing and play the viola and piano. Recalling his RBS setback, though, he says with real feeling, "It was good for me."
It must have been, because just four years later, Tuckett auditioned for the RBS's Upper School and won a place there at age 16. Soon after, his choreography skilled blossomed and he began winning prizes.