On 18 July 2009 Bussell received an honorary doctorate from the University of Oxford. During the ceremony the university's public orator noted that she "adds to technical mastery, charm and imagination, in such a way that she seems to reveal the grace of her personality as well as the grace of movement… Moreover, she wants those who are perhaps put off by the grand portals of the Royal Opera House to enjoy the pleasures that ballet affords." [52] He added: “Inevitably, more people are interested in pop music and Rihanna than they possibly are in opera but that doesn’t mean the BBC shouldn’t not be doing opera in the same way it shouldn’t not be doing Rihanna. But beyond that, in dedicating a year to song and dance our goal is to try to make this content seems as accessible as possible.” Since 2012 Bussell has been the president of the Royal Academy of Dance [56] She is Artiste Laureate of The Royal Ballet School and is also a patron of the International Dance Teachers Association, London's Children's Ballet, Cecchetti UK, Cecchetti Australia, Dance Proms, Company Chameleon, Du Boisson Dance Foundation, National Youth Ballet and New English Ballet Theatre. [ citation needed] Bussell has been campaign president of the Birmingham Royal Ballet's fund raising campaign since 2012. [ citation needed] She is an ambassador for the giving programme of the New Zealand School of Dance and is on the board of the Margot Fonteyn Foundation. [ citation needed] She is the international patron of the Sydney Dance Company. [ citation needed] Launching the season at Sadlers Wells, he said: “I’m here because dance, song, art in its broadest sense, matter hugely to me and I know how much the BBC can offer the arts world and also our viewers when it comes to doing something really bold … The BBC acting as a creator but also an enabler, working with some of the really talented people in the arts and culture more broadly. It’s one of those things I love, which is all parts of the BBC coming together to do bigger things. This is about putting artists centre stage.”

Bussell performed every major role in the Royal Ballet’s repertoire and made frequent guest appearances with such companies as the New York City Ballet, the Paris Opéra Ballet, and the Frankfurt (Germany) Ballet. She was praised especially for the purity and radiance of her dancing, her strength and dynamism, and the intelligence and passion with which she portrayed her characters. This cookie is used to detect and defend when a client attempt to replay a cookie.This cookie manages the interaction with online bots and takes the appropriate actions. At the University of Hertfordshire dancer turned scientist Dr Peter Lovatt is now at the cutting edge of dance research. He is part of a growing movement of practitioners using dance to help with mental health. Peter and his colleagues are researching to find out if the psychological benefits of social dance have a positive effect on people with degenerative conditions. They are focusing on Parkinson's and at the class they run Darcey finds their work is delivering some surprising results.a b Magic Ballerina series listing at the Internet Speculative Fiction Database. Retrieved 26 October 2019. BBC Young Dancer 2015, which will begin in April, will see future talent compete in four categories of dance – ballet, hip-hop, South Asian and Contemporary, with the final to be aired on BBC Two in May. Reader, Jane (8 July 2018). "Strictly judge Dame Darcey honoured by Arts University Bournemouth". Bournemouth Echo . Retrieved 26 October 2019.

Movement and Dance members shine at Carl Alan Awards". sportandrecreation.org.uk. 10 February 2011 . Retrieved 26 October 2019.Darcey Bussell to chair Plymouth Theatre Royal board". BBC News. 8 March 2023 . Retrieved 28 March 2023. On 12 August 2012 Bussell performed at the closing ceremony of the 2012 Summer Olympics, descending from the roof of the Olympic stadium as the 'Spirit of the Flame' and leading a troupe of 200 ballerinas. [34] Trained at the Arts Educational School and the Royal Ballet School, Bussell started her professional career at Sadlers Wells Royal Ballet, but after only one year she moved to the Royal Ballet, where she became the youngest-ever principal dancer at the age of 20 in 1989. [3] Bussell is widely acclaimed as one of the great British ballerinas. [4] [5]