The Royal Ballet’s top choreographer has been suspended over allegations of sexual misconduct involving his students.

Liam Scarlett, 33, has been banned from the ballet company while an inquiry is carried out by independent investigators. The Royal Opera House, home to the Royal Ballet, said it was made aware of the allegations in August last year and had suspended Scarlett.

The independent disciplinary investigation was opened immediately, and is continuing.

No findings have been made against Scarlett, the Times reported, but it is thought that the claims may span a decade, and involve current and former dancers under Scarlett’s instruction at the time of the alleged misconduct.

According to The Times, the investigation is being conducted by employment company Linda Harvey Associates.

Rehearsals for a production of Oklahoma, set to be choreographed by Scarlett, who is artist-in-residence at the Royal Ballet, were delayed in August – around the time that the allegations surfaced. The company had initially said that the rescheduling was due to problems with work schedules.

A spokesperson for the Royal Opera House said: “We were made aware of allegations relating to Liam Scarlett in August 2019. The individual was immediately suspended, and an independent disciplinary investigation opened.

“The Royal Ballet Company has a code of conduct in place to ensure staff and visiting artists are always supported. As the process is still ongoing, and as a duty of care to staff and artists, we are unable to comment further until the matter has been concluded.”

The Royal Ballet school said they had not been aware of the claims until this week, but confirmed that the investigation into Scarlett’s conduct “may relate to some of our former pupils”.

“We will, of course, be offering our full co-operation to the investigation team, but since the inquiry is still under way we are unable to comment further at this stage,” a statement added.

Scarlett enjoyed a rapid rise to dance stardom, winning the Ursula Moreton and Kenneth MacMillan awards for choreography whilst at the Royal Ballet School before joining the prestigious Royal Ballet company in 2005. He was promoted to the role of first artist three years later, before retiring as a dancer in 2012 to focus on choreography.

His status as one of the world’s most coveted choreographers was confirmed when his 2018 production of Swan Lake, the first new production of the ballet classic at the Royal Opera House for 30 years, was met with critical acclaim. His works for the Royal Ballet have been continually well received, being nominated for Olivier and National Dance Awards.