Ed Watson: A Different Dance – a lavish new book on the Royal Ballet dancer

Ed Watson was a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet for over 20 years until his retirement last year.

Each illustrated essay of this new, glossy volume focuses on a distinct aspect of his career. His is certainly a unique talent and his striking looks with his auburn hair and high cheekbones has led to many collaborations in photography and fashion.

In this book, which will be published in May, critic Sarah Crompton discusses his trajectory from young student to principal dancer and coach with The Royal Ballet; Wayne McGregor reflects on their long and fruitful collaboration; long-time friend Charlotte MacMillan engages in a lively conversation with Watson; and fashion designer Gareth Pugh muses on the concept of duende. The volume contains dozens of images by leading photographers including Rick Guest, Nick Knight, Anthony Crickmay, Kosmas Pavlos, Nadav Kander, Paul Smith, Laurence Ellis, Teddy Iborra Wicksteed, Liz Seagrove, Paul Grover, and Johan Persson. The photos show Watson throughout his career, in rehearsal, on fashion shoots, in the dressing room, and on stage.

The words and images tell the story of a performer of extraordinary versatility, exceptional physicality, and great artistic sensibility.

As one of the most distinctive male dancers of his generation, he has had more roles created on him than any other dancer in The Royal Ballet. His talent has been rewarded with Best Male Dancer at the Critics Circle National Dance Awards in 2001, 2008 and 2022, an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance in 2012 for his performance as Gregor Samsa in Arthur Pita's Metamorphosis, and the Prix Benois de la Danse in 2015 for his performance in Christopher Wheeldon's The Winter's Tale. In 2015, Watson was awarded an MBE for his services to dance.

Ed Watson: A Different Dance
Published by Prestel: 2nd May 2023
RRP £39.99 / $55.00, ISBN: 9783791379715

Gramilano( Editor )

Graham Spicer is a writer, director and photographer in Milan, blogging (under the name ‘Gramilano') about dance, opera, music and photography for people “who are a bit like me and like some of the things I like”. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy.

His scribblings have appeared in various publications from Woman's Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the ‘Danza in Italia' column for Dancing Times magazine.