Christopher Powney appointed new artistic director of Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company
Christopher Powney has been appointed as the new artistic director of Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company as of 1 January 2026. He succeeds Ernst Meisner, who will take up the position as director of Dutch National Ballet as of 1 August 2026.
Powney has a distinguished track record in the dance world, having held positions as dancer, teacher, artistic director, programmer and CEO. From 2014 to 2024, he was artistic director and CEO of The Royal Ballet School in London, and from 2010 to 2014, he was artistic director of the Dutch National Ballet Academy, part of the Amsterdam University of the Arts.
The Junior Company, based on an idea by Ted Brandsen and founded in 2013 by Brandsen and Powney, is one of the most prominent junior companies in the world. The international ensemble of young top talents can be seen in theatres internationally, performing a repertoire that includes existing masterpieces as well as many new creations made especially for the young dancers.
Ted Brandsen, director Dutch National Ballet, said, “Christopher Powney has unrivalled experience in various capacities, working with young dancers, an extensive international network, and an enormous knowledge of and love for dance and dancers.”
For Powney, it is something of a homecoming. “Returning to the Netherlands to lead Dutch National Ballet’s Junior Company,” he said, “truly feels like coming full circle. When Ted Brandsen and I founded the Junior Company in 2013, none of us could have imagined how vital and successful it would become as the bridge between training and the professional stage. That success is a testament to Ted, to Ernst Meisner and his dedicated team, and to the many young dancers who have thrived within it. I am therefore, honoured, inspired, and above all, excited to work with its extraordinary dancers and everyone who makes this company so exceptional.
This is a milestone year, celebrating Ted’s remarkable legacy while looking ahead to Ernst’s visionary new leadership of one of the world’s greatest ballet companies. I feel privileged to be part of this moment of transition, to support Ernst, and I am energised by all that lies ahead.”
Christopher Powney – short biography:
Christopher Powney has had a distinguished 37-year career in dance, spanning roles as a performer, educator, artistic director, programmer, and CEO. With 16 years of leadership experience and an extensive international network, he has transformed elite training institutions, curated and managed performances, and nurtured the careers of many of the world’s top dancers, leaving a lasting impact on the global dance landscape.
In 2010, he became Artistic Director of the Dutch National Ballet Academy, where he set about raising artistic and technical standards with the shared ambition and vision, with Ted Brandsen, of aligning the Academy with the company of Dutch National Ballet. He expanded the academy’s international presence, securing its status as a partner school of the Prix de Lausanne in 2012. Christopher also founded the Amsterdam International Summer School (2011) and co-founded the Junior Company of Dutch National Ballet (2013), creating a vital bridge between training and professional careers.
In 2014, Christopher was appointed Artistic Director of The Royal Ballet School, London, later assuming the role of Artistic Director & CEO in 2022. Over his ten-year tenure, he led a transformative evolution of over forty initiatives in artistic training, studio culture, and student well-being. His initiatives included the creation of The Healthy Dancer Programme, a pioneering approach to physical, emotional, and mental health support. A strong advocate for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, he oversaw the expansion of Training & Access programmes to increase diversity, elevate teaching standards, and widen access to ballet education. He also launched the Creative Artist Programme, designed to inspire students, broaden their artistic perspectives, and encourage creative risk-taking.
Today, Christopher is a highly sought-after international teacher, mentor, and consultant in dance education. He regularly serves on juries for major competitions. In 2022, he became a member of the Windsor Leadership Alumni Network.
Graham Spicer, aka ‘Gramilano’, is a writer, director and photographer based in Milan. He was a regular columnist for Opera Now magazine and wrote for the BBC until transferring to Italy. His articles have appeared in various publications from Woman’s Weekly to Gay Times, and he wrote the Danza in Italia column for Dancing Times magazine. Graham was the historical advisor on Codice Carla, the 2023 documentary on Carla Fracci.
Graham also works as a dance photographer, and his photos have appeared in many books, theatre programmes, and magazines, including Dancing Times, Dance Spirit and Ballet2000, as well as all the major Italian newspapers.
He is a member of the Dance Section of The Critics’ Circle.
