Francesca Hayward, Principal dancer of The Royal Ballet, has joined the cast of the film adaptation of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Cats, which will be directed by Academy Award winner Tom Hooper (The King's Speech, Les Misérables, The Danish Girl). The film has an exceptionally starry cast with Judi Dench as Old Deuteronomy (played by a man in the stage version; Brian … [Read more...]
James Hobley, Britain’s Got Talent’s autistic dancer, now 19 leaves ENB’s school to join Scottish Ballet
James Hobley, first known to the general public as a Britain’s Got Talent finalist in 2011, has graduated from English National Ballet School and has a contract to start his professional career with Scottish Ballet. I wrote about his story three years ago, because it is extraordinary and reads like a fable. Here is the beginning of that article about James becoming a … [Read more...]
Cesar Corrales will join The Royal Ballet as a First Soloist at the start of the 2018/19 Season
Kevin O’Hare, Director of The Royal Ballet said, Cesar approached me in October, having resigned from English National Ballet, about joining The Royal Ballet. I was happy to be in a position to be able to offer him a contract as a First Soloist from the beginning of the 2018/19 Season and I look forward to welcoming him into the Company. Cesar Corrales is currently a … [Read more...]
Autistic ballet dancer James Hobley wins place at English National Ballet School
James Hobley, a fifteen year-old from Redcar, has been offered a place at the English National Ballet School. Congratulations, another Billy Elliott makes his way to London! Yes, but James’s story is quite special and while any young dancer managing to surpass the ENB School auditions is outstanding, young James’s achievement is exceptional. James is autistic. His twin brother … [Read more...]
Introducing… Brandon Lawrence, Birmingham Royal Ballet
Q&A When did you start dancing? I started dancing at 8 years old and then I joined the Royal Ballet School full time at 14 Why did you start dancing? I’m not sure why… I was probably influenced through films and TV. Which dancer inspired you most as a child? As a child Carlos Acosta and Michael Flatley. I love Irish dancing! Which dancer do you most … [Read more...]