In the Upper Room and Embrace were part of a triple-bill programme by Birmingham Royal Ballet called Polarity & Proximity. Embrace, a new ballet commissioned from choreographer George Williamson as part of Ballet Now, Birmingham Royal Ballet's five-year programme, run in conjunction with Sadler's Wells, to develop choreographers, composers and designers to create … [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...]
Lead Principal Aaron Robison to leave English National Ballet after one season
Lead Principal Aaron Robison has decided to leave English National Ballet at the end of the current season. Robison only joined English National Ballet in June last year and will be returning to San Francisco Ballet where he danced as a Principal from 2016-2017, prior to joining ENB. Before that he danced with Houston Ballet, Corella Ballet, and Birmingham Royal Ballet. He … [Read more...]
Tributes to choreographer Dame Gillian Lynne flood in from the worlds of musicals and ballet
A tweet from Peter Land on Dame Gillian Lynne’s account on Sunday evening, 1 July, announced that the beloved choreographer had died - she was 92: Rest In Peace my darling Gillie. I am heartbroken to write that Dame Gillian Lynne DBE & my dearest wife & friend & love for 40 years passed away at 6.20pm tonight 1st July 2018 at the Princess Grace Hospital. She … [Read more...]
Former Royal Ballet principal Miyako Yoshida becomes Artistic Director of New National Ballet Tokyo
Miyako Yoshida, former Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet, has been appointed Artistic Director of the New National Ballet Tokyo. The Ballet Company is part of Tokyo's New National Theatre, Japan's most prestigious centre for the performing arts, taking in opera, ballet, contemporary dance and drama. This season celebrates its 20th anniversary. Yoshida will be the … [Read more...]