Through this annual event, we recognise the excellence of our artists here at English National Ballet. Selected by their peers, six of the Company’s most promising dancers perform in front of an eminent panel of expert judges, before one receives the 2019 Emerging Dancer Award.
Also revealed on the night will be the recipients of the People’s Choice Award as selected by members of the public, and the Corps de Ballet Award, acknowledging the work on and off-stage of a member of the Corps de Ballet.
Joining our Artistic Director Tamara Rojo on the judging panel this year are:
The finalists will first perform a classical pas de deux, followed by a contemporary solo. This year will see Rhys Antoni Yeomans and Emilia Cadorin dance a pas de deux from Coppélia, Shale Wagman and Alice Bellini will perform the Grand Pas Classique, and Rentaro Nakaaki and Julia Conway dance Flames of Paris.
Rhys Antoni Yeomans will then dance a solo from William Forsythe’s In The Middle, Somewhat Elevated, while Emilia Cadorin will dance BAM! choreographed by First Soloist Fabian Reimair, who has also composed the music to accompany the piece. Shale Wagman will perform Peculiar Mind choreographed by Nürnberg Ballet dancer Sofie Vervaecke, and Alice Bellini performs Danish choreographer Sebastian Kloborg’s CLAN B.
Julia Conway has worked with Rambert dancer Miguel Altunaga to create her solo piece Untitled Code, and Rentaro Nakaaki has worked with choreographer Nuno Campos, who has created Own for Rentaro to perform on the evening.
The evening will also see a special performance from last year’s Emerging Dancer Award winner Daniel McCormick, who will perform a pas de deux from Don Quixote with First Artist Francesca Velicu.
As is tradition, this year’s finalists have been mentored by their peers in the Company. Pedro Lapetra has worked with Julia Conway and Rentaro Nakaaki. Julia has also worked with Shiori Kase during the process. Alice Bellini has been supported by Junor Souza, Fernanda Oliveira, and Jeffrey Cirio for her solo. Erina Takahashi and Adela Ramírez have coached Emilia Cadorin. Shale Wagman has been mentored by Fernando Bufalá. Rhys Antoni Yeomans has been working with James Forbat and Barry Drummond.
