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Erik Woolhouse

First Soloist
The company Dancers Erik Woolhouse
Image of Erik Woolhouse

Birthplace
Tokyo, Japan

Training
Austrian Ballet School, Tokyo and Royal Ballet Upper School

English National Ballet
Joined 2015. Promoted to First Artist 2019, Soloist 2022, First Soloist 2024.

Repertoire
Notable roles with the Company include the Nutcracker, Russian and lead couple in Waltz of the Flowers in Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker, Hilarion in Akram Khan’s Giselle, Torero in Johan Inger’s Carmen, Mercutio in Rudolf Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet, both Ali and Birbanto in Le Corsaire, Beggar Chief and Dancing Gents in Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, the Pas de Trois in Derek Deane’s Swan Lake and one of the Four Fates in Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella. Created roles include William Forsythe’s Playlist (Track 1, 2)

Favourite roles
Romeo, Romeo & Juliet and Basilio from Don Quixote

Roles would like to dance
Albrecht from Giselle

Career highlight
Being named Young British Dancer of the Year 2014

Other info
Trainee at Austrian Ballet Company, under Rio Mitani, Japan 2011-12 and is a huge fan of football! In 2016, Erik was a finalist in English National Ballet’s annual Emerging Dancer competition

Upcoming performances

Explore

In pictures: Swan Lake in-the-round
Rhys Antoni Yeomans and Georgia Bould in Arielle Smith's Joly Folly as part of ENB's Reunion © Laurent Liotardo
On Stage: Reunion at Sadler's Wells
Playlist (Track 1, 2): William Forsythe's Electrifying Work | English National Ballet
Find out what it's like performing William Forsythe's playful and groovy work Playlist (Track 1, 2).
Playlist (Track 1, 2): On dancing William Forsythe's electrifying work
Raymonda: Preserving Marius Petipa's choreography | English National Ballet
Find out how Tamara Rojo is striking a balance of preserving the original choreography of Raymonda while adapting it for a new narrative.
Raymonda: Preserving Marius Petipa's Choreography
Emma Hawes & Aitor Arrieta in Blake Works I for The Forsythe Evening © Laurent Liotardo
In Pictures: THE FORSYTHE EVENING
English National Ballet dancer Erik Woolhouse in Playlist (Track 1, 2) by William Forsythe © Laurent Liotardo
In Pictures: Playlist (Track 1, 2)
Le Corsaire: Erik Woolhouse as Birbanto (extract) | English National Ballet
Erik Woolhouse in the role of Birbanto in Act II of Le Corsaire.
Extract from Le Corsaire: Erik Woolhouse as Birbanto
Francesco Gabriele Frola as Conrad in Le Corsaire © Laurent Liotardo
Le Corsaire Production Photography
Erik Woolhouse and English National Ballet in Pina Bausch's Le Sacre du printemps © Laurent Liotardo.
Le Sacre du printemps production images
In pictures: Swan Lake in-the-round