Tamara Rojo: Reshaping The Identity Of The English National Ballet

Tamara Rojo is the Lead Principal and Artistic Director of the English National Ballet. She is responsible for the frontier location move of the Ballet which is planned to open in 2018 in London City Island in E14, uniting the English National Ballet and its school at the same time as well renewing the repertoire of the ballet company.

Her mission is to introduce new choreographers and new ballets while preserving the authenticity and the classicism which the company is known for.

Born in Montreal to Spanish parents, she moved to Spain at an early age. She began her training at the Victor Ullate School where she developed her talent as a dancer. In 1996, Galina Samsova first noticed her during a dance competition where Rojo was asked her to join The Scottish Ballet. It was there that she received a personal invitation from Derek Deane, when Deane held the position of Artistic Director, to join English National Ballet in 2000 and within six months Rojo was promoted to Principal.

She danced the full range of the Company’s principal roles. Derek Deane placed her in the  roles of Juliet (Romeo & Juliet) and Clara (The Nutcracker). Her performances as Clara broke all box office records at the London Coliseum and The Times named her “Dance Revelation of the Year”. She again collaborated with Derek Deane for the creation of Strictly Gershwin at the Royal Albert Hall in 2008 and 2011 with English National Ballet.

Also in 2000, the year Rojo rose to notoriety, Rojo joined The Royal Ballet as a Principal at the invitation of Sir Anthony Dowell shortly after her highly acclaimed Guest Artist debut with the Company in Peter Wright’s Giselle.

Tamara Rojo is breaking boundaries and shattering ballet archetypes. She has managed to actively transform the repertoire of the English National Ballet since she was appointed  its Artistic Director in London in 2012.

She created “She Said” which was shown at the Sadler’s Wells theatre in Clerkenwell.  It is a three part ballet choreographed exclusively by women (Aszure Barton, Yabin Wang and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa), through this venture, she seeks to inspire a new generation of dancers in a world where, even in the 21st century, ballet repertory is choreographed by men. The opening piece called “Broken Wings”, narrates the life and the influence of the emblematic Frida Kahlo as a painter,  a lover . As well as showcasing other parts of her personal life.

In a world deep rooted in traditionalism, Tamara Rojo’ s ambition is to  reform the identity of the English National Ballet by introducing more modern ballet whilst still maintaining its classical programming including Giselle and the Nutcracker.

Featured Image: Jeanette Kakareka Copyright: Perry Curties

Text by Tamara Akcay