English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer 2017

Under the artistic directorship of Tamara Rojo, English National Ballet has gained new acclaim as it introduces innovative new works to the Company’s repertoire while continuing to honour and reinvigorate traditional ballet. Founded in 1950 as London Festival Ballet by the great English dancers Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, it has played a major role in the growth and history of ballet in the UK. Today, the organisation is renowned for taking world-class ballet to the widest possible audience through its national and international tour programme, offsite performances at festivals, distinguished orchestra, and educational initiatives.

Now in its eighth year, English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer Award will be held at Sadler’s Wells on Thursday 25 May 2017. Through this annual event, English National Ballet recognises the excellence of its artists. Selected by their peers, six of the company’s most promising dancers perform in front of an eminent panel of judges, before one receives the 2017 Emerging Dancer Award. The recipients of the People’s Choice Award, 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, will also be revealed.

Emerging Dancer is a key part of English National Ballet’s commitment to developing and nurturing talent within the Company. This year’s finalists are:

Isabelle Brouwers 

Having trained at English National Ballet School, Isabelle joined English National Ballet in 2014. This season, Isabelle has performed as Myrtha in Akram Khan’s Giselle, Mirliton and Lead Flowers in Nutcracker, and as Myrtha in Mary Skeaping’s Giselle. A previous Emerging Dancer finalist in 2014 and 2015, Isabelle won Silver Medal at the 2013 Genée International Ballet Competition, and came second place in Young British Dancer of the Year 2013.

Rina Kanehara

Rina trained at the Princess Grace Academy, Monaco and joined English National Ballet after being named Prize Winner at the Prix de Lausanne 2015. In the 2016/2017 season Rina made her debut as Clara in Nutcracker, and performed as Moyna and in the Peasant pas-de-deux in Mary Skeaping’s Giselle. Rina was a finalist in Emerging Dancer 2016 and has won Silver Medal at Varna 2016, Gold Medal at the Youth American Grand Prix 2012, Gold Medal at Nagoya Ballet Competition 2012, Gold Medal at Nara Ballet Competition 2011.

Madison Keesler

Madison joined English National Ballet in 2013, and was previously with The Hamburg Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. This season she worked closely with Akram Khan on the creation of Giselle and performed in the title role, as well as performing as Lead Snowflakes and Flowers in Nutcracker, and as Bathilde in Mary Skeaping’s Giselle. Madison was a previous Emerging Dancer finalist in 2014.

Aitor Arrieta

Aitor joined English National Ballet at the start of the 2016/2017 season. In his short time with the company he has performed as Albrecht in Akram Khan’s Giselle, as the Nutcracker, and in the Peasant pas-de-deux in Mary Skeaping’s Giselle. He received The Professional Dancers’ Association of Gipuzkoa Discover Award in 2015, the 2015 Dancer Revelation of Gipuzkoa Prize, Gold Medal at the International Dance Contest of Biarritz, 2013 and 1st place Championship of Euskadi Aurresku, 2011.

Guilherme Menezes

Guilherme joined the company from English National Ballet School in 2011. This season he has performed as the Nutcracker and Lead Flowers in Nutcracker, and in Akram Khan’s Giselle. He was a finalist at Prix de Lausanne 2010 and was a finalist for the 2013 Emerging Dancer competition.

Emilio Pavan

Previously a member of Queensland Ballet, Emilio joined the company in 2015. He has performed in Akram Khan’s Giselle and made his debut as Nephew in Nutcracker this season.

Last year’s winner, Cesar Corrales, has since been promoted to First Soloist. He has performed principal roles in Akram Khan’s Giselle, Swan Lake in-the-round, Nutcracker, and Mary Skeaping’s Giselle, and his performance as Ali in Le Corsaire has been nominated for Outstanding Male Performance at the 2017 Critics Circle National Dance Awards.

 

English National Ballet’s Emerging Dancer 2017 – Thursday 25 May 2017 at 7.30pm at Sadler’s Wells