Royal Ballet Promotions, Arrivals & Departures

The Australian dancer Steven McRae becomes a Principal in The Royal Ballet’s end-of-season promotions. McRae joined the Company in 2004 after two years at the Royal Ballet School and swiftly drew praise with both his polished dancing and acting finesse.

Another much-expected promotion is Sergei Polunin to First Soloist. The Ukrainian born, Royal Ballet School trained teenager dazzled last season in the plotless Dances at a Gathering, as well impressing everyone as Solor in the story ballet La Bayadere.

Also promoted to First Soloist are Helen Crawford and Hikaru Kobayash, while Kristen McNally becomes a Soloist, and Leanne Cope, Olivia Cowley and Melissa Hamilton become First Artists.

Sian Murphy becomes Assistant Ballet Mistress which she will undertake alongside her role as a First Artist.

The Company has hired three graduates of the Royal Ballet School (Leticia Stock, Tristan Dyer and Benjamin Ella), plus Hayley Forskitt from the Norwegian National Ballet and Jacqueline Clark from Ballet Ireland, both of whom trained at the Royal Ballet School. Last season’s Prix de Lausanne Apprentice Akane Takada also joins the company, with Rina Nemoto becoming this year’s Prix De Lausanne Dancer.

Leaving The Royal Ballet at the end of the season are Alexandra Ansanelli, Isabel McMeekan, Vanessa Palmer and Henry St Clair.