Tamara Rojo Appointed the New Artistic Director of English National Ballet
Tamara Rojo, currently a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet is to leave the company to take up the role of artistic director at English National Ballet. Following Wayne Eagling’s stepping down as the artistic director of ENB at the end of the current season, she will take over in September 2012 for the start of English National Ballet’s new season.
Welcoming Rojo, ENB chairman John Talbot said: “We look forward to the continuing success of the company which has thrived under Wayne Eagling’s artistic direction over the last seven years. Tamara will use her worldwide reputation and creative vision to form inspiring collaborations throughout the UK and the world. She is looking forward to developing, mentoring and showcasing young talent within the company, and building the profiles of those who are already performing at the highest level.” The company will be announcing plans for 2013, under Rojo’s leadership, later this year.
Rojo has long shown interest in directing and arts management, taking part in DanceEast’s 2010 Rural Retreat for future leaders, shadowing Karen Kain at the National Ballet of Canada and sitting on UK arts boards including Arts Council East, Dance UK, the ICA and the Anglo-Spanish Society. As well as her role as artistic director, Tamara will also dance with the company using her internationally renowned reputation and loyal fan base to reach new audiences for English National Ballet across the UK and the world. She said: “I have very fond memories of my times as a dancer with English National Ballet and nothing could make me prouder than to return to this internationally respected company, with its wonderful dancers and invaluable legacy in bringing dance to the nation. I am particularly excited about working with young British choreographers, building strong relationships with our audiences in the regions, and exploring opportunities across other art forms.”
Tamara Rojo’s first Principal appointment in the UK was at English National Ballet, and it was at English National Ballet that her reputation in the dance world began to grow. The Times named her “Dance revelation of the year” after her performances as Clara in Derek Deane’s The Nutcracker. In 2000 Tamara joined The Royal Ballet, where she has in the course of time shown an unmatched range, from her superlative classical interpretations in Swan Lake and Giselle, through astounding interpretations of the finest roles of that company's heritage - including MacMillan's Manon, Juliet and the Woman in Song of the Earth, Ashton's Marguerite and Isadora Duncan, Balanchine's Jewels - and European contemporary roles such as Mats Ek's Carmen. Her final performances as a Royal Ballet principal are scheduled to be in MacMillan's The Prince of the Pagodas, Bournonville's La Sylphide and Ashton's Birthday Offering.
Source: www.theartsdesk.com, www.roh.org.uk, www.dancing-times.co.uk
Josef Bartos
Thank you for your thoughts. One got stuck in my mind – that passion makes us different from AI. Just yesterday I read…I am a dance critic. I am a member of an endangered species