Hosted by Natasha Kaplinsky, English National Ballet’s 2015 Emerging Dancer competition will be held at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on Monday 23 March 2015.
Emerging Dancer is English National Ballet’s annual event for up-and-coming dancers, now in its sixth year. Artistically directed by Associate Artist, George Williamson, it allows English National Ballet to recognise and nurture talent and encourage excellence in the Company.
This year’s finalists are: Isabelle Brouwers, Anjuli Hudson, Jeanette Kakareka, Katja Khaniukova, Vitor Menezes, James Streeter, Max Westwell, and Jinhao Zhang.
The eight emerging dancers, as voted for by English National Ballet’s dancers, artistic team, orchestra and administrative staff, perform this year in front of a panel of judges comprised of Leanne Benjamin AM OBE, Michael Nunn and William Trevitt (BalletBoyz), ENB's AD Tamara Rojo, Wayne Sleep OBE and Didy Veldman.
The Emerging Dancer Award winner is announced at the end of the evening together with the recipient of the People’s Choice Award, which is voted for by members of the public.
Last year’s winner of the Emerging Dancer Award and People’s Choice Award, Junor Souza, has since been promoted to First Soloist and performed Principal roles in Swan Lake and Nutcracker.
Junor now receives sponsorship from XL Group, supporting him in his development as a dancer while raising his profile on both a UK and international stage.
Alison McWhinney, joint winner of the Emerging Dancer Award, has since been promoted to First Artist.
The Emerging Dancer competition is generously supported by Talbot Hughes McKillop, the restructuring experts.