The Royal Ballet

15 JULY 2009
For immediate release

Steven McRae becomes The Royal Ballet’s newest Principal in 2009/10 season promotions

The Royal Ballet’s Steven McRae has been promoted to Principal in the recent Company promotions. The Australian dancer joined the Company in 2004 after two years at the Royal Ballet School and has risen quickly through the ranks. His first major role as a Principal will be in The Royal Ballet’s first performance of Glen Tetley’s Sphinx on 4 November.


Stephen McRae in Now
Photo : Bill Cooper

Also promoted are: Helen Crawford, Hikaru Kobayashi and Sergei Polunin to First Soloists; Kristen McNally becomes a Soloist and Leanne Cope, Olivia Cowley, Melissa Hamilton and Nathalie Harrison are promoted to First Artists. Sian Murphy becomes Assistant Ballet Mistress which she will undertake alongside her role as a First Artist.

The Company is also pleased to welcome graduates of the Royal Ballet School Leticia Stock, Tristan Dyer and Benjamin Ella who join as Artists. Hayley Forskitt from the Norwegian National Ballet and Jacqueline Clark from Ballet Ireland, who both trained at the Royal Ballet School, also join as Artists along with last season’s Prix de Lausanne Apprentice Akane Takada. Rina Nemoto joins as a Prix De Lausanne Dancer.

The Royal Ballet bids a fond farewell to Principal Alexandra Ansanelli, First Soloist Isabel McMeekan, Soloist and Assistant Ballet Mistress Vanessa Palmer and First Artist Henry St Clair.

The 2009/10 season will open on Wednesday 7 October with Kenneth MacMillan’s production of Mayerling. For casting, dates and ticket prices please visit the Royal Opera House website.