Elena Glurdjidze
Birthplace
Tbilisi, Georgia
Training
Tbilisi Choreographic School, Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, St-Petersburg
Previous Companies
Russian Ballet Company, St Petersburg, St Petersburg State Academic Ballet Theatre, St Petersburg Ballet Theatre of Konstantin Tatchkin
English National Ballet
Joined in 2002 as a Principal Dancer; became Lead Principal in 2007
Favourite roles
Giselle in Giselle, Kitri in Don Quixote, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, and Manon
Career highlights
Created leading role of the Gypsy Girl in Michael Corder’s The Snow Queen and Virginia in The Canterville Ghost. Appreared in Van Le Ngoc’s Vue de l’autre, Katie Melua’s It’s Only Pain, and the BBC’s production The Impressionists
Other: 2009 nominated for Best Female Dancer, Critics Circle Awards. Winner of 2007 and 2008 Ballet.co.uk Audience Poll for Best Female Dancer, Best Partner Award at 7th Perm Open Competition (2002), and 8th Paris International Competition of Soloists (1998).
Press
"... hauntingly and compelling beautiful in performance"
The Observer
Dmitri Gruzdyev
Birthplace
St Petersburg, Russia
Training
Vaganova Ballet Academy
Previous company
Kirov Ballet
English National Ballet
Joined in 1993 as a Principal Dancer
Favourite roles
Albrecht in Giselle, Solor in La bayadère, Des Grieux in Manon
Career highlights
Working with Glen Tetley and Natalia Makarova and meeting Mikhail Baryshnikov and Rudolf Nureyev
Other
First prize at the first Vaganova Ballet Competition (1988)
Press
"…Dmitri Grudzyev, noble, discreet and powerfully occupying the stage, as well as being a first-class partner"
The Telegraph
Daria Klimentová
Birthplace
Prague, Czech Republic
Training
School of Music and Dance (Prague State Conservatory)
Previous Companies
National Theatre Ballet Company, Prague (joined 1989, Soloist, Principal), Cape Ballet Company, South Africa (joined 1992, Principal), Scottish Ballet (joined 1993, Principal)
English National Ballet
Joined in 1996 as a Principal Dancer
Favourite roles
Title role in Sphinx, Odile in Swan Lake, Marguérite in Lady of the Camellias, Juliet with Vadim Muntagirov, Manon with Friedemann Vogel
Career highlights
Creating stage and film versions of Camille, creating principal role in Double Concerto and The Snow Queen
Other
Won Paris Dance Foundation Prize at Prix de Lausanne; first place Tokyo (1989), International Ballet Competition, Pretoria (1991), received The Patron’s Award from Dame Beryl Grey (2011). Won the 2011 Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards for Outstanding Female Dancer
Press
"The Company’s most classical ballerina, linear perfection and heartless glitter to dazzle any man"
The Sunday Times
Zdenek Konvalina
Birthplace
Brno, Czech Republic
Training
Brno Dance Conservatory
Previous companies
Joined National Ballet of Moravia-Silesia, promoted to Principal age 19, 2001 joined as Principal, Houston Ballet and in 2006 joined as Principal with The National Ballet of Canada.
English National Ballet
Joined in 2011 as Lead Principal
Favourite roles
Des Grieux in Manon, Romeo and Kostia in John Neumeier’s The Seagull
Career highlight
Winning the gold medal at the prestigious Helsinki International Ballet Competition and the World Ballet Festival, Tokyo
Other
Received The Rolex Dancers First Award for roles in Etudes and Jiří Kylian’s Soldiers’ Mass.
International guest appearances include Slovak National Theater, Inoue Ballet, Tokyo, Ballet, Concierto de Puerto Rico, National Ballet of Cuba, Munich’s Bayerische Staatsoper and Dutch National Ballet.
In 2010 co-choreographed Impermanence with Guillaume Côté receiving its premiere at the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino in 2010
Vadim Muntagirov
Birthplace
Chelyabinsk, Russia
Training
Perm Ballet School, Royal Ballet Upper School
English National Ballet
Joined in 2009 as First Artist, promoted to First Soloist 2010, Principal 2011, Lead Principal 2012
Favourite roles
Basilo Don Quixote, Spartacus and Flames of Paris
Career highlights
Moving to London and meeting new friends and performing the leading roles of Albrecht in Giselle and the Prince in Cinderella all during his first season with the Company.
Appearing in Derek Deane’s Swan Lake in-the-round at the Royal Albert Hall in the leading role of Siegfried.
Dancing the leading roles of the poet in Les Sylphides and the Prince in The Nutcracker and Romeo
Other info
Laureate at Prix de Lausanne competition, second place and silver medal at Arabesque competition, first place and gold medal at Vaganova Prix competition, first place at Youth America Grand Prix competition.
Winner of the 2010 Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Male Performance (Classical).
Appeared as a Guest Artist with ABT in January 2012 as Solor in La bayadère in Washington DC
Press
"Muntagirov is a ballet director’s dream; long legs: fastidiously pointed feet; jump-jet elevation and a real nobility of line"
The Sunday Telegraph
"He style immediately evident: nothing forced; his line everywhere pure"
The Financial Times
Fernanda Oliveira
Birthplace
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Training
Centro de Dança Rio, Royal Ballet Upper School
Previous Company
Ballet Nacional de Santiago de Chile
English National Ballet
Joined in 2000, Coryphée 2002, Soloist 2003, First Soloist 2004, Principal dancer 2007, Lead Principal 2009
Favourite roles
Juliet, Swanilda in Coppélia, title role in Manon
Favourite productions
Romeo & Juliet and Manon
Career highlight
Performing in Concert for Diana at Wembley Stadium and creating the role of Gerda in The Snow Queen
Other info
Won first prize and grand prix in Buenos Aires and first prize in Conselho Brasileiroda Dança.
Press
“…electrifyingly glamorous”
The Independent on Sunday
Erina Takahashi
Birthplace
Kushiro, Japan
Training
Kushiro Ballet Academy by Kou Yano, English National Ballet School
English National Ballet
Joined in 1996, became Principal Dancer in 2000 and Lead Principal in 2007
Favourite roles
Giselle, Juliet, The Chosen One in The Rite of spring
Favourite production
Mary Skeaping’s Giselle
Career highlights
Creating role of Aurora in Deane’s The Sleeping Beauty and Clara in Christopher Hampson’s The Nutcracker
Other info
Best Female Newcomer in 2002 Critics’ Circle Awards
Press
"… I could have watched the neat, fleet Erina Takahashi all night"
The Daily Telegraph
