Zhanat Atymtayev
Birthplace
Almaty, Kazakhstan
Training
Almaty Ballet School
Previous companies
Russian National Ballet (Moscow); St Petersburg State Ballet
English National Ballet
Joined 2006; Soloist 2007
Favourite roles
Basilio in Don Quixote, Solor in La bayadère
Career highlight
Joining English National Ballet
Désirée Ballantyne
Birthplace
Toronto, Canada
Training
Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School
English National Ballet
Joined 1999, First Artist 2004, Soloist 2007
Favourite roles
Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Dream Alice in Alice in Wonderland and Clara in Christopher Hampson’s The Nutcracker
Career highlight
Dancing the girl in Hampson’s Trapéze at Sadler’s Wells
Other info
Toured to China with Zurich Ballet whilst still a student. Interested in independent film and contemporary music. She grew up and trained in London, speaks French
James Forbat
Birthplace
London, UK
Training
Royal Ballet School
English National Ballet
Joined 2005, First Artist 2008, Soloist 2009
Favourite roles
Hans van Manen’sTrois Gnossiennes and Prince Désiré in The Sleeping Beauty
Would love to dance
Rome; Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake
Favourite productions
Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet; David Dawson’s A Million Kisses to my Skin
Career highlights
Performing in New York and Tokyo and at the Herod Atticus amphitheatre in Athens. Dancing Prince Désiré in The Sleeping Beauty and the Prince in The Nutcracker at the London Coliseum
Other info
Enjoys playing the piano and cooking, can speak french. Has two brothers who are not dancers
Daniel Jones
Birthplace
Newcastle-under-Lyme, UK
Training
Marilyn Jones Dance Centre, Royal Ballet School, David Howard
Joined English National Ballet
1992, Junior Soloist 1999, Soloist 2003
Favourite roles
The Chosen One in The Rite of Spring, Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet
Favourite production
Romeo & Juliet
Career highlights
Appearing for Her Majesty the Queen in the Ballroom at Buckingham Palace in Romeo & Juliet
Other info
Associate producer and choreographer for ITV’s Men in Tights; twice awarded Kenneth MacMillan prize for choreography; Associate Director of Agony & Ecstasy – A Year with English National Ballet; Founder Choreographer and Creator of Physical Ballet
Best thing about touring
Travelling with his wife
Worst thing about touring
Leaving George, our dog
Favourite costume
Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet
Jenna Lee
Birthplace
Weymouth, UK
Training
Royal Ballet Lower School; English National Ballet School
English National Ballet
Joined 2002, First Artist 2007, Soloist 2008
Favourite roles
Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland; Queen of the Willis in Giselle
Career highlight
Choreographing Ballet Rocks for Sky
Other info
Choreographic credits include Signalsfor English National Ballet workshop in 2003, Fleeting Moments for Central end of year performance in 2005,Disappear for Harrods’ Truly British Event in 2005, Ballet Rocks for Sky Artsworld in 2006, Michael for Harrods Rocks Event in 2007, Rhapsody in Blue for Summertime Royal Albert Hall 2008. Produced / choreographed Livedance in 2009; a show which encompassed classical pieces with new innovative works. 2010 choreographed Swanning Around, Royal Albert Hall. 2011 choreographed Simple Symphony for English National Ballet School. Created and choreographed Against Time a collaboration between Flawless and English National Ballet in 2012
Favourite production
Manon
