Finalists announced: Emerging Dancer 2026

What is Emerging Dancer?

Part of our commitment to nurturing talent, Emerging Dancer offers young artists of the company a platform to share their growth, individuality and creative voice. 

At the event, the nominees showcase their technical accomplishments, artistry, and unique interpretations of repertoire classics and new choreography in front of a panel of judges.

This is an opportunity for the nominees to shine, and a chance for audiences to get to know them better, and to see how far their hard work and dedication has taken them.

Emerging Dancer began in 2010, under then Artistic Director Wayne Eagling. 2026 marks the 14th edition.

It will take place on 28 May at the company’s home in East London, the Mulryan Centre for Dance, and be streamed from 4 June on YouTube for everyone to enjoy around the world.

Who are this year’s nominees?

Emerging Dancer brings together six promising company dancers to showcase their technique, artistry and versatility, with awards recognising different aspects of their development.
The Emerging Dancer 2026 artists are: 

• Zai Calliste 
• Thalina Chapin 
• Tara Millard 
• Anri Sugiura 
• Sacha Venkatasawmy 
• Jakob Wheway Hughes 

What will they dance?

The evening will begin with a selection of classical pas de deux and will then move on to contemporary solos.

• Thalina Chapin and Sacha Venkatasawmy will perform a pas de deux from Coppelia (Martínez/ Delibes). They will work with Repetiteur Erina Takahashi.
• Tara Millard and Zai Calliste will perform a pas de deux from The Talisman (Petipa/Drigo) . They will work with Repetiteur Carmen Piqueras.
• Anri Sugiura and Jakob Wheway-Hughes  will perform a pas de deux from The Sleeping Beauty (MacMillan/Tchaikovsky) . They will work with Associate Artistic Director Loipa Araújo.

For the second part of the evening, the nominees will perform contemporary solos, choreographed by fellow English National Ballet dancers.

• Thalina Chapin, mentored by Lead Principal Sangeun Lee, will perform a work by Soloist Swanice Luong.
• Tara Millard, mentored by First Soloist Haruhi Otani, will perform a work by Company Artist Martinho Santos.
• Anri Sugiura, mentored by Lead Principal Fernanda Oliveira, will perform a work by Soloist Minju Kang.
• Zai Calliste, mentored by Lead Principal Gareth Haw, will perform a work by First Soloist Rentaro Nakaaki.
• Sacha Venkatasawmy, mentored by First Soloist Ken Saruhashi, will perform a work by Soloist Alice Bellini.
• Jakob Wheway Hughes, mentored by First Soloist James Streeter, will perform a work by First Artist Ashley Coupal.

The evening’s programme will also include performances of three new works, developed by company dancers Alice Bellini, Rentaro Nakaaki and Eric Snyder through Studio Sessions, English National Ballet’s platform dedicated to developing choreographic talent within the company. 

Who are the judges?

Emerging Dancer  will be hosted by Artist of the Company Taela Graff and Soloist Rhys Antoni Yeomans.

This year’s esteemed judging panel comprises:

• Former La Scala Theatre Ballet Artistic Director, Manuel Legris
• Choreographer and former Strictly Come Dancing judge, Dame Arlene Phillips
• Former Ballet Black Senior Artist, Cira Robinson
• English National Ballet’s Artistic Director, Aaron S. Watkin

What awards will be announced?

This year, three Emerging Dancer Awards will be presented, recognising the qualities that make outstanding dancers: Artistic Distinction, Technical Excellence and Versatility.

The Corps de Ballet Award, celebrating a member of the corps de ballet, and the Audience Choice Award, which is voted for on the night, will also be announced.

How can I watch Emerging Dancer 2026?

The 2026 event will be streamed for free via English National Ballet’s YouTube channel from Thursday 4 June, extending this celebration of talent and creativity to audiences around the world. 

Ahead of the final, enjoy this performance from the winner of the last edition, Breanna Foad:

Emerging Dancer 2026 is supported by CHANEL.

The Corps de Ballet Award is supported by Alexis & Frances Prenn.

The Audience Choice Award is supported by Jacquie & Paul Gulbenkian.