KEEPING THEIR ART FORM EN POINTE

Meet the rising stars of the British ballet scene

Words: Kayleigh Dray

For a while, the ballet world stopped spinning. ree years on, and there’s still no getting away from the fact that the coronavirus pandemic has had an enormous impact on the arts. However, there’s also no denying that the crisis has o ered ballet companies a unique opportunity: to do something not just innovative, but utterly transformative – and embrace all the opportunities that digital media o ers.

Above all else though, it has encouraged them to break the rules that we have, for so long, associated with ballet.

A new production soundtracked by the music of Black Sabbath – billed as “the world’s rst heavy metal dance experience” – will premiere in September at the Birmingham Royal Ballet. Sadler’s Wells has announced that it will be nurturing a talented queer-led dance collective that explores ideas of community and its intersections with gender, sexuality, religion and class. Cassa Pancho’s Ballet Black will be joining forces with the Barbican to share a moving and inspiring piece of dance that they describe as a “love letter” to activist Nina Simone.

Northern Ballet, too, has announced the launch of its new series, Sketches, which promises to be an eclectic selection of pieces choreographed by the company’s own dancers. e Royal Ballet 2022-23 season features a whopping eight world premieres, including Crystal Pite’s artistic response to the refugee crisis.

Meanwhile, ballerinas everywhere are rapidly becoming social media stars, interacting with thousands of followers every time they share a behind-the-scenes photo or video – and adding an extra layer of intimacy and connection to their performances in the process.

‘Dance-makers and dancers are so inspiring, and the creativity and resilience that has been demonstrated in the di cult times during and since the pandemic has been incredible,’ says Joce Giles, director of learning and engagement at Sadler’s Wells.

‘I think now, more than ever, the role of artists in society is so important, and it’s so exciting to see new artistic voices being given a platform. 2023 is the year that these exciting young artists can ourish, sharing their work – live and digitally.’ e following are the ballet dancers to know:

LACHLAN MONAGHAN

Lachlan has an incredible year of dance ahead, including e Nutcracker and Black Sabbath: e Ballet, as well as several choreography commissions. Having originally set out to become a tap dancer, though, this passionate danseur aims to avoid one thing that is so o en associated with ballet: the cult of perfection. ‘I hope that when I’m performing a live show people see something real, honest, true, emotional and dramatic,’ he says. ‘And something in and of that moment, because I try never to do the same thing twice. ere’s no life in that.’

Lachlan Monaghan was recently promoted to principal with Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Rosanna Lindsey

It’s a big year for Rosanna, who is returning to the stage feeling stronger than ever a er taking a year out because of a fractured ankle. One of the most exciting dancers on the ballet scene right now, Rosanna e ortlessly blends the aesthetics of traditional pointe and contemporary dance to create something that feels both light and grounded all at once, projecting the narrative of her performance with gorgeous elongated lines and e ortlessly uid movements. ‘I get so lost in my physicality that I lose track of my thoughts and reality,’ she says. ‘And this enables my creativity as an artist to truly ourish.’ Rosanna Lindsey is touring the UK with Ballet Black.

Britain’s young dancers

KATHARINA NIKELSKI

Currently appearing in Wayne McGregor’s full-length contemporary ballet Woolf Works, at the Royal Opera House, Katharina is stepping out of her comfort zone for 2023, and embracing all of the amazing opportunities that brings. Opportunities such as, say, a very exciting end-of-season tour in Tokyo, Japan, to perform Romeo & Juliet and Diamonds by Balanchine. ‘I do think ballet is magical, especially the exchange of human energy between the audience and the dancer,’ she says. ‘And this year has the potential to be the best one yet.’

Katharina Nikelski is a ballerina with e Royal Ballet in London