Carlos Acosta, Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, has announced promotions within the Company and new joiners for the 2022/23 season saying: “As we approach the end of the season, I want to take this opportunity to say that I am so proud of the entire company.

“Everyone has worked so hard to make sure that everything we do is of the highest quality possible.

It feels like the past 6 months mark a return to normality and to a place where we can continue to realise our ambitions after so many setbacks.

“As we move forward I am so happy to announce our supremely well-deserved promotions; excited to welcome our new joiners and grateful to those who are moving on to pastures new. Here’s to a bright future.’

Promotions

The following promotions have been made within the company: Beatrice Parma, Yu Kurihara, Max Maslen and Lachlan Monaghan have been promoted to First Soloist.

At the start of the 2022/23 the season, Yaoqian Shang and Miki Mizutani were promoted to Principal dancers.  Mizutani joined BRB in 2012, and Shang has been a company member since 2013.

Audiences have enjoyed seeing these dancers perform lead roles in Acosta’s new production of Don Quixote, as well as ensemble pieces such as the recent On Your Marks! triple bill.
Joiners

Joining the company as Artists are Oscar Kempsey-Fagg (who hails from Birmingham), Madison Penney (Arizona), Mason King (Wellington, New Zealand), Frieda Kaden (Berlin, Germany), Jack Easton (Miami Florida), all from The Royal Ballet School and Maïlène Katoch (Paris, France) joins from Paris Opera Ballet School. Riku Ito (Yokohama, Japan), previously a Leading Soloist at Northern Ballet, joins the company as Soloist.

Hannah Martin, who after completing a year as an Apprentice with the company, joins as an Artist. Hannah trained at Elmhurst Ballet School.Olivia Chang- Clarke will join as an apprentice from Elmhurst School of Ballet. 

Leavers

Anna Ciriano Cerda – Artist: Anna joined BRB in 2021 after having danced with Orlando Ballet and English National Ballet. She trained at English National Ballet School.

While dancing with BRB Anna demonstrated her beautiful artistry in several corps de ballet roles. She was a valuable member of the cast of Don Quixote for that long run of performances and always showed a willingness to help the company in any way that she could. Anna also showed off her talent and versatility during the Don Quixote tour by performing the lecture demonstration section of First Steps Cinderella’s Storybook.

Josue Gomez-Sarria – Artist: Josue joined BRB in 2021 after having trained at Elmhurst Ballet School. Josue proved himself to be a very talented dancer with great potential during his time with BRB. Josue danced the Seguidilla as well as many performances of Rascals in Don Quixote and always brought energy and commitment to each role that he was given. It is not always easy to fit into a ballet company as a new joiner but Josue made friends very quickly and has been a really positive presence at BRB. 

Alexander Yap – Artist: Alexander joined BRB in 2018 after having been a member of Northern Ballet from 2015. Alexander trained at Royal Ballet School. During his time as a member of BRB Alexander has excelled in many roles. He appeared as Honneur in Sir David Bintley’s King Dances, Hilarion in Sir Peter Wright’s Giselle and most recently was fantastic as Espada in Don Quixote. During Nutcracker Alexander broadened his artistic experience by taking on the role of Drosselmeyer. With his impressive set of skills and exceptional work ethic, Alexander has a very exciting career to look forward to.

Alexander is joining Hong Kong Ballet as a Soloist.