Born: Lancashire

Trained: Royal Ballet School

Joined: 2007; Soloist, 2015; First Soloist, 2018; Principal Character Artist, 2024

Created roles: Iris in David Bintley’s The Tempest in 2016.

Favourite dancers as a child: Darcey Bussell and Jamie Topper.

Most rewarding role: The Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Not only is it one of my favourite roles, but it gave me the chance to create a special partnership with one of my favourite partners, Yasuo Atsuji.

Favourite one-act ballets: MacMillan’s Concerto and Balanchine’s Serenade. They are both very classical and demanding on the body, requiring technical precision throughout. The music and choreography are absolutely stunning in both and I’ve always enjoyed myself when I’ve danced them.

Awards: Sibley Dowell award for promising young dancer; Young British Dancer of the Year, 2006.

REPERTORY INCLUDES

Carlos Acosta: Don Quixote (Dulcinea)
Frederick Ashton: Daphnis and Chloë (Pirate), The Dream (Fairies), Les Rendezvous (lead couple), A Month in the Country (Katia)
George Balanchine: Serenade (Waltz lead)
David Bintley: Cinderella ('Winter'), Edward II (French Courtier), Flowers of the Forest ('Scottish Ballad'), The King Dances (Selune, la Lune), Galanteries, 'Still Life' at the Penguin Café, Sylvia (Diana's Followers), Take Five ('Three to Get Ready'), E=mc² ('Energy'), The Dance House,The Shakespeare Suite (Desdemona), E=mc2 ('Energy' lead)
David Bintley and Galina Samsova:Giselle (Lead Wilis)
John Cranko: Brouillards ('Les Fées sont d'exquises danseuses'), The Taming of the Shrew (Bianca)
Jessica Lang: Lyric Pieces
Gillian Lynne after Robert Helpmann: Miracle in the Gorbals (Lovers)
Kenneth MacMillan: Concerto (2nd Movement), Elite Syncopations ('Bethena Concert Waltz,' 'Alaskan Rag'), La Fin du jour (lead couple), Romeo and Juliet (Harlots)
Marius Petipa: Paquita
Twyla Tharp: In the Upper Room
Peter Wright: The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Fairy 'Arabian Dance'), The Sleeping Beauty (Fairy of Modesty, pas de quatre, White Cat), Coppélia ('Dawn', Swanilda's Friends)
Peter Wright and Galina Samsova: Swan Lake (Polish Princess, Two Swan Maidens).

Header image: All clothing and styling generously supplied by UK dancewear specialists Dans-ez