Promotions, Joiners and Leavers 2024

Carlos Acosta, Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet, has today announced promotions within the Company and new joiners for the 2024/25 season saying:

‘What a season we have had. From last autumn’s sold out premiere of Black Sabbath - The Ballet to our most successful tours of The Sleeping Beauty and BRB2, we also had our first European tour in over a decade which culminates in BRB performing in Hamburg Ballet’s summer festival – Hamburg Ballet Days - at the invitation of John Neumeier on 9 and 10 July. BRB also partnered with the Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery, with an exciting week of workshops, performances and demonstrations, giving audiences access to many different areas of the company’s activities, including a free family day, the chance to watch company class, public ballet classes, tutu making workshops, information sharing about backstage careers, Freefall workshops, and a special commission by one of the company’s emerging choreographers, Olivia Chang-Clarke. We also presented BRB’s first ever performance in Iceland with my Classical Selection and most recently an incredible performance of Interlinked, choreographed by Juliano Nunes on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonbury.

‘I’m so proud of every single member of BRB and freelancers working with us who have performed on, and off, these various stages. As we move forward I am so happy to announce our supremely well-deserved promotions; excited to welcome the new dancers who are joining the company and to express my sincere gratitude to those who are moving on to pastures new.

‘And what can I say about Tyrone Singleton? He is a Birmingham Royal Ballet legend. He is adored by audiences and greatly respected by every member of the company. In his twenty-one years with BRB his tremendous contribution as a dancer, with such powerful stage presence, is undeniable; but also his work as a photographer, which I am sure he will continue, marks him out as an incredible multi-talented artist. Tyrone is extremely collaborative and wonderful to work with. He will be greatly missed and I wish him all the best for what will no doubt be an exciting future.’

Dominic Antonucci, Assistant Director of Birmingham Royal Ballet said: “Over the last twenty-one years, Tyrone Singleton has had an incredibly impressive career at BRB. Ty is a rare talent that possesses great technique, exceptional partnering skills, deep and sensitive artistry alongside boundless versatility. He has consistently delivered these qualities in BRB productions since 2003 which is an amazing individual accomplishment but also represents a tremendous contribution to the success of BRB throughout all those years. Tyrone has always been hungry to learn and grow and approaches all his work with a professionalism that has been a fine example for the younger dancers coming up through BRB. We will miss all of these qualities that Tyrone has brought to BRB but are very confident that he will find success in whatever he chooses to focus on in the future. BRB congratulates him on a superb career and wishes him every success.”

Tyrone Singleton said: ‘It is impossible to sum up the last 21 years, but some of the key words would include gratitude, fulfilment, honour, exhilaration, and appreciation. I joined Birmingham Royal Ballet at 17 years young. I have been given a vast range of opportunities and experiences which have not only developed me as a dancer and artist, but also as a human being. There are too many people and productions to name individually, but they have all shaped me, and the love and appreciation I have for that will stay with me forever. I literally wouldn’t be the man I am today, without these experiences.

I am fortunate to have been cast in an exciting project, a brand-new Amazon prime tv series, Etoile, with an incredible creative team. Such is the demand of the performing season at Birmingham Royal Ballet that these commitments cannot coexist, as I would’ve hoped. Therefore, I have to follow my heart and am excited about the next chapter. I had wished to share my gratitude with my loyal fans and bid farewell to the stage which I call home; however, windows of opportunity spring upon us, and we must jump in order to be able to fly. I am entirely grateful for the wings this journey has given me.’

Born in Surrey, Tryone Singleton trained at Arts Educational School in Tring and the Royal Ballet School. He joined BRB in 2003 and was promoted to Principal in 2013, he is the longest serving Principal dancer in the company’s history. Tyrone created a number of iconic roles during his time at BRB and his impact both on and off stage, as a leading, world, class figure in the industry will continue to be felt and remembered.

Of his most challenging role: Romeo in MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet, Tyrone said: ‘For years you train to perfect your technique, and in Romeo and Juliet the technique has to be so secure that it allows you to be totally free to portray the emotion and character through your movement. The most enjoyable roles are always those I’m fully immersed in during performance, so much so that I forget who and where I am.’

Promotions
The following promotions have been made within the company: already announced Beatrice Parma has been promoted to Principal. Riku Ito is promoted to First Soloist and Sofia Linares, Enrique Vidal and Reina Fuchigami are promoted to Soloist. Eilis Small is promoted to First Artist.

BRB2 dancers Maïlène Katoch, Jack Easton Frieda Kaden, Oscar Kempsey-Fagg and Mason King have all completed the two year programme in BRB’s junior company and will join the main company as Artists.

In addition to the above promotions Yvette Knight is moving from First Soloist to Principal Character Artist.

Many congratulations to them all on this well deserved recognition of their achievements.

Joiners
After the summer break the new BRB2 cohort: Charlotte Cohen (Royal Ballet School), Andrea Riolo (Royal Ballet School), Noah Cosgriff (Australian Academy of Classical Ballet), Ellyne Knol (Royal Conservatoire in The Hague) joins the company with Ixan Llorca Ferrer (Escuela Nacional de Ballet Fernando Alonso) following in the autumn. Sophie Walters, who trained at Elmhurst Ballet School, completed her apprenticeship and will also join BRB2.

From Birmingham, Marlo Kempsey-Fagg (brother of Oscar!) joins the company as Apprentice Dancer from Elmhurst Ballet School. Marlo started dancing at the age of 6 when his talent was identified in a local Birmingham Primary School and he joined BRB’s Dance Track programme.

After a 24-year long career as a dancer with BRB, Kit Holder joins the ballet staff as Artistic Coordinator and Yvette Regeuiro joins BRB as Répétiteur.

Graduate of the National Ballet School in Havana, Yvette Regueiro joined the Cuban National Ballet Company in 1987, under the direction of Alicia Alonso. She danced a classical and neoclassical repertoire, participated in numerous tours and festivals, and was promoted to First Soloist in 1996. Alongside her career as a dancer, Yvette took part in the choreography workshops organised by Laura Alonso for the National Ballet of Cuba’s junior company. After graduating from Cuba’s University of the Arts in 2000, Yvette decided to resume her collaboration with the National Ballet School, this time as an instructor and choreographer. In 2001, she went to Switzerland and joined the Sinopia Ensemble de Danse. Since 2003, Yvette has taught dance at Dance Area.

Joining the Royal Ballet Sinfonia we have Claire Dersley – Head of Orchestra Operations; Joana Valentinaviciute - First Violin Co-leader and (in the Spring) Anna Wolstenholme Principal Flute.

Leavers
BRB2 dancer Alfie Shacklock will also leave the company at the end of the season after successfully securing a contract as an Artist in Queensland Ballet.

Naori Takahachi Principal Second Violin and Alan Taylor Bass left the Royal Ballet Sinfonia earlier this year.