Press Release: English National Ballet announces the finalists for The Emerging Dancer Competition 2013

[Jan McNulty]

Friday 9 November, 2012

 

English National Ballet announces the finalists for The Emerging Dancer Competition 2013

 

English National Ballet is delighted to announce the six finalists for The Emerging Dancer Competition 2013, generously supported in its fourth year by Talbot Hughes McKillop (THM), the restructuring experts.

 

The Emerging Dancer Competition is an annual opportunity for English National Ballet to recognise and nurture the phenomenal talent of its up-and-coming dancers and the Company is pleased to announce the following chosen finalists for the Emerging Dancer Award:

• Alison McWhinney
  
• Guilherme Menezes
  
• Nancy Osbaldeston
  
• Ken Saruhashi
  
• Laurretta Summerscales
  
• Nathan Young
  

The competition encourages excellence and potential within the Company and throughout the summer English National Ballet’s artistic, music, administrative staff and Principal dancers have been voting for their favourite Emerging Dancer. The Emerging Dancer Competition will be held on 4 March 2013 at Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall and is open to the public, with tickets now on sale.

Tamara Rojo, English National Ballet Artistic Director said: “Come and experience the excitement of seeing young talent in the live final, as the six Emerging Dancer nominees perform two solos in front of an eminent panel of expert judges. This is a fantastic opportunity to see extraordinary talent flourish in an intimate venue. The search is on for the stars of tomorrow!”

The 2013 Emerging Dancer Competition, artistically directed by Associate Artist George Williamson, will see one dancer crowned as Emerging Dancer 2013 and will be announced at the end of the evening together with the recipient of The People's Choice Award, which is voted for by members of the public.

Last year’s (2012) Emerging Dancer Award was won by young dancer Yonah Acosta who received rave reviews for performing Le Jeune Homme et la Mort and then went on to perform at Dance Salad in Houston. As well as the accolade of the title, the Emerging Dancer winner receives £2,500, the People's Choice Award winner receives £1,000 and all nominees receive £500 each.

 

At a time when the Arts Council is reducing its funding, Talbot Hughes McKillop's sponsorship of the award is a practical demonstration of its belief that business has a clear responsibility to engage constructively in providing support to the arts.

 

Paul Horn, Managing Partner, Talbot Hughes McKillop commented: “Talbot Hughes McKillop are proud to be invited to continue as sponsors of the Emerging Dancer Award 2013. Talbot Hughes McKillop and English National Ballet share a mutual commitment to delivering outstanding quality at the highest levels of performance and professionalism. Our sponsorship of the Emerging Dancer Award since 2010 has successfully enhanced the profile of the nominees, allowing individuals to flourish and start to achieve their potential.”

 

The Emerging Dancer Competition 2013

Queen Elizabeth Hall

7.30pm, 4 March 2013

Box Office – 0844 875 0073

Tickets are on sale now Book online

For information about English National Ballet please visit www.ballet.org.uk

 

You can also find English National Ballet on Facebook and Twitter @ENBallet

[alison]

This has just come into my inbox (I've had to edit it, as the links don't work when I copy it):

 

"English National Ballet is delighted to announce the six finalists for The Emerging Dancer Award are Alison McWhinney, Guilherme Menezes, Nancy Osbaldeston, Ken Saruhashi, Laurretta Summerscales and Nathan Young.

 

The Emerging Dancer Competition, now in its fourth year, is an annual competition for English National Ballet to recognise and nurture talent and encourage excellence in the Company. The live final will take place at Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre. All six Emerging Dancer nominees will perform two solos in front of an eminent panel of expert judges.

 

The 2013 Emerging Dancer Award winner is announced at the end of the evening together with the recipient of The People's Choice Award, which is voted for by members of the public.

 

This is a fantastic opportunity to see extraordinary talent flourish in an intimate venue. The search is on for the stars of tomorrow!

 

Book now to see the six wonderful nominees compete for the Emerging Dancer Award, generously supported by Talbot Hughes McKillop.

 

Southbank Centre

4 March 2013

Box Office 0844 875 0073"

 

 

Congratulations and best of luck to all the nominees.

[Jan McNulty]

Alison - I'd just posted the press release before you started your topic. I've merged the threads to keep the audit trail of posting intact.

[alison]

Thanks, Janet. All great minds think alike, obviously! (Mine was the non-press release, in case anyone's wondering)

[JulieW]

Interesting - haven't a couple of them been nominated before? Surely they're not still "emerging"? Just a thought...

[capybara]

Interesting - haven't a couple of them been nominated before? Surely they're not still "emerging"? Just a thought...

 

You're right, JulieW. Laurretta was nominated for 2011 and Nancy for 2012.

 

In the first year the competition was held, the nominees included the winner Anais Chalendard (a First Soloist who had achieved a similar rank in other companies before joining ENB and who was taking leading roles that year) and Crystal Costa, the winner of the audience (People's Choice) award (also a First Soloist who had been a Principal in Hong Kong and was dancing Giselle that year). So neither of them could be described as 'emerging'. However, since then, the emphasis seems to have been on the younger talent in the company - of which there is an abundance - including dancers who are beginning to get their chance to dance leading roles even though they are at the rank of Artist. Every one of the nominees this year is an Artist and two (Ken Suruhashi and Guilherme Menezes) are only in their second year in the company. Two of the others (Nancy Osbaldeston and Laurretta Summerscales) number among the best young British ballerinas of today. They are currently to be seen to advantage in a variety of 'fairy' roles in the Company's Sleeping Beauty

 

If anyone reading this wants a really enjoyable evening out, with the opportunity to spot new talent, why not book up for the Queen Elizabeth Hall on 4th March 2013?

[alison]

I seem to remember it was originally open to anyone below Principal level, wasn't it?

[capybara]

I seem to remember it was originally open to anyone below Principal level, wasn't it?

 

It still is and the forms on which the audience can vote for the People's Choice include the names of every member of the Company at Artist, First Artist, Junior Soloist, Soloist and First Soloist level.