English National Ballet announces promotions and new joiners for 2025/2026

Aaron S. Watkin, Artistic Director of English National Ballet, has announced promotions within the Company, new joiners for the 2025/2026 season, and those leaving. 

He said: “As our 75th Season draws to a close, I feel immensely proud of all we have delivered. Our company of wonderful artists came together to create a year of exceptional experiences for our audiences, both on stage and beyond. From world premieres to audience favourites, our work on stage, on screen and online, and across all our learning and participation activity, it’s been a season to celebrate.  

It is a real pleasure to be able to acknowledge our dancers’ hard work and development through promotions within the Company. I’m thrilled to be welcoming the superb dancers and world-renowned guest repetiteurs who join us next season, as well as sharing my sincere thanks and appreciation to those who are departing. 

As we look ahead, I know our 2025/26 has much to offer. So however you choose to connect with us, we can’t wait to share more with you next season.”

The following promotions have been made within the Company, with effect from the start of the 2025/ 2026 season. 

Gareth Haw is promoted to Lead Principal. Rentaro Nakaaki, Anna Nevzorova, Haruhi Otani, Emily Suzuki and Angela Wood are promoted to First Soloist. Swanice Luong and Miguel Angel Maidana are promoted to Soloist. Ashley Coupal, Carolyne Galvao, Jose María Lorca Menchón, Thiago Silva, Anri Sugiura, and Anna-Babette Winkler, are promoted to First Artist. Martinho Santos is promoted to 6th year Artist. 

The following dancers are joining ENB during the 2025/2026 season.

Paulo Rodrigues, formerly with the Joffrey Ballet, joins as a Soloist. Hatice Çağla Ertürk and Elvis Nudo join as Soloists from Finnish National Ballet. Rodrigo Pinto joins as a Soloist and Taela Graff joins as an Artist, both from Houston Ballet. Tara Millard, formerly with the Norwegian National Ballet, joins as an Artist. Zai Calliste and Lois Fraiz join as Artists, having completed their training with English National Ballet School. Sacha Venkatasawmy from Dutch National Ballet Academy joins as an Artist, and joining the Company as Prix de Lausanne Dancer is Jakob Wheway Hughes, from Tring Park Ballet School. 

ENB also welcomes a series of world-renowned repetiteurs to the Company to support their artists throughout the season. Cynthia Harvey returns as Associate Guest Repetiteur, alongside Stephanie Arndt, Yannick Boquin, Christina Johnson, Manuel Legris, and Alejandro Parente as Guest Repetiteurs. 

Finally, ENB announced the following dancers will depart the company.

Lead Principal Francesco Gabriele Frola leaves to become Principal with San Francisco Ballet.  Lead Principal Erina Takahashi becomes full-time Repetiteur with the Company. First Artist Breanna Foad leaves to join Zurich Ballet as Group with Solo.  First Artist Edvinas Jakonis has left to join Lithuanian National Ballet as a Soloist. Soloist Vsevolod Maievskyi, Junior Soloist Tiffany Hedman, and Artists Paulo Gonzalez, Marta Monesi, Vincent Philp, Alexandra Terry, and Madison Whiteley also leave the Company this season. Repetiteur Laurent Guilbaud leaves to join The Munich State Ballet, after six years with English National Ballet. 

Visit ballet.org.uk for the latest ENB news.

Gareth Haw, newly promoted to Lead Principal, as Sugar Plum Cavalier in Aaron S. Watkin and Arielle Smith’s Nutcracker © Isabella Turolla