ballet.co ENB Principals

ENB Principals

Agnes Oaks


Ballet.co interview Upcoming performances? Reviews "Oaks" in postings InterViews and News

One half of the prize-winning Estonian husband and wife team. They return to ENB as regular guest principals. Agnes is a stunning blonde, the epitome of a ballerina. Perhaps more to the point she is beautifully schooled and always gives excellent performances. You only realise how good she is when you see another dancer do the same role within a week. Agnes, with husband Thomas Edur, represent the very tops particularly in the classical repertoire; however her foray into Wayne McGregor's punk Balanchine number 2Human gave everyone used to seeing her in a tutu the shock of their lives (and won her an Olivier Award). {Principals}

Thomas Edur


Ballet.co interview Upcoming performances? Reviews "Edur" in postings InterViews and News

The other half of the prize-winning Estonian husband and wife team that is much in demand as guests all around the world. Thomas is a tall dark danseur noble and a superb and subtle actor. He does Princes rather well and is absolutely heroic on stage. Beautifully schooled and consistently gives excellent performances. High jumps softly landed are a speciality and he is rightly praised by all the critics. His piece If choreographed on himself and shown at the Linbury could give a glimpse into his future. It will be awaited with interest whether he will offer another work for the ENB choreographic workshop

They are proof that you never can get too much of a good thing. Although they've been around ENB for 12 years you never tire of seeing these two doing the same thing in the same production year after year. {Principals}

Vladislav Bubnov

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An elegant and handsome Bolshoi trained Russian, previously a principal with Scottish Ballet. He joined ENB a few years ago and was soon promoted. He is a good all round classical performer, persistently elegant with a lovely jump and excellent at bringing characters to life. He did Albrecht three times a week with despairing exhaustion and gave Deane's Romeo a gentle sensitivity. His Swan Lake is just sublime. He is the partner from heaven who can be relied upon to breathe dramatic life into inexperienced partners. Sadly audiences are deprived of seeing him in modern works - which is clearly a misjudgement by the artistic management because it is often more interesting seeing 'classical dancers' doing contemporary pieces. {Principals}

Yat Sen Chang


Upcoming performances? Reviews "Chang" in postings InterViews and News Chang's Web site

A small explosive Cuban very much like Teddy Kumakawa - a barrel of fireworks and real virtuoso competition dancer. He can turn incredibly fast and has the most impressive jump. As a result Chang excels in the Gopak in the Nutcracker, does a wonderful Don Q and shows off his remarkable strength at doing on occasion a one arm lift. His Franz last season was superb and would have taken some following. He certainly has presence in every role he does, tends to hint that he is cheeky and a bit of a flirt! It will be interesting to find if Skoog uses him to do Bournonville pieces - and it is wonderful that he is being given the opportunity to do the Prince. To top it all he even has his own web site!. {Principals}

Simone Clarke

Photo: PJ Baldwin

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An experienced English dancer previously with Birmingham Royal Ballet, and newly promoted to Principal. A little lady with a big jump. She has been getting the big roles this season and has done well in all of them. Her Swanilda was definitely not one to be argued with, her Cinderella had attitude and her Sugar Plum sparkled. It would be good to see her as Odette/Odile which she has danced previously (just not with ENB). {Principals}

Elena Glurdjidze


Upcoming performances? Reviews "Glurdjidze" in postings InterViews and News

A Georgian trained at the Kirov who is quite ordinary in class and stunning on stage. She just confirms Skoog's unerring eye for quality. Her Swan Lake was superb, strong technique, stunning presence, great acting, everything you could want. Her 'no nonsense' Coppelia brought the house down in Liverpool. {Principals}

Dmitri Gruzdyev


Upcoming performances? ballet.co Gruzdyev interview Reviews "Gruzdyev" in postings InterViews and News?

An oh-so-well schooled (Kirov trained) Russian dancer with an unforced athletic ability and great manege. He can be reminiscent of Baryishnikov, with a hint of a sense of humour on stage. In the showpieces such as the Don Q and Le Corsaire pas de deux he is stunning to watch - his barrel turns are formidable. {Principals}

Daria Klimentova


Upcoming performances? Reviews "Klimentova" in postings InterViews and News?

A prize winning Czech dancer who came from Scottish Ballet. She has a near perfect ballet physique, Russian technique/presentation and is lovely in the Classics. She has the most beautifully held arabesques that seem to stretch and lift upwards for ever. Everything she does is so right and she is deservedly getting more first nights under Skoog. She is exquisite and a favourite with the ENB regulars. It is sad that she had so much time out last season due to her ankle injury. She has quite diverse interests, she produced the ENB Calendar and runs masterclasses in Prague in the summer. {Principals}

Sarah McIlroy


Upcoming performances? Reviews "McIlroy" in postings InterViews and News?

An English dancer who was promoted through the ranks to Principal after her mesmerising performance as 'The Chosen One' in Rite of Spring. A strong dancer who despite not being in the classical mould uses what she has got very well. She is much better at modern pieces, Hampson's work fits her well. It will be interesting to see if she is cast as Odette/Odile. {Principals}

Yosvani Ramos

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A Prize winning Cuban (new promoted to principal) who between collecting prizes at the world's leading ballet competitions danced with the Jeune Ballet de France and Paris Opera. He has impressed in the roles he has done so far, having an attractive onstage manner and a strong technique. {Principals}

Erina Takahashi

Photo: PJ Baldwin

Upcoming performances?
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"Takahashi" in postings
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A Japanese dancer from the ENB school who has been rapidly promoted through the ranks to Principal. She appears to be painfully thin at times but despite this does not shirk technical difficulties. Her style is innocent and natural, but although she has matured as a performer she still dances with little expression and at times fails to connect with the audience. {Principals}

Jan-Erik Wikstrom

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A Swedish dancer (brought in by Skoog) very much in the danseur noble, Tom Edur mould. It is unfortunate that he appears to be bigger on stage than he actually is. Despite this,he has performed excellently in every role he has been given. His forte at this stage does not appear to be technical stunts but showing accomplished dancing and high quality partnering skills. {Principals}

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