Graduate Success

Xavier Andriambolanoro Sotiya, 2023 Graduate

Xavier Andriambolanoro Sotiya graduated from Central School of Ballet in 2023 and then joined New Adventures as an Emerging Artist for 2023-4. Xavier previously took part in Swan School and a number of other bespoke classes and workshops within their Talent Development programme that focuses on the New Adventures methodology. Xavier made his professional debut in Matthew Bourne’s Edward Scissorhands, currently touring nationally throughout 2024, following a seven-week Christmas season at Sadler’s Wells, London. Lyndsey Winship’s review of the production in
the Guardians noted his “bright energy” in the production. Central really helped Xavier develop strong technique whilst also learning new styles of dance which helped him expand his movement and prepared him for professional work. Ballet Central also really helped Xavier to get a feel for professional touring and the preparation process for performances. During his time with Central, in recognition of his talent and dedication, Xavier was awarded scholarships by The Wall Trust, The Worshipful Company of Chartered Surveyors and The Leverhulme Trust.

Image by ASH Photography

Rachel Neale, 2023 Graduate

After graduating Central, Rachel joined the International Touring Company of The Phantom of the Opera as a dancer in the Paris Opera Corps de Ballet. Rachel also performs the role of The Firebird in the iconic Act 2 opener ‘Masquerade’. The company is halfway through their Middle Eastern tour which started in September 2023, where they made history as the first musical to be brought to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Rachel performed in the capital Riyadh for 3 months, which she found an incredibly rewarding and fulfilling experience. Through the tour, Rachel has realised the impact that professional performers have on the growing arts industry in the Middle East. Rachel has found that seeing the positive, emotional reactions from audiences really solidifies her love and passion for the art form. The next stop on their tour is Dubai, United Arab Emirates in February 2024 at the famous Dubai Opera for 3 weeks, before then flying to Bulgaria to kick off the European leg of the tour! Rachel is extremely grateful for the wonderful cast and crew that she gets to travel the world with, and the exciting opportunities that lie ahead for her in her dancing career.

Image by ASH Photography

Risa Maki, 2021 Graduate

Risa Maki was born in Japan and is currently based in the UK. She started ballet at the age of three, where she studied at the Kyoto Ballet Academy in Japan for 2 years before coming to the UK. Risa graduated from Central School of Ballet in 2021 with a BA (Hons) in Professional Dance and Performance. She then joined Jasmin Vardimon Company 2 (Professional Development Diploma) from 2021 to 2022. After graduating from JV2, she made her professional debut in Jasmin Vardimon’s choreography for revival of the opera Tannhäuser, at the Royal Opera House in 2023. Also in 2023, she worked with the Royal Opera House for Jette Parker Artists summer performance. She joined Jasmin Vardimon Company in 2023 for ALiCE as a Queen of Heart, and performed in the UK tour in 2024. Risa continues to work as a dancer with Jasmin Vardimon Company in their most recent productions.

Image by Bill Knight

Sophie Laplane, 2019 MA Graduate

Franco-British choreographer Sophie Laplane debuted her choreographic skills under the leadership of Scottish Ballet CEO/Director Christopher Hampson. Her first short work, Oxymore, showcased at the Edinburgh Festival 2013, and was hailed as an immediate success by the critics. She has since presented several works for Scottish Ballet in large scale theatres in Scotland and internationally. In addition to works created for Scottish Ballet, Sophie has created various independent pieces, including Click! for Ballet Black at the Barbican, Vis-à-Vis at the New York Choreographic Institute, and Watusi for the National Youth Ballet UK at Sadler’s Wells Theatre, London. Prior to her career as a choreographer, Sophie danced with Scottish Ballet in Classical and Contemporary roles with internationally renowned choreographers.

Harris Beattie, 2018 Graduate

Harris Beattie from Aberdeen graduated from Central School of Ballet in London in 2018 with a BA (Hons) Professional Dance and Performance. While he was a final year student at Central he was the first ever competitor to win all three top awards at the prestigious Genée International Ballet Competition 2017. The competition, run by the Royal Academy of Dance, took place in Lisbon and concluded on 16th September at the city’s Teatro Camões. Harris was 18 when he won these respected global awards: the Gold Medal, the Margot Fonteyn Audience Choice Award and the Choreographic Award for his Dancer’s Own variation Torn. He was the first dancer in the 86 year history of the competition to achieve all three. The competition regular attracts the world’s finest young dancers from countries all over the world and is judged each year by the dance industry’s most influential choreographers, directors and dance leaders. Success at the Genée International Ballet Competition is considered a springboard to employment in top dance companies. Harris is now employed as an Artist with Northern Ballet.

Christopher Marney, 1999 Graduate and 2014 MA Graduate

Chris is the Artistic Director of London City Ballet as well as a Choreographer and Teacher for dance companies internationally.

He was the Artistic Director of Ballet Central, and then Central School of Ballet between 2016-2021 and later became the Director of the Joffrey Ballet Studio Company in Chicago, USA.
During his time at these organisations he had the pleasure of programming tours internationally, curating and commissioning diverse programmes. These have included the repertoire of such choreographers as George Balanchine, Kenneth MacMillan, Wayne McGregor, Frederick Ashton, Jasmin Vardimon, Matthew Bourne and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa.

As a dancer Chris received his training under the direction of Christopher Gable at Central School of Ballet and worked internationally for the Balletboyz, Gothenburg Ballet Sweden, Ballet Biarritz France, Bern Ballet Switzerland, Michael Clark Company and Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures, where he has danced and created many principal roles.
The Critics Circle National Dance Awards nominated him for Outstanding Performance in Modern Dance two years running as well as including him in Dance Europe’s Outstanding Male Dancer 2013 list. Chris retired from performing in 2017 with Ivan Putrov’s Men in Motion where he danced the Faun in Nijinsky’s L’Apres Midi d’un Faun.

As a choreographer he has created works for Ballet Black, English National Ballet’s Emerging dancer, ‘The Four Seasons’ for the Joffrey Ballet Studio Company, Nutcracker at the British Museum, ‘Eve’ at Sadlers Wells and ‘Lady Macbeth’ at the New National Theatre in Tokyo. For Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures he has been rehearsal director and was the associate choreographer for Sleeping Beauty. His London West-End credits include choreography for McQueen the Play at the Theatre Royal Haymarket and Tell Me on a Sunday at the Other Palace.

He was named associate artist of the UK Foundation for Dance, and holds a Master’s degree in Choreography from Central School of Ballet, awarded by the University of Kent.
Chris is a Patron of the Chelmsford Ballet Company, City Academy and Elite Ballet Project and a guest teacher for ballet companies worldwide.

Image by ASH Photography

Dane Hurst, 2014 MA Graduate

Dane Hurst is a multi-award-winning Director, Choreographer and Dancer working across stage, film and performance. Born in South Africa, he travelled to London after receiving a Nelson Mandela/Linbury Trust and Oppenheimer Memorial Trust scholarship to join the Rambert School in 2003. He has travelled nationally and internationally having performed to critical acclaim with Rambert, Phoenix Dance Theatre, National Dance Company of Wales, Mad Dogs Dance Theatre, Humanoove, Yorke Dance Project, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance, Mark Bruce Company and Company Wayne McGregor.

As a choreographer Dane has received commissions from Rambert, Phoenix, Opera North, The Place, Barbican, Wilton’s Music Hall, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Whitechapel Art Gallery, South African National Dance Trust and Jazzart Dance Theatre. His work has been performed at theatres across South Africa and UK including Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and London. Dane holds an MA Choreography with Central School of Ballet from University of Kent and has choreographed and performed in award winning films ‘Primitive’ by Tom Rowland, ‘Voices of Finance’, ‘The Beast in the Jungle’ by Clara Van Gool and ‘The Sleeping Beauty’ by Fabio D’Andrea. He featured in ‘Shakespeare Live’ for BBC 2 with AKALA and Nitin Sawhney and collaborated with AKALA on ‘Ruins of Empire’ for BBC Live. Dane created ‘Exodus’, ‘Prud’Hon: The Moving Body’ and ‘ANIMALIS’ with Dane Hurst Company for Dulwich Picture Gallery and directed the Opera ‘Sacred Mountain’ by Shirley Thompson. In 2016 Dane founded the Moving Assembly Project to use dance to uplift and inspire young people, creating a cross-cultural bridge between South Africa and UK. The MAP outreach project enabled new collaborations with artists through the sharing and teaching of skills to young people in programmes across South Africa with special projects connected to Mandela University, Jazzart and the National Arts Festival in the Eastern Cape, MindLeaps and the Ubumuntu Arts festival in Kigali, Rwanda and Igreja Novo Tiempo and KT in Recife, Brazil.

Dane joined Mark Bruce Company as trustee and was appointed as Associate Artist in Residence at Jazzart Dance Theatre in 2020. He was appointed as Artistic Director to Phoenix Dance Theatre in 2020, curated the critically acclaimed ‘40 Years of Phoenix’ mixed bill and gala programmes and contributed to the creation of the 40th anniversary book of photography, virtual gallery and photography exhibition. He created ‘West Side Story-Symphonic Dances’ in collaboration with Opera North in 2021 and joined Jazzart Dance Theatre as Artistic Director in April 2022 with the company winning the ‘Toyota Woordfees Festival’ Outstanding Dance Production Award in October 2022. Dane was chosen as guest Artistic Director for the Royal Ballet’s ‘Chance To Dance Connect’ programme in 2023 and starred as Hamlet in the Yorke Dance Project film ‘Sea of Troubles’ choreographed by Sir Kenneth MacMillan. His latest production ‘Requiem: Journeys of the Soul’ in collaboration with Phoenix Dance Theatre, Opera North, Cape Town Opera, Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra and Jazzart Dance Theatre premiered to rave reviews in Leeds UK in May and in Cape Town SA, Oct 2023.

Image by Pierre Tappon

Joseph Poulton, 2011 Graduate

Joseph Poulton is a London-based dancer and actor. Joseph trained at Rambert School of Ballet & Contemporary Dance, and then graduated from Central School of Ballet in 2011 Joseph’s expansive career thus far includes work in West End productions, across the UK nationally and in film and television. His theatre credits include Evita (Theatre Royal Drury Lane, West End); My Fair Lady (UK and Ireland Tour, London Coliseum, West End); Hairspray (UK Tour); Blues in the Night (Kiln Theatre); Man of La Mancha (London Coliseum, West End); The Grand Old Dame of York (York Theatre Royal); Porgy & Bess(London Coliseum, West End); Carousel (London Coliseum, West End); Kiss Me Kate (UK Tour); The Lion King (Lyceum Theatre, West End); Cats (London Palladium Original West End revival cast and UK Tour); The Wind in the Willows (West Yorkshire Playhouse); Ballet Black (Royal Opera House); Ballet Central (UK Tour). He has also worked in television with All Star Musicals (ITV) and in 2018 was an ensemble performer in the film Mamma Mia – Here We Go Again (Universal Pictures).

Elaine Heng, 2010 Graduate

Born in Singapore, Elaine trained at the Singapore Ballet Academy from the age of six. As a student, she had the opportunity to perform in many of Singapore Dance Theatre’s (SDT) productions such as The Nutcracker, The Red Shoes, Coppélia, The Legacy of Goh Choo San, as well as in the Royal Ballet’s Swan Lake when they toured to Singapore in 2005.

In 2007, she received the Singapore’s National Art Council Arts Bursary to further her training at the Central School of Ballet, London, where she had the opportunity to work with guest teachers such as Matz Skoog, Aurora Bosch, Darshan Singh-Buller and Christopher Bruce. In her graduate year, she was part of Ballet Central, the school’s touring company that year, dancing Sir Peter Wright’s Giselle (Peasant pas de six) and Swan Lake (pas de trois).

Elaine joined SDT in January 2011 as an apprentice and was promoted to Artist in May 2011. Elaine’s repertoire highlights include a soloist role as Dewdrop in The Nutcracker (2011, 2016), Big Swan (2012, 2015, 2019), and pas de trois (2015, 2019), Spanish (2015, 2019) and Tarantella (2019) in Swan Lake, the pas de trois in Paquita (2012, 2016, 2017), Fate in Romeo and Juliet (2014), Kitri’s Friend in Don Quixote (2014, 2016), Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty (2015), Prayer in Coppélia (2017), Choleric in The Four Temperaments (2017) as well as Myrtha in Giselle.

She has also danced in Triptych, Unexpected B, Blue Snow, Age of Innocence, Bournonville Divertissements, A Folk Tale pas de sept, Tarantella, Schubert Symphony, Piano Concerto No.2, Opus 102, Opus 25, Midnight Waltzes, Concerto Barocco, Serenade, Divertimento No.15, Allegro Brillante, Bliss, Peter & Blue Birthday Party, Peter & Blue Go Around The World, Peter & Blue Forest Adventure, Shadow’s Edge, Paquita, Jabula, Organ Concerto, Symphony in Three Movements, ZIN!, Double Contrasts, Linea Adora, SYNC, Midnight Waltzes, Quiver and Ibsen’s House.

Elaine was promoted to Soloist in January 2015. She most recently performed in Romeo and Juliet (2020) as Fate and Lady Capulet, as well as Variations From A Distance and The Light Behind Us in the Singapore International Festival of Arts (SIFA) 2021.

Image by Bernie Ng

Kanika Carr, 2010 Graduate

Kanika Carr graduated from Central School of Ballet in 2010 with a BA (Hons) Degree in Professional Dance and Performance. She danced with Ballet Black for six years, working with choreographers including Christopher Marney, Mark Bruce, Kit Holder, Christopher Hampson and Will Tuckett. She went on to join Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York, performing in venues across the USA. After returning to the UK, she then performed with The Lion King West End for two and a half years.

Highlights of her career include working with choreographer Mark Bruce in 2015 for Ballet Blacks ‘The Second Coming’ and performing at The Lion King’s 20th Anniversary show in 2019.

In 2021, Kanika completed her Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma, Royal Academy of Dance and went on to teach Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance at The Hammond.

Image by Nicholas Rose

James Butcher, 2009 Graduate

James was coached in many dance styles in his early training, including his initial passion, Tap Dance. He discovered a love for classical ballet and attended Central School of Ballet. He then received a scholarship to train at The Royal Ballet (upper school) for his graduate year. He graduated with a contract to join The Royal Ballet Company, Covent Garden.

James then moved into the West End dancing in roles such as Older Billy in Billy Elliot the Musical (Victoria Palace Theatre), The original London cast of An American in Paris (The Dominion Theatre), and Dance Captain and Ballet Dancer in Phantom of the Opera (Her Majesty’s Theatre). He has also danced in several Royal Variety performances, appeared on UK and International Tours, and danced in movies such as ‘Cinderella’, ‘The Nutcracker and the Four Realms’ and ‘Artemis Fowl’ all for Walt Disney Studios.

As a teacher, James taught Ballet at Prestigious Musical Theatre Schools before joining the Artistic Leadership Team at Ballet Boost Associates while also helping to establish the Development Programme for London Children’s Ballet. Additionally, he was a member of the teacher training team for the ISTD, where he regularly lectured at Advanced 2 and Fellowship levels. James took on the role of Third Year Ballet Tutor at Central School of Ballet helping to oversee the 22/23 Ballet Central Tour. James now teaches at The Royal Ballet School.

Academically, James holds a Master of Arts (MA) in Dance Technique Pedagogy, is a Fellow of the Imperial Classical Ballet faculty (ISTD) and holds ARAD status with the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD). James also gained the Fellowship in Higher Education (FHEA) and is a level 3 qualified Personal Trainer. James is currently studying for a Masters in Business Administration (MBA).

Image by Matt Humphries, production Billy Elliot

Otis Carr, 2008 Graduate

Otis graduated from the Central School of Ballet in 2008. He initially trained in Music at the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology, later moving to the dance strand to study for A Levels and a BTEC National Diploma. During this time, he also trained as a Ballet Black associate, progressing to Northern School of Contemporary Dance for his first year of pre-professional training. Otis is also a 2013 Finzi Scholar commencing intense study in Countertenor voice.

Upon graduation Otis performed with the Red Tape Dance Company as part of the Malta Arts Festival 2008 going onto further engagements with ACE Dance and Music for their Autumn Tour of SKIN and Turandot at the Royal Opera House 2008, 2017 & 2023. From 2009-2013 Otis danced with Rambert Dance Company working with choreographers including Henri Oguike, Henrietta Horne, Tim Rushton, Marguerite Donlon, Itzik Galli and Mark Baldwin as well as performing in works by Merce Cunningham and Paul Taylor. 2013-2014 included performing as a Signet and Medium Swan in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake National and International tour. 2015 marked the start of a recurring working relationship with Barry Kosky and Otto Pichler creating both the Glyndebourne Opera’s Production of Saul and Royal Opera House, Covent Garden production of The Nose with Saul going on to be presented as part of the Glyndebourne 2015 Tour and the Adelaide Festival 2017. During this time Otis was also engaged with CIE 7273 (Geneva), performing Tarab in Europe, Serbia and the Middle East. Other notable work includes End of Line by Goshka Macuga performing at the Lowry Gallery 2017.

Otis has presented work as part of the Rambert season of new choreography at the Place Theatre 2011, has choreographed for Moveo Dance Company (Malta) 2022, The Royal Ballet Draft Works 2023 and for Trinity Laban student Performance Project (2023) as well as assisting rehearsals with Choreographers Mbulelo Ndabeni, Kirill Burlov and CAT professional Projects (2022)

For the 2019-2020 Academic year Otis was a Graduate Intern in Dance Technique and Programme Support at Trinity Laban Conservatoire for Music and Dance after which he obtained an Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy accreditation (AFHEA) before becoming a Lecturer in Dance from February 2021. He Teaches Classical Ballet, Cunningham based and fusion contemporary dance styles combining training methods explored spanning his fourteen-year career and taught on the Centre for Advance Training programme at Trinity Laban 21-23. He also currently teaches at Bird College and East London Gymnastics Club. Otis is currently engaged with CIE 7273 (Geneva) after re-joining the Company for the creation of Ever 2021 and the revival of Tarab. He is involved in various creative processes, restaging’s and choreographic projects.

Image by Ambra Vernuccio

Max Maslen, 2008 Graduate

Max Maslen was born in Bradford, Yorkshire 1993 and started training at the Nydza School of Dance at the age of 3. Alongside ballet, tap, jazz and Mime with Ms. Nydza, Max was awarded BBO Scholarships to train with esteemed former ballerina Brenda Last in London and Manchester monthly.

In 2009, Max joined Central School of Ballet and in his graduate year won a place at the Prix de Lausanne, dancing the Prince from Swan lake and Cathy Marstons ‘Tempest’. After reaching the finals Max was offered employment opportunities in Europe and the USA. However, when returning from the competition, Max took class a with the Birmingham Royal Ballet and under the direction of David Bintley, was offered a contract which he accepted.

Joining as an Artist in 2012, Max danced in all the major classical and contemporary works. In 2017 he debuted as ‘Franz’ in Sir Perter Wrights ‘Coppelia’ as his first Principal role. Max was promoted to Principal dancer under the directorship of Carlos Acosta on stage after a show of Swan Lake in 2023.

His repertoire includes a diverse variety of roles choreographed by Sir Peter Wright, Frederick Ashton, Sir David Bintley, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Carlos Acosta, Edward Clug, Twyla Tharp, Hans Van Manen and George Balanchine.

Sarah Kundi, 2004 Graduate

Sarah was born in London, UK into Indian heritage, where she undertook her professional training at Central School of Ballet. Upon graduation Sarah pursued her first job at Northern Ballet, then went on to dance with Ballet Black, where she was nominated for a Critic’s Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Female Performance in the Classical sector in 2010, for Will Tuckett’s ‘Depouillement’. Sarah finished her performing career as a First Artist with English National Ballet Summer 2023, where she was awarded the ‘Corps de Ballet Award’ on behalf of English National Ballet in 2017.

Her repertory with English National Ballet included ‘Myrtha’ in Akram Khan’s Giselle, ‘Doctor’ in Akram Khan’s Creature, ‘Stepmother Hortensia’ in Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella, ‘The Queen’ in Jerome Robbins The Cage, Pina Bausch’s ‘Sacre du Printemps’, Mats Ek’s ‘Rite of Spring’, Kenneth Macmillan’s ‘Song of the Earth’, William Forsythe’s ‘In the Middle Somewhat Elevated’, ‘Approximate Sonata’ & ‘Playlist EP’, ‘Carabosse’ in Sleeping Beauty, ‘Madge’ in La Sylphide. Plus multiple roles in Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Giselle, Le Corsaire, Coppelia, Raymonda, Romeo & Juliet, La Sylphide, Manon and Etudes.

Whilst with ENB, Sarah was an Advisor and Facilitator of English National Ballets Pipeline Project, ‘Ballet Futures’, an artistic training programme for children from underrepresented backgrounds. Sarah also coached young upcoming dancers in the company for the annual ‘Emerging Dancer Competition’ over the last three years.

She has been invited to teach at various summer schools including the Royal Ballet School, English National Ballet School, Central School of Ballet and Yorkshire Ballet Seminars. In 2022, Sarah completed her Teachers Training Diploma with the Royal Ballet School, and joined the Royal Ballet School in September 2023 as a ballet teacher.

Image by Laurent Liotardo