Graduate Success in 2024 - Central School of Ballet

13 December 2024

2024 has been a fantastic year for Central graduates. Former students have been working and performing across the world with outstanding dance companies and organisations.

This festive season, we have many alumni performing in Christmas productions. Central graduates; Rachael Gillespie, Harris Beattie, Harriet Marden, Mayuko Iwanaga and Madeline de Andrade are performing in Northern Ballet’s A Christmas Carol. Several graduates are taking flight on stage in New Adventure’s Swan Lake; Molly Shaw-Downie, Stephen Murray (performing the role of Prince), Nicole Kabera (performing the role of Queen), Alexander Fadayiro and Xavier Andriambolanoro Sotiya, plus Dominic North who is the Rehearsal Associate for the tour. Swan Lake is being performed at Sadler’ s Wells throughout December and January, before going on its UK and Ireland tour.

2013 graduate Laura Boulter, 2023 graduate Kynda Ng, as well as 2024 graduate Pippa Higham, are performing in the West End festive classic The Snowman, produced by Birmingham Repertory Theatre and presented at Sadler’s Wells.

Emily Pohl and Ruby Sweetland Main have been touring the US in The Nutcracker. Emily, 2020 graduate, and Ruby, 2021 graduate, are each performing over 60 shows across many states with production company Talmi Entertainment. Mia Jones, 2022 graduate, is also performing The Nutcracker with the sister company, Balletto Nazionale Italiano.

Whilst we celebrate all our graduate employments, we must also recognise our current students who are already immersing themselves in the dance world. Third year students Hugh Lewis and Jemima Gosling are currently completing placements with English National Ballet. They will be performing The Nutcracker with the company at the London Coliseum Theatre with productions taking place through January, before they then return to Central to continue with their studies and rehearsals for the Ballet Central 2025 tour.

Our 2024 graduates celebrated with their official University of Kent ceremony at Rochester Cathedral in November. The 2024 cohort have displayed talent, versatility and employability in an incredibly competitive job market, landing roles in the UK and across Europe. Some notable companies include; Sibiu Ballet, Black British Ballet, Arles Youth Ballet, The London Ballet Company, Ballet de Douro II, Europa Ballet, Jugendkompanie of Vienna Opera, Ajkun Ballet Theatre and Opera Ballet Europe.

There are many other graduates of Central, across the world, performing in and working with dance companies and organisations. If you are, or know, a former Central student, then fill in our alumni questionnaire to stay in touch and tell us what you’ve been up to.

Are you a Central graduate? Tell us what you’ve been up to by completing our Alumni Questionnaire

Nicole Kabera and Stephen Murray in New Adventure’s Swan Lake. Photo by Johan Persson.

Harris Beattie performing the role of Bob Cratchit in Northern Ballet’s A Christmas Carol. Photo by Emily Nuttall.

Mia Jones, class of 2022, performing with Balletto Nazionale Italiano’s The Nutcracker.

Molly Shaw-Downie, class of 2018, performing in New Adventure’s 2024/25 tour of Swan Lake. Photo by Johan Persson.

Pippa Higham, 2024 graduate, performing in The Snowman produced by Birmingham Rep and performed at Sadler’s Well’s Peacock Theatre.

Ruby Sweetland Main and Emily Pohl on tour in the US with The Nutcracker by Talmi Entertainment.

Leanne Wong and Emily Cozens, class of 2024, performing with Ballet do Douro II in Portugal.

Shiori Akimoto, 2024 graduate, performing with Teatrul de Balet Sibiu, currently on tour with Cinderella and The Nutcracker in Lithuania and Germany.