LAURENT-LIOTARDO
Caroline Wright is the principal of the school. When I moved to London to perform as Billy Elliot, Lorraine Swain was my ISTD teacher, provided by the production. She told me I was special and that I have the potential to have a great ballet career. What dance has done for you? Dance has really given me a purpose in life both personally and professionally, I honestly don’t know what I’d do or be without it. I’m definitely quite a shy and quiet person and I feel that when I dance, I am able to really express my true self, which I think is such a beautiful factor. What would you say to aspiring dancers today? Don’t be too hard on yourself! This industry is a very competitive one and you must try not to compare yourself to anyone else. You are special, unique and a one-of-akind individual, so keep pushing for the future you want to achieve – you will do it.
Dance has really given me a purpose in life both personally and professionally. Please tell us a bit about your role as a First Artist at ENB? Being a First Artist with English National Ballet means I’m starting to do a lot more soloist work and making that jump out of the group to being on my own. Being promoted last year, after the daunting two years we had due to Covid, which really had an impact on our artistic world, really gave me the push and recognition I needed in order to carry on and one day achieve my goal of becoming a soloist.
What are your hopes for the future? I still have to pinch myself that I’m part of such an incredible company (English National Ballet) with lots of inspiring and talented artists, that I really do look up to. My hopes for the future would be to keep moving up the ranks and dancing as much diverse repertoire as I can. I’d love to really challenge and push my dancing abilities to the limit and feel fulfilled. Rhys’s upcoming performances with ENB in Autumn 2023 will be the following: Our Voices, 21–30 September, Sadler’s Wells; Akram Khan’s Giselle, 19–21 October, Manchester Palace Theatre and 26–28 October, Bristol Hippodrome; Nutcracker, 14 December–7 January 2024, London Coliseum. Above Rhys Antoni Yeomans in Jolly Folly by Arielle Smith, part of ENB’s Reunion
Exam review updates for teachers The recent changes to Imperial Classical Ballet graded examinations include: • Numbers of candidates allowed in the exams • Length of exams • Updates to gender terminology throughout the syllabi It is very important that all teachers familiarise themselves with the updated information, which can be found in the Syllabus Outline on the ISTD website here: www.istd.org/examinations/ theatre-dance-syllabus-outlines
Left Students and prize winners at the 2023 Junior and Senior Ballet Awards Dance | Issue 499 43
