Here's the link to the ROH press release giving promotions, joiners and leavers.

Congratulations to Mara Galeazzi who has shown in a series of Principal roles that she deserves the promotion. Her lovely dancing and her great acting skills mean that she brings distinctive qualities to the Royal Ballet.

I'm also delighted that Carlos Acosta is made a Principal Guest Artist. To date Sylvie Guillem is the only one to enjoy this title. He is one of the leading dancers worldwide and perhaps this recognition after the problems for him of the Stretton era will cement his relationship with the Company.

When reading the other promotions, I found myself repeatedly thinking - that makes sense - which seems a good sign. I'm particularly pleased that Deirdre Chapman has been promoted for a second time this year, justifying her mover from Rambert, where she was one of my favourites. Christina Arestis and Lauren Cuthbertson and Bethany Keating are also dancers who stand out for me.

Of the joiners, the excellent Dutch National Ballet lose two of their top men who join the Royal as Principals. It's no secret that there is little strength in depth in this area for the Royal, so it makes sense to bring in dancers from other companies. Perhaps the success of Johann Kobborg is a good sign for outsiders. Here are more details about them from the Dutch National Ballet website:

<img src="http://www.het-nationale-ballet.nl/new/images/dansers/groot/Samodurov_Viacheslav.jpg" alt="" />

Viacheslav Samodurov
first soloist

Date of birth:
19-05-1974

Place of birth and country:
, Russia

Works for HNB since:
1999

Education:
Vaganova Ballet Academy, St Petersburg, Russia

Career:
1992-1997 soloist with the Kirov Ballet, St Petersburg, Russia
soloist first soloist Het Nationale Ballet

Solistrolls in:
Cinderella (Ashton), Nutcracker and Mouseking (Eagling and Van Schayk), Romeo and Juliet (Van Dantzig), The Sleeping Beauty (version by Wright), La Sylphide (version by Bjørn), and Swan Lake (version by Van Dantzig)

Danced in ballets of:
George Balanchine, David Dawson, Wayne Eagling, Hans van Manen and Leonide Massine

Awards:
1994 Gold medal in the International Maya Plisetskaya Competition

Press comments:
‘There is much elaborate mime in La Sylphide, especially in the first act, so it comes as a relief when Samodurov lets fly with terrifically difficult jumping combinations.......his solos show exceptional virtuosity.’ (Het Parool)

Special remarks:
A documentary was made about Samodurov’s period with the Kirov Ballet in 1999

Click here for a video and interview with Viacheslav Samodurov.

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<img src="http://www.het-nationale-ballet.nl/new/images/dansers/groot/Bonelli_Federico.jpg" alt="" />

Federico Bonelli
first soloist

Date of birth:
22-04-1978

Place of birth and country:
Genua, Italy

Works for HNB since:
1999

Education:
Dance academie in Turin

Career:
1996 second soloist and 1997 soloist with Zurich Ballet, Switzerland
1999 coryphé, in 2000 second soloist and in 2002 first soloist with Het Nationale Ballet

Solistrolls in:
Cinderella (Ashton), Nutcracker and Mouseking (Eagling and Van Schayk), La Sylphide (version by Bjørn), Onegin (Cranko) , Romeo and Juliet (Van Dantzig) and Kurt Weill (Pastor)

Danced in ballets of:
George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Hans van Manen, Leonide Massine, Krzysztof Pastor, Jerome Robbins and Glenn Tetley

Awards:
Second prize at the Concours International de Havanna, Cuba
First prize at the Dance Competition in Rieti, Italy

Press comments:
‘....with beautiful, poignant work from........and Federico Bonelli.’ (de Telegraaf)

Click here for a video and interview with Federico Bonelli.

<small>[ 17 July 2003, 07:26 AM: Message edited by: Stuart Sweeney ]</small>

Re: Deirdre Chapman. I hope we will see some reviews and comments on her RB performances this season--ESPECIALLY her principal role in La Bayadere (and most probably, some featured role in Gong.) This child grew up during an era when unspoiled subtlety and a sensitive upper body were not en vogue. Fortunately, Bonnie Mathis, who was the principal ballet instructor at Minnesota Dance Theatre, and who danced with Rambert and ABT, was able to convey to Dierdre that these were the qualities that would make her special. Add to that her ability to move seamlessly from ballet to modern, and you have one lovely artist.