Today Nikolaj Hübbe appointed five dancers to soloists. The dancers are Alexander Stæger, Gregory Dean, Lena-Maria Gruber, J'aime Crandall and Alexandra Lo Sardo. All five dancers have taking on importants parts in the last season and will probably also dance leading roles on the upcoming tour.
For several of the dancers the promotion follows a busy year where they have danced leading roles in productions like "Napoli", "Swan Lake" and "Sleeping Beauty".
Alexander Stæger, (born 1986) the only Dane in the group is best known for his performance as Gennaro in Nikolaj Hübbe's revamped "Napoli", but has also had leading roles as Gurn in "La Sylphide" his break through role, Lysander in "A Midsummer Night's Dream and "Flower Festival in Genzano". He danced and sang the role of "Riff" in "West Side Story Suite" and his strong Bournonville skill took centre place in "Bournonville Variations". Stæger combines high jumps, elegance with a strong dramatic sense.
Gregory Dean (Born 1984 ) has had leading roles like Siegfried in "Swan Lake", Desiree in "The Sleeping Beauty", Oberon/Theseus in "A Midsummer nights dream" and in "Dances at a Gathering", and "Symphony in C". British born Dean is educated at Tring Park School for the Performing Arts and joined the RDB in 2008, followings stints at Ballet Vorpommern, and The Scottish Ballet. He isthe dancer who have substituted Nehemiah Kish, who joined "Royal Ballet this season as the steady in house Danseur Noble.
Alexandra Lo Sardo, (born 1984) joined RDB in 2009 and already in her first season showed her potential in "Dances at a Gathering" and "Symphony in C" 2. movement, an unusual casting for a small dancer, but Lo Sardo combines lyrical and soubrette qualities. She was a convincing Novice in "The Cage" and Florine in "The Sleeping Beauty". Alexandra Lo Sardo is educated at Studio Ballet Colette Armand in Marseille and Royal Ballet School. She has danced at Dresden SemperOper Ballet from 2002 and as Coryphée in 2005.
Lena Marie Gruber born 1987 is Austrian born and educated at The Wienna State Ballet Scool, but received her final education at the Royal Ballet Scool and joined the RDB in 2006. Her first major part was the 4th Movement of "Symphony in C". She has since danced a number of divertissements including Pas de Trois and Pas de Qautre in "Swan Lake" and "Florine" and Fairy in "The Sleeping Beauty .
Finaly, American J'aime Crandall, born 1982 joined RDB in 2009 and had danced a growing number of soloist roles concluding in Russian girl in "Serenade" and by stepping in as Aurora in "The Sleeping Beauty" after Gudrun Bojesen's injury. J'aime Crandall is educated at Kirov Academy i Washington D.C. and has danced at the Universal Ballet in Korea and in Dutch National Ballet.
Pictures: Alexander Stæger, Gregory Dean and Alexandra lo Sardo.
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