The Royal Ballet announces Company promotions, new joiners and leavers at the end of the 2025/26 Season
Ashley Woodfield – Head of Ballet Press
10 July 2026
Director of The Royal Ballet Kevin O’Hare announces Company promotions, new joiners and leavers ahead of The Royal Ballet’s 2026/27 Season.
Kevin O’Hare says, ‘I am sure that audiences will join me in congratulating them in enriching our experience of the art form across our diverse repertory. We are excited to welcome new members, to watch current ones continue to flourish and to wish departing ones well with their next steps. At all stages of their careers, they make an invaluable contribution to the life and spirit of the Company.’
Promotions
The following promotions have been made:
- Taisuke Nakao is promoted to First Soloist
- Nadia Mullova-Barley, Ella Newton Severgnini, Charlotte Tonkinson, Marianna Tsembenhoi, Harrison Lee and Marco Masciari are promoted to Soloist
- Martin Diaz, Luc Foskett and James Large are promoted to First Artist.
Leavers
As previously announced, First Soloist Valentino Zucchetti will leave the Company after 16 years to pursue his choreographic and producing career. Before he embarks on the next stage of his career, Zucchetti performs the role of Lescaut in Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon on 19 and 24 October (evening).
Following the successful completion of her MBA during her sabbatical in the 2025/26 Season, First Artist Katharina Nikelski leaves the Company to pursue new professional opportunities.
Kevin O’Hare said, 'I am delighted that Katharina has had such a positive year with her study and I am sure that her commitment, enthusiasm and openness to new ideas will prove a fantastic asset for her next chapter. We are grateful for the beautiful dance qualities she brought to the Company since joining us in 2018.'
Joiners
As previously announced, Patricio Revé joins The Royal Ballet as a Principal in the 2026/27 Season following his appearances with the Company as a Guest Artist.
The Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme was established in 2014 and provides a year’s contract to graduates from The Royal Ballet School to be nurtured and perform alongside the corps de ballet of The Royal Ballet. This programme, made possible by the generous philanthropic support of Aud Jebsen, is central to The Royal Ballet and The Royal Ballet School’s endeavour to support emerging talent. By the beginning of the 2026/27 Season, 73 contracts will have been offered to dancers at the first stage of their careers since the programme’s inception.
From the 25/26 Season Aud Jebsen dancer cohort, the following will join as Artists: Aurora Chinchilla, Shani Moran-Simmonds, Yuki Nagayasu, Amos Child and Tristan-Ian Massa. Following the completion of his Season as an Aud Jebsen Young Dancer Joe Parkinson has secured a contract with Ballet Zürich.
Maia Rose Roberts, a 2025 Royal Ballet School graduate, joins the Company as an Artist following two seasons with Ballet Zürich.
For the 2026/27 Season, six graduates from The Royal Ballet School will join the Aud Jebsen Young Dancers Programme: Alecsia Maria Lazarescu, Emma Lucano, Sophie Schulten, Millán de Benito, Ivan Malaguti and Fabrizzio Ulloa Cornejo.
William Gyves joins as the Prix de Lausanne dancer for the 2026/27 Season.
Other appointments
The Royal Ballet also announces new appointments and departures in the Music Department.
Ewan Gilford joins as a full-time Pianist with the Company. Maya Caskie joins as Associate Pianist, replacing Anastasia Matkovskaia who leaves at the end of the 2025/26 Season.