It is a wonderful ability to make the most of the present situation whilst not letting the dream fade, in this case the dream to dance with The Royal Ballet. However, this is just what Federico Bonelli managed to do. He watched Royal Ballet videos in his youth and instinctively felt a bond with the British style of interpretation. He worked and learned a lot in various companies, and then, out of the blue, his chance of a lifetime came. Bonelli joined The Royal Ballet as a principal dancer at the invitation of the then director, Monica Mason. By his own admission it took him a while to find his feet, but once found he graced the stage of the Royal Opera House for many years, providing succeeding generations with a whole gamut of inspiration. In this interview, which was recorded in 2019, Bonelli talks to the dance writer Gerald Dowler. The interview is introduced by Mark Monahan, the dance critic of the Daily Telegraph.
Federico Bonelli was born in Genoa, Italy, in 1978. He trained at the Turin Dance Academy and in 1996 he graduated into the Zurich Ballet in Switzerland, where he danced for three years. In 1999 he joined Dutch National Ballet where he was promoted to the rank of principal dancer in 2002. In 2003 he moved to The Royal Ballet in London, where his career blossomed. His immaculate technique and exquisite stage manners marked him out in the existing classical ballets, but it was his ability to shine in the variety of styles embodied in a full range of modern and contemporary choreography that allowed him to flourish in The Royal Ballet’s extensive repertoire. In 2018 he was awarded a place on the Clore Leadership Programme, and in 2022, after a glittering and exciting 18 years with The Royal Ballet, he retired from the stage to become artistic director of Northern Ballet.
","author_name":"Voices of British Ballet"}