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Why Dance Matters
Xander Parish: Mariinsky Ballet's first and only British principal dancer
Season 1, Ep. 1
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Xander Parish tells a story of snatching triumph from the jaws of frustration. After a great start – winning a silver medal in the RAD’s Genée International Ballet Competition (now named The Fonteyn) and joining The Royal Ballet – his career seemed to be going nowhere. Then a coach from St Petersburg visited London, saw Xander’s passion to prove himself, and snapped him up for the Mariinsky Ballet. Xander is now a Principal at one of the world’s great companies, dancing the princes he was born to play. Listen to his rollercoaster ride, described with unfailing honesty and good humour.
Xander was born in East Yorkshire, England. He trained at the Royal Ballet School in London and in 2005 joined The Royal Ballet Company with his sister Demelza. In 2009, he was invited to join the Mariinsky Ballet by its director Yuri Fateyev, becoming the company’s first and only British dancer. Now a Principal, his roles include Albrecht in Giselle, Siegfried in Swan Lake, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and the title role in Apollo, for which he won Best Male Performance (Classical) at the UK’s Critics Circle National Dance Awards. In 2019, he was awarded an OBE. In 2004, Xander won a silver medal in the RAD’s then-named Genée International Ballet Competition.
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Xander is launching balletclass.com this summer: leading dancers from the UK and Russia are recording classes which students and fans can follow.
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