Tamara Rojo CBE, Artistic Director of English National Ballet, announced last month that Cesar Corrales was to become a Principal of English National Ballet from the start of the 2017/2018 season. Having joined English National Ballet as Artist of the Company in 2014, Corrales was promoted to Junior Soloist in 2015, and to First Soloist in 2016. At just 20 years old, Corrales will become English National Ballet’s youngest principal.
To make the announcement, Rojo joined Corrales on stage after his performance in Le Corsaire at the Tokyo Bunka Kaikan, announcing the exciting news in front of the theatre audience and the rest of the ballet company. Corrales’ promotion comes following his recent performances with English National Ballet this season, dancing as Hilarion in Akram Khan’s Giselle, the Prince/Nephew in Nutcracker, Albrecht in Mary Skeaping’s Giselle, Ali in Le Corsaire, Franz in Coppelia, and in William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated.
During his time at English National Ballet, Corrales has won both the Emerging Dancer and People’s Choice Awards at Emerging Dancer 2016. In 2017 he was awarded Outstanding Male Performance (Classical) for his appearance as Ali in Le Corsaire, at the Critic’s Circle National Dance Awards. His dancing career has accelerated since his teens, and following the news of becoming English National Ballet’s youngest principal, his career is taking leaps and bounds.
Earlier this month Corrales performed in the role of Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet at the Southbank Centre’s Royal Festival Hall, London. It is an iconic role within a much-loved production from English National Ballet. London audiences will be spoilt by the company for the remainder of the year, with performances including the renowned Nutcracker as one of the cornerstones of the company’s works.