Celebrating International Dance Day with our alumni around the world
This International Dance Day, we’re celebrating the achievements of our alumni dancing with companies around the world. From Berlin to Hong Kong, our former students continue to inspire audiences with their artistry.
Guillem Cabrera Espinach – Joffrey Ballet, Chicago
Guillem joined the School in Year 7 from Spain. Whilst at the School, he created original choreography for the Ursula Moreton Emerging Choreographer which was then chosen for our 2022 Summer Performance programme. In 2023 he graduated from the School and is now dancing with Joffrey Ballet in Chicago. Guillem recently performed in the Winning Works programme and appeared in the US premiere of Cathy Marston’s Atonement.
Eleonora Ancona – National Moravian-Silesian Theatre, Ostrava
After graduating from The Royal Ballet School in 2021, Italian dancer Eleonora Ancona joined the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre in the Czech Republic, where she was quickly promoted to company member with soloist obligation. In 2023, she was nominated for the prestigious Jantar Award for her compelling performance as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake.
Basil James – Hong Kong Ballet
Basil joined The Royal Ballet School’s Upper School from Hertfordshire in 2018 and graduated to join Hong Kong Ballet as a Corps de Ballet member in 2021. With HKB, his featured roles include Monkey King and Lead Jockey in Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker. He also performed in Cynthia Harvey’s The Sleeping Beauty and Webre’s Cinderella. Basil was the silver medalist at the 2018 Genée International Ballet Competition.
Koko Bamford – Dutch National Ballet
Koko joined White Lodge in Year 9 and graduated from Upper School into the Junior Company of Dutch National Ballet in 2020. Koko was awarded the Artistic Prize for Progress and Endeavour in her final year at the School. In 2024, Koko was promoted to Coryphée and most recently performed in George Balanchine’s Jewels.
Danielle Muir – Staatsballett Berlin
Danielle trained at the School from 2010 to 2013, having previously studied in New South Wales, Australia. She joined Staatsballett Berlin in 2013 and is now a Soloist with the Company where her repertory includes Princess Florine in The Sleeping Beauty and Medora in Le Corsaire. In 2021, Danielle released her first children’s book, The Lucky Stone, and last year, her childhood dream came true when Danielle made her debut as Giselle.
Brandon Lawrence – Ballett Zürich
Brandon trained at the School from 2006 to 2011 and was promoted to Principal at Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2019. After twelve acclaimed years with Birmingham Royal Ballet, Brandon Lawrence joined Ballett Zürich as part of Cathy Marston’s debut season as Artistic Director. He has been nominated for two National Dance Awards in the Best Classical Male Performance Category for Ruth Brill’s Arcadia and Jessica Lang’s Wink, and is Patron of New English Ballet Theatre and BBO Dance.
We are incredibly proud of these inspiring alumni and their accomplishments, and we look forward to watching their careers continue to blossom on the international stage.
