 | Natalie Cawte Born: Gosport, Hampshire Training: Central School of Ballet Previous Companies: Ballet Central, American Ballet Theatre, Scottish Ballet, English National Ballet, Ballet Theatre UK. Favourite Roles: Ballet Central Jazz piece 'Let yourself go', Dior variation in Cinderella and a 'Swan' in Swan Lake. Career Highlights: Performing in Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall with the English National Ballet and dancing the title roles of the Snow Queen and Princess Aurora with Ballet Theatre UK. Personal: Natalie is delighted to be performing with Ballet Theatre UK again and is looking forward to dancing in this latest production. Natalie would like to thank her family and friends for their continued support. |
 | Helena Casado Cortes Born: Madrid, Spain Training: Graduated from the Real Conservatorio de Danza de Madrid (Spain) with a degree in Professional Classical Dance. Previous Companies: England Contemporary Ballet as a soloist in ‘The Nutcracker’, English National Ballet for their production of ‘Swan Lake’ in The Royal Albert Hall in 2010. Ballet Cymru as soloist dancer in several neoclassical, contemporary and classical works. Favourite Role: among several, one of Helena’s favourite roles is Kitri from Don Quixote for its style and charm. Career Highlights: Working alongside English National Ballet and creating the roles of Bluebird and Lilac Fairy with Ballet Theatre UK Personal: I am really happy to continue performing with Ballet Theatre UK. Thank you to all my family and friends for all their support. |
 | Claire Corruble Born: Paris, France Training: Paris Opera Ballet School and the Superior National Ballet School of Marseille Previous Companies: Ballet de Jeunes d'Europe, National Ballet of Marseille, Staatstherater's Ballet of Karlsuhe, English National Ballet, Ballet Classique of Paris, Ballet West Scotland, Ballet Theatre UK. Favourite Roles: Odile in Swan Lake, Swanilda in Coppelia, Ugly Sister in Cinderella and Gerda in The Snow Queen with Ballet Theatre UK. Career Highlights: Performing in the creation of Anna Karenina in Karlsuhe, Performing in the ENB's production of Swan Lake in the Royal Albert Hall and creating the role of the Ugly Sister in Cinderella, Ballet Theatre UK. Personal: Claire is really happy to return for a fourth season with Ballet Theatre UK and thanks all her teachers, family, best friend and her boyfriend for all their support. |
 | Julia Davies Born: Reading, UK Training: Central School of Ballet, 2003-2006, Susan Robinson School of Ballet Previous Companies: Ballet de Camara del Estado de Morelos (Mexico), Ballet Russe (UK), Les Ballet Persans (Sweden), Northern Ballet Theatre (UK) Favourite Role: Maria in Diego Vazquez’ version of ‘The Nutcracker,’ Title role in Nima Kiann’s ‘Femme,’ and Gerda in Christopher Moore’s ‘The Snow Queen.’ Career Highlights: Winning a Bronze Medal at the Genee International Ballet Competition 2005, Dancing at the Royal Opera House, Touring internationally to Toronto and USA, and creating new roles. Personal: It is great to be part of a growing company like Ballet Theatre UK, and I am really excited about our production of A Christmas Carol. Thanks to my family and friends for their support. |
 | Inês Ferreira Born: Barreiro, Portugal Training: The National Conservatory of Lisbon, Portugal and Heinz Bosl Stiftung, Hochschule für Musik Munich, Germany Favourite Role: Medora Corsaire, Ghost of Christmas Past (A Christmas Carol). Career Highlights: The Nutcracker principal role 2009, Gulnara and Giselle variation 2010 La Bayadere principal role 2010, The Black Swan Variation 2011, Le Corsaire Medora variation 2012 Personal: Ines would like to thank the support that her family gave to her over the past few years. Without them she wouldn't be where and what she is today. Also to her friends and teachers that always believed in her when she doubted herself. Ines is very excited to be joining Ballet Theatre UK. |
 | Jessica Hill Born: Reading, England Training: Jeannine Greville Dance Academy and Tring Park School for the performing arts Previous Companies: Ballet Theatre UK Favourite Roles: Friends pas de trios from the Snow Queen and creating the role of Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty. Career Highlights: Lilac Fairy, Ballet Theatre UK, Snow Queen, Ballet Theatre UK, Apprenticeship with Ballet Theatre UK 2010, Working with Adam Cooper for Tring park dance show in his piece titled ‘fragments of b......’ in 2011, YBDY finals performer in 2010, Sound Moves performer 2010, Winner of bronze statuette with National Youth Ballet in 2010, Commendation in Barbara Geoghegan Cecchetti competition 2009. Appearing with English National Ballet in productions of Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker and Swan Lake from 2004-6 Personal: I would like to thank my friends and family for the support they have given me over my dancing years, especially my parents for being such a fabulous taxi service! I’m very excited to be performing once again with Ballet Theatre UK. |
 | Sarah Mortimer Born: Kent, England Training: Ballet West Previous Companies: Ballet West Favourite Roles: Juliet, Romeo & Juliet. Snow Queen, The Nutcracker. Friend, Pas De Trois, Swan Lake. Career Highlights: 1 of 6 Six girls to reach the finals of The Genee International Ballet Competition held in South Africa. Snow Queen and Lead Candy-cane for Ballet West's China Tour of The Nutcracker 2010. Chance to Perform Juliet in Ballet West's Scottish and China Tour 2011. Personal: Sarah would like to thank her family, friends and teachers for all their support over the years, which has meant a lot to her. She is very excited to be joining Ballet Theatre UK. |
 | Kazuka Oike Born: Kyoto, Japan Training: Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Favourite Roles: 'Gerda' from The Snow Queen Ballet Theatre UK, Tchaikovsky pas de deux, Juliet from Romeo & Juliet Career Highlights: Dancing at The Linbury Theatre and The Royal Festival Hall. Performing the title roles of the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Gerda in The Snow Queen and Cinderella with Ballet Theatre UK. Personal: Kazuka would like to thank her father and mother for their support. Kazuka is delighted to be touring again with Ballet Theatre UK after the success of the last four seasons and is looking forward to creating her roles in the production of A Christmas Carol. |
 | David Brewer Born: Essex, England Training: Royal Ballet Lower School & Tring Park School for the Performing Arts Favourite Role: Red Riding Hood Duet, in Ballet Theatre UK's production of The Sleeping Beauty. Career Highlights: Working with Ballet Theatre UK in 'Sleeping Beauty' 2012, Working with Adam Cooper for Tring park dance show in his piece titled ‘fragments of b......’ (2011), Finalist in the International Cecchetti Competition 2011, Interval performer at YBDY 2010, Recipient of the Barbara Fewster award for promising young male dancer 2010, Performing at the Royal Opera House Linbury theatre in (among other things) excerpts from Façade, Giselle, and Coppélia, (2005-9), Appearing with The Royal Ballet in Cinderella and Nutcracker (2003-6). Personal: David is pleased to continue dancing with Ballet Theatre UK and wishes to thank everyone who's got him to this point. |
 | Vincent Cabot Born: Limoges (France) Training: Centre Chorégraphique Michèle Darcy in Limoges and the Ballet National of Marseille (2003) Previous Dance Companies: European Ballet, Deutschtanz Kompanie, Jeannette Jacquet , Ballet West. Favourite Roles: The Prince in Nutcracker, The Toreador in Don Quichotte, Blue Bird in Sleeping Beauty. Career Highlights: Daphnis in Daphnis and Chloe, The Prince in Cinderella and The Nutcracker, Frantz and Coppelus in Coppelia, The Donkey in Die Bremer Stadtmusikanten, Kay in Ballet Theatre UK’s The Snow Queen. Personal: Vincent is very excited to be dancing with Ballet Theatre UK for a third season and hopes you will enjoy the new production. |
 | Joseph Mackie-Graves Born: Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire Training: Ballet West, Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts Previous Companies: Vienna Festival Ballet, European Ballet, Ballet West, Belinda King Creative Productions, NSPCC Favourite Roles: Von Rothbart in Daniel Job's new creation of Ballet West's 'Swan Lake' for character, choreography and costume. The lead in Frank Freeman's ballet, 'Let's Face The Music'. Career Highlights: Touring China with Ballet West's seasonal classic 'The Nutcracker' in 2010 as a Soloist, Performing in Dubai with Vienna Festival Ballet at The Mall of Emirates, Winning 1st prize in Gran Gala Della Danza, Sardinia 2007 Personal: Joseph is very excited to be joining Ballet Theatre UK. He would like to thank his family and friends especially Marc O'Dell and Georgie Connolly for all their support and help. |
 | Luca Varone Training: Teatro San Carlo in Naples, Accademia Teatro Alla Scala in Milan and Ukraine Academy of Ballet Previous Companies: Company of the Teatro San Carlo di Napoli, Macedonain National Ballet, Royal Ballet Czech and Ballet Theatre UK. Favourite Roles: Basil, Prince Siegried, a peasant from Giselle, Prince Desire and The Prince, Sleeping Beauty (Ballet Theatre UK) Career Highlights: Working with the Macedonian National Ballet for the preparation of the italian tour staged Swan Lake, Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty throughout Italy. Also working with the Czech Royal Company performing Giselle in Rome. Touring with Ballet Theatre UK Personal: Luca would like to thank his family who have always supported and believed in him and his friends who have brought joy in the days spent together. |
The Production Team
Christopher Moore - Artistic Director
Christopher trained in Dance at Tring Park School of Performing Arts and has toured all over the world in many productions, including, Lido La Tournee (USA & Asia Tour), Broadway’s Rhythm & Rhyme (USA Tour), Paris Can Can (USA, Asia & UK Tour), The Magic of Andrew Lloyd Webber (USA & European Tour), and as Principal dancer in the original cast of the musical The Piano Man (USA Tour).
Choreographic work includes, The Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade (New York USA), Tango Pas de Deux (Marques Productions) Christmas Celebration(RCI Miami), Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (UK Tour), Gypsy (UK Tour), Annie (London Youth Theatre), Symphony (Palace Theatre) and various production pieces for the commercial industry and leading vocational dance colleges.
Works for Ballet Theatre UK include, La Classique (2008), Les Papillion (2008) Memento (2008) Ballet Gala (2008), The Nutcracker (2009), Cinderella (2010) The Snow Queen (2011) The Sleeping Beauty (2012) and A Christmas Carol (2012).
Mikah Smillie - Rehearsal Director
Mikah was born in Glasgow and trained at Dansarena Studios graduating from the Royal Ballet Upper School where she also gained her teaching diploma (RBS,TTC DIP,ARAD,AISTD solo seal).
Mikah's performing career includes character principal roles with Matthew Bourne’s New Adventures including - Early Adventures, Cinderella , The Car Man , original cast Edward Scissorhands, Highland Fling and Nutcracker! She was also a soloist dancer with Phoenix, Rotterdam Dance Company, Dortmund Ballet, Nurnberg Ballet and Tanzwerk Nurnberg.
Mikah freelances as a Rehearsal Director and Ballet Mistress for Ballet Theatre UK, Ballet Ireland, National Youth Ballet, Ballet Work 1020 (Sadlers Wells). She has also been assistant to choreographers Drew Mconie - Be Mine, Slaughter (The Place Prize), Meet me at the Dinah and Back to Business (Jazz company, LSC) Old Man of Lochnagar (National Youth Ballet) , Andrew McNicol - Chocolat (NYB ), Jo Meredith - Rainbow Bear (NYB), Morganne Runacer-Temple -Scheherazade (Ballet Ireland). She was also a judge for the All England Ballet Competitions 2011 and teacher for New Adventures, Shobana Jeyasingh Dance Company, and Ballet Forder Zentrum.
Mikah is also a freelance dance photographer www.mikahsmillie.com
Elizabeth Haslem - Ballet Mistress
Elizabeth trained at Central School of Ballet, Elizabeth performed in the British Gas Ballet Central UK Tour, with Jane Regan (NBT
Principal) as ballet mistress. During her training, Elizabeth was selected by Christopher Gable to work with Northern Ballet Theatre on their adaptation of ‘Dracula’, where she performed a solo and duet (Late Night TV). She then went on to perform in the corps de Ballet in ‘Aida’ with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra having been selected by Lynn Seymour and also as a Classical soloist in ‘Vis av Magi', Norway (ABT Choreographer). Elizabeth then progressed to a more contemporary route and did many European tours with the Miles Thomas contemporary group.
After performing professionally for 10 years, Elizabeth moved in to the world of teaching and choreography. This has taken her all over the world, teaching master classes in India, Antigua, Italy, London and Guadalupe, alongside Patricia Ruanne (ex-principal of the Royal Ballet Company) and Frederick Jahn (ex-principal of Australian Ballet). Elizabeth is excited to be working with Ballet Theatre UK and is looking forward to this year's programme.
Russ Marquis - Technical Manager
Russ has worked in Theatre for many years and has previously worked with English National Ballet Angelina Ballerina, European Ballet, Trading Faces Creaking Shadows, British Shakespeare Company Open Air Much Ado About Nothing / Twelfth Night, Central School Of Ballet Ballet Central, Edinburgh Festival Beckett’s Happy Days, British Forces Germany, Russ has worked at Mountview Academy Of Performing Arts on many postgraduate productions as Stage Manager and also as Production Manager for the postgraduate Directors season as well as several years as Crew Chief for Camberley Theatre’s Pantomime Season.
Dan Hope - Costume Designer
Dan began his education in applied arts with a foundation degree at Coventry University; followed by a BA Hons in Fashion and Textile Design. While studying he worked with design teams such as McQueen and Dior, gaining experience in couture garments and garment technology. He furthered his education in costume design at Nottingham Trent University where he specialised in period corsetry. Since leaving Nottingham he has worked with many theatrical companies on a broad range of shows: 42nd Street, Copacabana, Disney's Beauty and the Beast, French CanCan (UK Tour) and many pantomimes. Dan has worked with Ballet Theatre UK for three seasons designing costumes for A Christmas Carol, The Sleeping Beauty and The Snow Queen. Dan also works as a freelance graphic designer; designing posters, flyers, websites and promotional material individually designed for theatre companies across the UK, using his creative eye and love of theatre to maximum effect. He has created the new look for Ballet Theatre UK.
Sam Davis - Sports Massage Therapist
Sam began her education in sport science at 15 when she started her training to become a gym instructor. This enabled her to progress not only through her sports education but through her career working in a number of gyms throughout the Midlands. Whilst studying on this course she gained a wealth of experience and developed further and gained a Personal Training qualification. After completing this course, she progressed and started her training in the field of Sports Massage. Now Sam is a remedial massage theorist and a sports massage therapist. She is pleased to be joining Ballet Theatre UK and is very excited about the move to the Midlands and all the interesting opportunities this will bring.
