the_royal_ballet

(L-R) Reece Clarke and William Bracewell

Photo: Tristram Kenton and Helen Maybanks

Changing Faces

Principal dancer promotions at the Royal Ballet

Patrick Jowett
1 min read

REECE CLARKE and WILLIAM BRACEWELL have been promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer at the Royal Ballet.

Their promotions to the highest rank in the company will take effect from the start of the 2022/23 season.

Clarke and Bracewell both trained at the Royal Ballet School. Bracewell, who was awarded the 2007 Young British Dancer of the Year award, joined the ballet as Soloist in 2017 and was promoted to First Soloist in 2018.

Clarke won Young British Dancer of the Year in 2012 and received the Emerging Artist Award at the 2016 Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards. He became Royal Ballet Soloist in 2017 and First Soloist in 2020.

Royal Ballet Director KEVIN O’HARE said both dancers had excelled this season, as the company returned to full repertory following the pandemic.

“[They] are wonderful examples of the strength of training at the Royal Ballet School and will be an inspiration to the younger generation of boys studying dance. 

“I know audiences will share in our delight at their good news and we look forward to seeing how their careers continue to develop.”