Ballerina Marianela Nuñez is one of the most incredible dancers of our time and this month she celebrates 20 years with The Royal Ballet.
Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she arrived in London aged 16, taking a place at The Royal Ballet School for one year before joining the Company in 1998. She was promoted to First Soloist in 1000, and Principal in 2002, aged 20.
During her time with the Royal Ballet, she has performed extensively across the whole range of its classical, dramatic and contemporary repertoire, dancing works by Fredrick Ashton, George Balanchine, John Cranko, Kenneth MacMillan, Wayne McGregor, Liam Scarlett and Christopher Wheeldon.
In her anniversary year, she will be performing lead roles in Giselle, the Winter’s Tale, Manon, Marguerite and Armand and Swan Lake.
Throughout her career to date, Nuñez has won an array of awards, including the 2013 Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance, in recognition of her performances in Viscera, Aeternum and ‘Diana and Actaeon’ (Metamorphosis: Titian 2012).
She was also recognised as Best Female Dancer at the 2005 and 2012 Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards, Best Dancer of the Decade in Argentina in 2009, and was the recipient of the María Ruanova Award in 2011.
She has made guest appearances with companies including Vienna State Opera Ballet, American Ballet Theater, La Scala Milan and Ballet Estable del Teatro Colón, as well as in galas around the world.
Nuñez’s 20th anniversary with the Company will be marked following the performance of Giselle on Thursday 1 February, in the presence of the Argentinian Ambassador to the United Kingdom.
Director of the Royal Ballet, Kevin O’Hare said:
“Not only is Marianela one the greatest dancers of her generation, but also a wonderful member of the Royal Ballet and an inspiration to all the Company and aspiring performers around the world. She is at the height of her career and it is wonderful to be able to celebrate this milestone with her.’
