Liam Scarlett

Scarlett was born in Ipswich, and started dancing aged four.[1] He trained at the Linda Shipton School of Dancing, followed by The Royal Ballet Lower School, which he entered at the age of eight,[3] and then the Upper School.[4]

His first work for the main stage at Covent Garden was Asphodel Meadows in 2010. It was a work for 20 dancers set to Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos.[5] In 2008 the work was commissioned by the Royal Ballet's then director, Monica Mason, who was eager to develop his choreographic abilities.[3]

Scarlett is the youngest choreographer to have a full-length ballet commissioned by the Royal Ballet.[6]

Edward Villella, the then director of Miami City Ballet, saw the dress rehearsal and commissioned Scarlett there and then. Viscera's critically acclaimed premiere took place in January 2012.[5] As well as further work for the Royal Ballet and Miami City Ballet, Scarlett has created new works for the Norwegian National Ballet, the BalletBoyz, English National Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet and American Ballet Theatre.[5]

In November 2012, aged 26, Scarlett gave up his dancing career as a first artist with The Royal Ballet, to become their first artist in residence, a post created especially for him by the Ballet's director, Kevin O'Hare.[1][4]

On 29 April 2014, Scarlett's Hummingbird, inspired by Philip Glass's Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra premiered at the San Francisco Ballet.[3] In its review, theartsdesk critic thought that it stood "above offerings from Wheeldon, Morris and Liang," and that Scarlett created "a fabulous, compelling visual and emotional world ... stirring stuff, and beautiful."[7]

In January 2020, he was suspended by the Royal Ballet amid allegations of sexual misconduct against his students.[8] Although after investigation no evidence was found to corroborate the allegations and no criminal charges were bought against him.[9] In March, the Royal Opera House announced Scarlett's position with the Royal Ballet had ended. [10]

All for the Royal Ballet, unless otherwise noted:

• Few Things Are (2005)
• Despite (2006)
• Vayamos al Diablo (2006)
• Hinterland (2006) (Ballet Black)
• Indigo Children (2007) (Ballet Black)
• Somente (2007/8)
• Of Mozart (2008)
• Consolations and Liebestraum (2009)
• Asphodel Meadows (2010)
• Viscera (2012) (Miami City Ballet)
• Sweet Violets (2012)
• Diana and Acteon in Metamorphosis: Titian (2012)
• Euphotic (2013) (Miami City Ballet)
• Hansel and Gretel (2013)
• Promenade Sentimentale (2013) (K-Ballet)
• Serpent (2013) (BalletBoyz: The Talent)
• Firebird (2013) (Norwegian National Ballet)
• Vespertine (2013) (Norwegian National Ballet)
• The Age of Anxiety (2014)
• Hummingbird (2014) (San Francisco Ballet)
• No Man's Land (2014) (English National Ballet)
• Acheron (2014) (New York City Ballet)
• With a Chance of Rain (2014) (American Ballet Theatre)
• A Midsummer Night's Dream (2015) (Royal New Zealand Ballet and Queensland Ballet)
• Carmen (2015) (Norwegian National Ballet)
• Frankenstein (2016)
• Symphonic Dances (2017)
• Swan Lake (2018)
• Dangerous Liaisons (2019) (Queensland Ballet and Texas Ballet Theater)
• Wottaperviam (2019) (Royal Ballet)

• Kenneth MacMillan Choreographic Award (2001)
• Ursula Moreton Choreographic Award (2003 and 2004)
• De Valois Trust Fund Choreographers’ Award (2005)[11]