English National Ballet, founded in 1950 as the "Festival Ballet" inspired by the then imminent Festival of Britain, is one of the leading ballet companies in the United Kingdom founded by Alicia Markova and Anton Dolin, with the financial backing of Polish impresario Julian Braunsweg, Wayne Eagling is the current Artistic Director.

Performance and touring
Dolin as Artistic Director gave the Company its focus as a touring organisation in its first decade, it sought to take classical ballet to new, and established, audiences throughout the country, at affordable prices. He also introduced outreach and education programmes to develop new audiences; in the 1950s, Dolin and his dancers would visit schools to talk about dance. Continuing Dolin's work today, the Company has a dedicated Education and Community team whose activities range from year-long projects to one-off workshops with schools and communities nation-wide.

As well as performing the traditional ballet favourites, the National Ballet's former Artistic Director, Matz Skoog, emphasized new works - commissions included works by British choreographers Michael Corder (Melody on the Move), Wayne McGregor (2 Human) and Christopher Hampson (Double Concerto).

Matz's work was recognised at the Critics' Circle National Dance Awards in January 2004, when the Company won the "Outstanding Repertoire" (classical category) award.

England
English National Ballet tours extensively throughout England and presents two high-profile seasons in London; at the London Coliseum at Christmas and, with huge arena productions, at the Royal Albert Hall in the Summer. Overseas tours are a regular part of the annual performance programme.

On 1 July 2007, English National Ballet performed at a Concert for the late Princess Diana at Wembley Stadium, as part of the celebrations of their former Patron's life.[1] The orchestra for the concert was English National Ballet's orchestra, and the dancers also performed as backing for Take That's performance of "Shine".

International touring
In 1951 the Company began to tour abroad, quickly becoming a cultural ambassador (appearing on Eurovision in 1956, when its performance of Etudes at the gala to celebrate the wedding of Prince Rainier and Grace Kelly was transmitted). In its first 15 years, the Company was seen throughout Europe, the Middle East and in North and South America. It was also the first major ballet company to perform in Israel. English National Ballet continues to tour internationally today and in recent years has visited Australia, the Far East and Japan. Since 2004, the Company has travelled to Dubai, Athens, Madrid and Taipei, and in July 2007 performed on the lake in the gardens of the Palace of Versailles.

English National Ballet has commissioned a brand new full length ballet for Autumn 2007,[2] with choreography by Michael Corder to Prokofiev's score for The Stone Flower adapted by Julian Philips. This will tour the UK before performances at the London Coliseum in December.

English National Ballet is also producing Angelina Ballerina's very first live ballet which undertakes a 22 venue tour from September 2007, opening at the New Wimbledon Theatre. This ballet is aimed at children from the age of 3 and features eight of the dancers of the Company.

Staff
Senior Principal dancers are Estonian Agnes Oaks and Thomas Edur, Georgian Elena Glurdjidze, Czech Daria Klimentova, Japanese Erina Takahashiand Russian Dmitri Gruzdyev. Principal dancers are English dancers Sarah McIlroy and Simone Clarke, Chilean Cesar Morales, Cubans Arionel Vargas, Yat-Sen Chang and Yosvani Ramos and Brazilian Fernanda Oliveira. Past dancers have included Spanish Tamara Rojo,Cuban Carlos Acosta and Italians Roberto Bolle and Ambra Vallo. Guest artists include Sofiane Sylve and Friedemann Vogel, both of whom performed Swan Lake at the Royal Albert Hall.

Remarks: The tickets for Swan Lake by English National Ballet are available now!