English National Ballet's Emerging Dancer 2015

English National Ballet, who recently won 'Outstanding Company' at the National Dance Awards in January, has announced its finalists for the Emerging Dancer competition 2015. Taking place at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre on 23 March 2015, it is a great way to enjoy the company's upcoming artists in a more informal setting than its usual productions. This year’s finalists are: Isabelle Brouwers Anjuli Hudson Jeanette Kakareka Katja Khaniukova Vitor Menezes James Streeter Max Westwell Jinhao Zhang Now in its sixth year, the annual competition allows English National Ballet to recognise and nurture talent and encourage excellence in the company. The eight emerging dancers will perform in front of a panel of eminent judges before the winner is announced, together with the recipient of the People’s Choice Award, which is voted for by members of the public. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMT893me__4 Last year’s winner of the Emerging Dancer Award and People’s Choice Award, Junor Souza, has since been promoted to First Soloist and has performed Principal roles in both Swan Lake and Nutcracker. Junor now receives sponsorship from the XL Group, supporting him in his development as a dancer while raising his profile on both a UK and international stage. Alison McWhinney, joint winner of the Emerging Dancer Award, has since been promoted to First Artist. Here it is clear that taking part in the internal competition is a propellor for the dancers' careers, having already been recognised as an artist with the means to excel. The competition provides a fantastic opportunity for the remarkable dancers to gain greater profile, not only for each winner, but all of the nominees. It is a great platform for the younger dancers in the company and a key fixture in the company's calendar, creating stars of the future.