This season, the Dutch National Ballet is saying farewell to principal Tamás Nagy. His last performance is on Saturday 30 June, when he will be dancing the pas de deux from Van Dantzig’s Romeo and Juliet with principal Anna Tsygankova. Principal Cédric Ygnace is also leaving us, and will be dancing his last performance with the company in the ballet Steptext, in the programme Bill & Mr. B., on Sunday 1 July.
Second soloists Sefton Clark and Steven Etienne are also ending their dancing career, as are Natalia Hoffmann and Juanjo Arqués, grand sujet Rosi Soto and corps de ballet dancer Natasja Lucassen. The latter three will be taking their leave in Baden Baden (Germany), where the Dutch National Ballet is performing a Hans van Manen programme on 8 July.
“At the end of this anniversary season, some of our important principals and second soloists are leaving us. They have all meant a great deal to our company. They are now ending their dancing career and taking an important step on the road to a new career.
Tamás Nagy, a principal since 1999, is a noble, handsome, dream prince. He is also a distinctly aristocratic dancer, who was shown off to best advantage in the big classical roles.
Principal Cédric Ygnace joined the corps de ballet in the late nineties and then grew into one of the company’s most familiar faces, leaving his mark on the Dutch National Ballet during his thirteen years with the company.
Besides being a dedicated dancer, second soloist Steven Etienne has also been a support and source of inspiration to many resident and guest choreographers. Juanjo Arqués is not just an exceptional dancer, but has also developed strongly as a choreographer. Sefton Clarke is an enormously energetic and spirited dancer. He has always been very versatile and is now continuing with the company in another position. Natalia Hoffmann is a dancer with beautiful classical lines, who has danced a wide variety of roles. She will be passing on her experience in her future role as a ballet mistress and teacher.
Besides the aforementioned principals and second soloists, Rosi Soto (grand sujet) and Natasja Lucassen (corps de ballet) are also ending their long careers with the company.
We are sad to see a generation of dancers leaving us, especially when they have meant so much to the company. But at the same time it is inevitable. We won’t lose touch with them and we wish them all the best for the future”.
Ted Brandsen
Director of the Dutch National Ballet
From August 2012, there will of course be many promotions, and we will have new faces joining our ranks. More information will follow on this website.
> biography tamás nagy
> biography cédric ygnace
Left: Cédric Ygnace in De Verloren Zoon.
Right: Tamás Nagy in the Nutcracker & Mouse King.