Tamara Rojo
Encyclopedia
Tamara Rojo is a Spanish
prima ballerina, and is currently a Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet in London
.
Rojo was born in Montreal
, Canada
, to Spanish
parents who moved back to Spain
when she was four months old. She started dancing at the age of 10 in Víctor Ullate
Dance Centre in Madrid
(1983–1991), and completed her training under David Howard and Renato Paroni. Rojo continued to work with the Ullate Company from 1991 to 1996. At the age of 20 she was offered a contract with the Scottish Ballet
, by Galina Samsova
. On her arrival at Scottish Ballet Rojo has jokingly said "I spoke no English at this time but it did not matter; neither did they." She would dance with them until her move to the English National Ballet
in June 1997. There she was promoted to Principal Dancer in January 1998. She officially joined Royal Ballet as a Principal Dancer at the start of the 2000/2001 season, although she danced Giselle with the Royal Ballet at the end of the previous season in July 2000, at short notice and as a replacement for Darcey Bussell
, who was injured.
and Karemia Moreno. Though her parents were thrilled at her talent, they insisted wholeheartedly that Rojo also complete an academic education. Therefore, after studio rehearsals every day, Rojo would attend evening classes. When Rojo was 16, she graduated from the Conservatory and had only two more years until her completion of regular school studies. Upon completion, she was immediately invited to join Ullate’s company, the Ballet de la Comunidad de Madrid. Rojo became the Principal ballerina when the original suffered an injury. She has performed prima roles ever since. In 2000, Sir Anthony Dowell requested that Rojo perform the role of Giselle with the Royal Ballet of London as a guest artist. Shortly after the debut of her performance, Rojo became a Principal Ballerina with a company at Covent Garden
. Rojo is currently 37 and is still a performer for the company.
, The Nutcracker
, La Sylphide
, and Cranko’ s Romeo and Juliet. Leaving Scottish National Ballet in 1997, she joined the English National Ballet. She started dancing a variety of principal roles such as Swan Lake, Paquita, Coppelia, Glen Tetley’s The Sphinx and Voluntaries, and Michael Corder’s Cinderella
. Amazed by her talents, Artistic Director Derek Deane
of the English National Ballet
created the roles of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Clara in The Nutcracker for Rojo. Rojo was named “Dance Revelation of the Year” in 1997 after her performance as Clara, breaking attendance records at the London Coliseum. Rojo was invited as a guest artist to dance as Giselle with the Royal Ballet by Sir Anthony Dowell, the Artistic Director of Britain's Royal Ballet.
, Mason´s The Sleeping Beauty, Nureyev´s Don Quixote
and Wright´s The Nutcracker. She has performed in repertory, recreated for her by Deborah MacMillan, includes the title roles in Isadora, Romeo and Juliet, Manon, Mary Vetsera in Mayerling, The Woman in Song of the Earth, The Chosen One in Rite of Spring, Masha & Olga inWinter Dreams, Requiem, My Brother My Sisters, and Danses Concertantes. In addition, her works includes Cinderella, Ondine, Marguerite and Armand, Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan, Homage to the Queen and A Wedding Bouquet. She danced in the world premiere of Snow White especially created for her by choreographer Richardo Cue.
n tour, Rojo was once again plagued with another setback when she suffered an infected bunion that became so bad that her foot had swollen to the size of a tennis ball. Doctors determined that Rojo needed to have it drained and have surgery on her foot—a potentially career ending operation. Nevertheless she knew that this operation was a necessary step to take if she were ever to dance let alone walk again. A mere twenty four hours after her operation an Ambassador from Spain called to inform her that she had been honored with an award and needed to be in Cadiz
the next week. The King of Spain presented her with the Royal Gold Medal of Fine Arts a prestigious honor that few can say they have achieved. Months later and after countless hours of rehabilitation, she returned to dancing and said that the injury changed her perspective on life, her body, and dance. She felt that she valued each and everyday more and learned that nothing in life should be taken for granted.
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
prima ballerina, and is currently a Principal Dancer with the Royal Ballet in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
Rojo was born in Montreal
Montreal
Montreal is a city in Canada. It is the largest city in the province of Quebec, the second-largest city in Canada and the seventh largest in North America...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, to Spanish
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
parents who moved back to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
when she was four months old. She started dancing at the age of 10 in Víctor Ullate
Víctor Ullate
Víctor Ullate is a dancer, choreographer and ballet director.Ullate trained with María de Avila and Rosella Hightower. He started his professional dancing life wihth Antonio Ruiz Soler's company in 1962 before joining Maurice Béjart's Ballet as a principal three years later...
Dance Centre in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
(1983–1991), and completed her training under David Howard and Renato Paroni. Rojo continued to work with the Ullate Company from 1991 to 1996. At the age of 20 she was offered a contract with the Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet
Scottish Ballet is the national ballet company of Scotland and one of the four leading ballet companies of the United Kingdom, alongside the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet...
, by Galina Samsova
Galina Samsova
Galina Samsova is a retired Russian ballerina. She studied at the Kiev Ballet School and in 1956 graduated into the Kiev Ballet where she became a soloist. In 1960 she married the Canadian Alexander Ursuliak and moved to Canada where she joined the National Ballet of Canada in 1961...
. On her arrival at Scottish Ballet Rojo has jokingly said "I spoke no English at this time but it did not matter; neither did they." She would dance with them until her move to the English National Ballet
English National Ballet
English National Ballet is a classical ballet company founded by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton Dolin and based at Markova House in South Kensington, London, England. Along with the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Scottish Ballet, it is one of the four major ballet companies in Great...
in June 1997. There she was promoted to Principal Dancer in January 1998. She officially joined Royal Ballet as a Principal Dancer at the start of the 2000/2001 season, although she danced Giselle with the Royal Ballet at the end of the previous season in July 2000, at short notice and as a replacement for Darcey Bussell
Darcey Bussell
Darcey Andrea Bussell CBE is a retired English ballerina. Trained at the Arts Educational School and the Royal Ballet School, she was later employed by the Royal Ballet, where she was promoted to the rank of Principal Dancer and would become recognised as one of the greatest English ballerinas of...
, who was injured.
Biography
Rojo started taking local dance classes at the age of 5 in Spain. By the time she reached age 11, Rojo became a full-time student at the Royal Conservatory of Madrid, studying under Victor UllateVíctor Ullate
Víctor Ullate is a dancer, choreographer and ballet director.Ullate trained with María de Avila and Rosella Hightower. He started his professional dancing life wihth Antonio Ruiz Soler's company in 1962 before joining Maurice Béjart's Ballet as a principal three years later...
and Karemia Moreno. Though her parents were thrilled at her talent, they insisted wholeheartedly that Rojo also complete an academic education. Therefore, after studio rehearsals every day, Rojo would attend evening classes. When Rojo was 16, she graduated from the Conservatory and had only two more years until her completion of regular school studies. Upon completion, she was immediately invited to join Ullate’s company, the Ballet de la Comunidad de Madrid. Rojo became the Principal ballerina when the original suffered an injury. She has performed prima roles ever since. In 2000, Sir Anthony Dowell requested that Rojo perform the role of Giselle with the Royal Ballet of London as a guest artist. Shortly after the debut of her performance, Rojo became a Principal Ballerina with a company at Covent Garden
Covent Garden
Covent Garden is a district in London on the eastern fringes of the West End, between St. Martin's Lane and Drury Lane. It is associated with the former fruit and vegetable market in the central square, now a popular shopping and tourist site, and the Royal Opera House, which is also known as...
. Rojo is currently 37 and is still a performer for the company.
Career
Tamara Rojo graduated with Honours in Master of Theatrical Arts and Bachelor of Dance from the Universidad Rey Juan Carlos de Madrid. She trained with Vicor Ullate and danced with the Ballet de la Comunidad de Madrid in a wide-ranging repertoire, in which she developed her remarkable classical technique. Mr. Ullate choreographed many works for her to perform during this time. In 1994, she became notable after winning the Gold Medal at the Paris International Dance competition and a Special Jury Award given by Natalia Makarova, Vladimir Vassiliev, and Galina Samsova, a judging penal consist of most outstanding figures of the ballet world. In 1996, Rojo left her motherland Spain upon accepting an invitation by Galina Samsova to join the Scottish National Ballet. While working with the Scottish National Ballet, she performed the principal roles in Swan LakeSwan Lake
Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger...
, The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker
The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St...
, La Sylphide
La Sylphide
La Sylphide is one of the world's oldest surviving romantic ballets. There were two versions of the ballet; the version choreographed by the Danish balletmaster August Bournonville is the only version known to have survived....
, and Cranko’ s Romeo and Juliet. Leaving Scottish National Ballet in 1997, she joined the English National Ballet. She started dancing a variety of principal roles such as Swan Lake, Paquita, Coppelia, Glen Tetley’s The Sphinx and Voluntaries, and Michael Corder’s Cinderella
Cinderella (Prokofiev)
Cinderella is a ballet, Op. 87, composed by Sergei Prokofiev to a scenario by Nikolai Volkov. It is one of his most popular and melodious compositions, and has inspired a great many choreographers since its inception. The piece was composed between 1940 and 1944. Part way through writing it he...
. Amazed by her talents, Artistic Director Derek Deane
Derek Deane
-Biography:Deane was raised in Redruth, Cornwall, England and trained in the Royal Ballet School. As a dancer, he eventually became a Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet, later retiring from the stage and working as Deputy Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer at Teatro dell'Opera di...
of the English National Ballet
English National Ballet
English National Ballet is a classical ballet company founded by Dame Alicia Markova and Sir Anton Dolin and based at Markova House in South Kensington, London, England. Along with the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet and Scottish Ballet, it is one of the four major ballet companies in Great...
created the roles of Juliet in Romeo and Juliet and Clara in The Nutcracker for Rojo. Rojo was named “Dance Revelation of the Year” in 1997 after her performance as Clara, breaking attendance records at the London Coliseum. Rojo was invited as a guest artist to dance as Giselle with the Royal Ballet by Sir Anthony Dowell, the Artistic Director of Britain's Royal Ballet.
Royal Ballet
After receiving praise from both critics and audience, Rojo was officially invited to become a principal dancer of the Royal Ballet in 2000. She has been working with the company extensively ever since. Since Rojo joined The Royal Ballet, she has taken principal roles in Dowell’s Swan Lake, Makarova’s The Sleeping Beauty and La BayadereLa Bayadère
La Bayadère is a ballet, originally staged in four acts and seven tableaux by French choreographer Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus. La Bayadère was first performed by the Imperial Ballet at the Imperial Bolshoi Kamenny Theatre in St. Petersburg, Russia, on...
, Mason´s The Sleeping Beauty, Nureyev´s Don Quixote
Don Quixote (ballet)
Don Quixote is a ballet originally staged in four acts and eight scenes, based on an episode taken from the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. It was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus and was first presented by the Ballet of the...
and Wright´s The Nutcracker. She has performed in repertory, recreated for her by Deborah MacMillan, includes the title roles in Isadora, Romeo and Juliet, Manon, Mary Vetsera in Mayerling, The Woman in Song of the Earth, The Chosen One in Rite of Spring, Masha & Olga inWinter Dreams, Requiem, My Brother My Sisters, and Danses Concertantes. In addition, her works includes Cinderella, Ondine, Marguerite and Armand, Five Brahms Waltzes in the Manner of Isadora Duncan, Homage to the Queen and A Wedding Bouquet. She danced in the world premiere of Snow White especially created for her by choreographer Richardo Cue.
Major injuries
In 2000 Rojo approached Royal Ballet director Anthony Dowell, having researched and decided that this company was one she would flourish with. "I'd have taken a corps de ballet contract, anything, but there wasn't one," she told Jann Parry, who was at that time the Observer's dance critic. Later that year, though, a principal contract came up and Rojo was recommended. Then later that year Rojo was asked to replace an injured Darcey Bussell in Giselle. Ignoring her own sprained ankle and the short notice she learned the role in two weeks time and went on to receive rave reviews In 2002, while dancing as Clara in the Nutcracker, Rojo started shaking on stage. After the show, she was sent to a private hospital where they determined that her her appendix had burst and she stayed there to heal for 6 weeks. However, two weeks later she was back dancing and she was forced to go to a hospital again. This represented the determination that many dancers have when it comes to their art as they continue to perform despite injuries they may experience. Rojo, however, admitted that it was “completely wrong and I do not feel that anyone should do this. It really is not worth it.” In 2003, while preparing for the Royale Ballet’s AustraliaAustralia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n tour, Rojo was once again plagued with another setback when she suffered an infected bunion that became so bad that her foot had swollen to the size of a tennis ball. Doctors determined that Rojo needed to have it drained and have surgery on her foot—a potentially career ending operation. Nevertheless she knew that this operation was a necessary step to take if she were ever to dance let alone walk again. A mere twenty four hours after her operation an Ambassador from Spain called to inform her that she had been honored with an award and needed to be in Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
the next week. The King of Spain presented her with the Royal Gold Medal of Fine Arts a prestigious honor that few can say they have achieved. Months later and after countless hours of rehabilitation, she returned to dancing and said that the injury changed her perspective on life, her body, and dance. She felt that she valued each and everyday more and learned that nothing in life should be taken for granted.
List of ballets/roles performed
The following is a list of repertoire of Tamara Rojo's performance in various ballet company.| Role | Choreographer | Company |
|---|---|---|
| Les Sylphides Les Sylphides Les Sylphides is a short, non-narrative ballet blanc. Its original choreography was by Michel Fokine, with music by Frédéric Chopin orchestrated by Alexander Glazunov. Glazunov had already set some of the music in 1892 as a purely orchestral suite, under the title Chopiniana, Op. 46... |
Petipa | B.B.Com.Madrid, Royal Ballet |
| Theme and Variations | Balanchine | B.C.Madrid-Ullate, Royal Ballet |
| Allegro Brillante | Balanchine | B.Com.Madrid-Ullate |
| Grossa Fuga | Hans Van Mannen | B.Com.Madrid-Ullate |
| In the Future | Glen Tetley | B.Com.Madrid-Ullate |
| Arraigo | Victor Ullate | B.Com.Madrid-Ullate |
| Simum | Victor Ullate | B.Com.Madrid-Ullate |
| Three Cornered Hat | Leonide/Massine | Bal.Opera de Nice |
| Le Beau Danube | Derek Deane | Bal.Opera de Nice |
| Rite of Spring | Kenneth MacMillan | E.N.B., Royal Ballet |
| Clara (Nutcracker The Nutcracker The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St... ) |
Cranko | English Nat. Ballet |
| Paquita | Leonide/Massine | English Nat. Ballet |
| Juliet (Romeo and Juliet) | Kenneth MacMillan | English Nat. Ballet |
| Cinderella Cinderella (Prokofiev) Cinderella is a ballet, Op. 87, composed by Sergei Prokofiev to a scenario by Nikolai Volkov. It is one of his most popular and melodious compositions, and has inspired a great many choreographers since its inception. The piece was composed between 1940 and 1944. Part way through writing it he... |
Ben Stevenson | English Nat. Ballet |
| Three Preludes | Hans Van Mannen | English Nat. Ballet |
| Nascita di Orfeo | Christopher Hampson | Ente Publico Arena de Verona |
| Odette/Odile (Swan Lake Swan Lake Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger... ) |
Deane/Makarova/M.Mason/Nureyev | Kirov Ballet |
| Blancanieves | Ricardo Cue | Music: E. Aragón – Spain |
| Odette/Odile (Swan Lake Swan Lake Swan Lake ballet, op. 20, by Pyotr Tchaikovsky, composed 1875–1876. The scenario, initially in four acts, was fashioned from Russian folk tales and tells the story of Odette, a princess turned into a swan by an evil sorcerer's curse. The choreographer of the original production was Julius Reisinger... ) |
Lev Ivanov | ENB/Scottish Ballet |
| Consolations & Liebestraum | Christopher Bruce | ROH2 |
| Tatiana (Onegin) | Rudolf Nureyev | Royal Ballet |
| Juliet (Romeo and Juliet) | Kenneth MacMillan | Royal Ballet |
| Isadora | Kenneth MacMillan | Royal Ballet |
| Mary Vetsera (Mayerling) | Kenneth MacMillan | Royal Ballet |
| Manon | Kenneth MacMillan | Royal Ballet |
| Song of the Earth | Kenneth MacMillan | Royal Ballet |
| Requiem | Kenneth MacMillan | Royal Ballet |
| Winter Dreams | Kenneth MacMillan | Royal Ballet |
| My Brother, My Sisters | Balanchine | Royal Ballet |
| Symphony in C Symphony in C Symphony in C may refer to:* a number of symphonies written in the key of C major** symphonies referred to by their key exclusively:*** Symphony in C major - Richard Wagner's Symphony in C... |
Balanchine | Royal Ballet |
| Jewels Jewels (ballet) Jewels is an award-winning ballet in three parts created for New York City Ballet by co-founder and founding choreographer George Balanchine. It premièred on Thursday,... |
Balanchine | Royal Ballet |
| Tzigane | Example | Royal Ballet |
| Dances at a Gathering Dances at a Gathering Dances at a Gathering is a ballet made by New York City Ballet balletmaster Jerome Robbins to the music of Chopin: *John Clifford*Robert Maiorano*John Prinz*Edward Villella- 2008 Spring – Jerome Robbins celebration : *Yvonne Borree... |
Jerome Robbins | Royal Ballet |
| Rushes | Wayne McGregor | Royal Ballet |
| Chroma | Liam Scarlett | Royal Ballet |
| Kitri (Don Quixote Don Quixote (ballet) Don Quixote is a ballet originally staged in four acts and eight scenes, based on an episode taken from the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. It was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus and was first presented by the Ballet of the... ) |
Vladimir Vasiliev | Ballet Alla Escala |
| Sugar Plum Fairy (Nutcracker The Nutcracker The Nutcracker is a two-act ballet, originally choreographed by Marius Petipa and Lev Ivanov with a score by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky. The libretto is adapted from E.T.A. Hoffmann's story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King". It was given its première at the Mariinsky Theatre in St... ) |
Fokin | Royal Ballet, E.N.B. |
| Juliet (Romeo and Juliet) | Cranko | Scottish Ballet |
| La Sylphide La Sylphide La Sylphide is one of the world's oldest surviving romantic ballets. There were two versions of the ballet; the version choreographed by the Danish balletmaster August Bournonville is the only version known to have survived.... |
Bournonville/Sorella Englund Sorella Englund Sorella Englund is a former soloist and character dancer with the Royal Danish Ballet. She has been a keen supporter of August Bournonville, staging a number of his ballets in Denmark and abroad.-Biography:... J.Covalli/J.Perrot |
Scottish Ballet, Royal Ballet |
| Giselle Giselle Giselle is a ballet in two acts with a libretto by Jules-Henri Vernoy de Saint-Georges and Théophile Gautier, music by Adolphe Adam, and choreography by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. The librettist took his inspiration from a poem by Heinrich Heine... |
Petipa /Deane/A. Dowell/ | Royal Ballet, Ullate,B.N.Cuba |
| Kitri (Don Quixote Don Quixote (ballet) Don Quixote is a ballet originally staged in four acts and eight scenes, based on an episode taken from the famous novel Don Quixote de la Mancha by Miguel de Cervantes. It was originally choreographed by Marius Petipa to the music of Ludwig Minkus and was first presented by the Ballet of the... ) |
D. Deane/Petipa/Ashton | The Tokyo Ballet |
Awards
- 2010 Laurence Olivier “Best New Dance Production” award for her collaboration with choreographer Kim Brandstrup in “Goldberg: The Brandstrup-Rojo Project.”
- 2008 Benois de la Danse Award
- 2008 Comunidad de Madrid’s International Medal of the Arts
- 2007 City of Madrid’s Interpretation Award
- 2005 Premio Principe de Asturias a las Artes
- 2004 Premio Positano "Leonid Massine"
- 2002 Medalla de Oro al Mérito en las Bellas Artes - Consejo de Ministros del Reino de España.
- 2002 Gold Medal of Fine Arts from King Juan Carlos
- 2002 London's Critic's Circle Dance Awards
- 2001 Sherringtons Awards Best Female Dancer of the Year
- 2000 Barclays Theatre Awards: Outstanding Achievement in Dance
- 1996 First Price of Italian Critics as Best Dancer of the Year
- 1994 Grand Prix Femme et Medaille Vermeille de la Ville de Paris (à l'unanimité) - Concour International de Danse de Paris
External links
- Bio as Principal at the Royal Ballet, Royal Opera House, London
- Ballet interview, March 2002
- Ballet interview, May 1998
- The Ballerina Gallery - Tamara Rojo
- Ballerina Gallery
- Tamara Rojo IMDB Profile