Liberation International Music Festival promoted by Music in Action
An intimate portrait of the life of Lauren Cuthbertson, star from the Royal Ballet and one of the greatest dancers’ gracing the stage. Live her life as she rises to the pinnacle of the dancing world triumphantly dealing with the heartbreak of debilitating illness and broken bones to dance at Covent Garden. Lauren will be supported by future stars from the Royal Ballet School and interviewed on stage as we see clips, photos and films of her dancing supported by dance by local dance schools. This evening is set to dazzle and inform ballet fans. Please note that Lauren is not dancing in this show.
Lauren Cuthbertson – Ballerina
“A dancer of impressive strength and energy” The Times
At the age of 10 Lauren joined the White Lodge, The Royal Ballet Lower School, and naively believed she would be a principal dancer by the age of 15. After having performed as a Little Swan in Swan Lake with the Royal Ballet she realised just how unrealistic this was and how hard she would have to work if she ever wanted to become a principal. From then on she became self-disciplined, driven and 100% focused on her goal.
In her first year in the Royal Ballet Upper School she won the Young British Dancer of the Year and also the Silver Medal at the Adeline Genée Awards. After this she was invited to perform at an RAD gala in Japan. Upon her return she found herself thrown in at the deep end with the third years, skipping the second year entirely. She joined The Royal Ballet in February 2002, as a member of the corps de ballet. In 2003 she was asked to dance Juliet in Sir Kenneth Macmillan’s Romeo and Juliet. Her performances were exceptionally well received and in the same year she was promoted to soloist.
In 2008 at the age of 23, she was awarded principal status in the company. As a principal she created and starred in the title role in the Royal Ballet’s first new full-length ballet in 16 years; Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, and in 2014 she helped create the role of Queen Hermione in a second full-length ballet, The Winter’s Tale. Cuthbertson’s repertory with the Company includes leading roles in all the classical ballets, Juliet, Manon, Anastasia and many contemporary roles. She is currently dancing at Covent Garden as Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty.