National Youth Ballet announces Residential Performance Company 2025 Artistic Director, Amelia O’Hara

National Youth Ballet is delighted to announce Amelia O’Hara as our new Residential Performance Company Artistic Director 2025. Royal Ballet School and Tring Park School trained, Amelia performed as a professional ballet dancer before embarking on a career in teaching. NYB’s Associate Artistic Director since 2022, and a much valued member of the core NYB team, she recently graduated from Royal Ballet School’s Diploma of Dance Teaching. Amelia supported founder Artistic Director Jill Tookey and five of our former Artistic Directors including Mikah Smilie, Drew McOnie, Ruth Brill, Carrie Johnson and most recently Louise Bennett (2022-2024) in the planning and delivery of re|generation (2022) and Evolving Visions (2023-2024). We look forward to Amelia’s leadership as we embark on the next chapter of our Residential Performance Company’s artistic development.

A note from National Youth Ballet’s Creative Director

Jo Meredith, NYB Creative Director: “I am very excited to work with Amelia in her new role. She has been a hugely popular member of the NYB team since 2015 and I greatly admire her passion, commitment and dedication to young dancers’ development. I am also delighted that Louise Bennett will be continuing to share her skills, knowledge and extensive experience with NYB as Artistic Consultant“.

We are thrilled to announce that alongside her role as Artistic Director of London Vocational Ballet School, Louise Bennett will continue to work with NYB as Artistic Consultant in 2025. Under Louise’s artistic direction, the Residential Performance Company has flourished since the pandemic. Louise nurtured the invaluable process of research and development, giving young people and choreographers the space to explore their individual creativity, and she curated and staged two fabulous shows at Sadler’s Wells Theatre. This has resulted in a meaningful and impactful experience for young people as well as productions of the highest quality. In her new role as Artistic Consultant, Louise will bring strategic expertise to NYB’s leadership and will continue to nurture a close relationship with the Residential Performance Company process, cascading her passion for NYB’s values into the future of our work.

A note from National Youth Ballet’s Chief Executive

Barbara Palczynksi, NYB Chief Executive: “NYB’s Residential Performance Company has gone from strength to strength since 2021, with superlative artistic leadership under Louise and supported by Amelia. I have been inspired by the way they have worked together with an unswerving commitment to the quality of the experience of the young people, both artistic and through a focus on wellbeing. Developing our team and their skills is an important part of our growth and a key part of NYB’s future sustainability. I am excited to embrace the different energy that Amelia will bring as Artistic Director and I look forward to working more closely with Louise as Artistic Consultant, knowing that NYB will thrive with both of their thoughtful artistic approaches to ensure NYB can achieve its mission”.

National Youth Ballet’s Residential Performance Company Auditions will tour the UK and offer online opportunities from January – March 2025. The Residential will run at Elmhurst Ballet School from Saturday 10 – Saturday 16 August 2025.

You can find out more and book an audition here.

Read the full Press Release here.