Reece Clarke becomes a NYB Patron

It is with enormous excitement and pride that we can announce today that Reece Clarke has joined our roster of eminent Patrons. Following the announcement of his promotion from First Soloist to Principal Dancer at The Royal Ballet we are thrilled that Reece has chosen to champion the work of National Youth Ballet. He joins at a time where our company is evolving to embrace a more supportive and inclusive talent pipeline than ever, with access and opportunity at its heart. Reece is our youngest patron and is an inspiring figure for all young ballet dancers but especially for boys.

Reece Clarke says:
“It is an honour to become a patron of the National Youth Ballet. I stand proudly in line with the organisation and their goals of supporting the next generation of talent in the world of dance and theatre. Enabling children to have an education and insight into this wonderful world is a passion of mine and I am delighted to be able to join forces with National Youth Ballet to make this happen. 

Dance has shaped my life and has given me a life I am so grateful for. It gives us so many positive experiences and connections and I hope to spread these opportunities to as many youngsters as possible. “

NYB Chief Executive Barbara Palczynski says:
“I know I speak for all my colleagues when I say how delighted we are to welcome Reece to the NYB family. His passionate belief in the power of dance to transform lives resonates strongly with our NYB mission. We are thrilled with the news of his promotion to Principal Dancer at The Royal Ballet and we look forward to working together to realise our shared vision.”

Reece grew up in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire. He and his three elder brothers trained at the Janis Ridley School of Dance in Scotland before joining The Royal Ballet School. Reece entered White Lodge in 2006 – the first time in the School’s history that four boys from the same family have all trained at the School. Awards while at the School included the Young British Dancer of the Year in 2012, the Lynn Seymour Competition in 2013 and an award from the Ballet Association. Awards since joining the Company have included the Emerging Artist Award at the 2016 National Dance Awards.

Clarke’s appearances with the Company have included Prince Siegfried (Swan Lake), Onegin, Albrecht (Giselle), Prince Florimund and Florestan (The Sleeping Beauty), Prince (The Nutcracker), Young Man (The Two Pigeons), Aminta (Sylvia), Polixenes and Antigonus (The Winter’s Tale), Dr Samuel-Jean Pozzi (Strapless), Officer (Anastasia), Des Grieux (Manon), Principal roles in Symphonic Variations, After the Rain, Monotones II, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Dances at a Gathering, Wthin the Golden Hour and In Our Wishes, as well as roles in Carbon Life and Obsidian Tear. He created roles in Charlotte Edmonds’s Meta and Liam Scarlett’s Symphonic Dances.

Photo credit: Andrej Uspenski