Introducing our first Headliners of Ballet Nights 006: The Cadogan Hall Concert, Principals of English National Ballet, Sangeun Lee & Gareth Haw performing The White Swan Act II Pas de Deux.
Sangeun Lee, born in Seoul, South Korea, and Gareth Haw, trained at The Royal Ballet School, both joined English National Ballet in 2023 from Semperoper Ballett Dresden, Germany, where they have continued their celebrated partnership, while also only adding to their individual accolades.
Also loved by our Audiences, Sangeun Lee & Gareth Haw are far from strangers to the Ballet Nights Stage, having first performed the UK Premiere of David Dawson’s Metamorphosis 1 at Ballet Nights 002: Changing Perceptions, before filling in for injured Principal of The Royal Ballet, Steven McRae, in Ballet Nights 005: The Grande Finale with a spellbinding performance of William Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated.
Above: Sangeun Lee & Gareth Haw in the UK Premiere of David Dawson's Metamorphosis 1 at Ballet Nights 002: Changing Perceptions. By Deborah Jaffe.
Firmly in the Ballet Nights family, it was then truly special to watch these two headliners come together with another Ballet Nights favourite, National Dance Awards Critics’ Circle Nominated Dancer and Choreographer, Jordan James Bridge for a new creation, TERRA | ASTRA for Ballet Nights 005: New Futures . Translating to ‘From Land to the Stars’, Jordan’s original concept lay in Gareth embodying TERRA // LAND, and Sangeun, ASTRA // STARS, resulting in a piece that was ethereal, vivid, and visceral. Accompanied by Ballet Nights House Concert Pianist, Viktor Erik Emanuel with his own arrangement of Hans Zimmer’s Day One & Cornfield Chase, as well as custom designed costumes by Sara Mackenzie that created a liquid look on stage, the piece premiered to critical acclaim.
Above: Sangeun Lee, Gareth Haw, and Viktor Erik Emanuel in the World Premiere of Jordan James Bridge's TERRA | ASTRA at Ballet Nights 005: New Futures. By Deborah Jaffe.
Another testament to their versatility and wide-breadth of repertoire, in the same show, Sangeun & Gareth were also able to step in last minute to perform The White Swan Act II Pas de Deux when sadly Principals of The Royal Ballet, Matthew Ball and Mayara Magri were injured at the last minute. Having just finished a sellout run of Swan Lake In the Round at The Royal Albert Hall, seeing this piece up close was truly magical.
Always looking to celebrate the Artists, it was of course a big celebration amongst the Ballet Nights team to hear of Gareth Haw’s promotion to Principal at the end of English National Ballet’s last season. “It’s both an achievement and a motivation to push myself even further”, says Gareth, “his promotion isn’t just an endpoint; it’s a new beginning. It means I’ll continue to challenge myself, dive deeper into the roles I’ve already experienced and look to explore the ones I’ve always dreamt of dancing , evolving as an artist.”
Above: Sangeun Lee & Gareth Haw in The White Swan, Act II Pas de Deux at Ballet Nights 005: New Futures. By Deborah Jaffe.
We’re incredibly excited to welcome back Sangeun & Gareth in the White Swan Act II Pas De Deux once again, an incredible showcase of artistry and technical brilliance that is not to be missed!
If you find yourself in Australia later this month, you can even see Gareth perform alongside fellow English National Ballet Principal, Shiori Kase in the Black Swan Pas de Deux as he joins the cast of Ballet Nights Brisbane! Only a short flight away - we hope to see you at both…
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