Marianela Núñez

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Marianela Núñez (b. 1982) is, as of January 2007, the youngest principal dancer with the Royal Ballet, London. She is known for her "gold standard technique" and has the reputation for being the best turner at the Royal Ballet.

[edit] Biography

Born in Argentina, She doesn't come from a family with a dance background but at age six she already wanted to become a ballerina despite having never seen a full ballet. She trained with the Teatro Colón Ballet School. Núñez was audtioned by Anthony Dowell during a Royal Ballet tour around the USA in 1998. Dowell being in full Carabosse costume as Marianela performed for him. She joined the Royal Ballet School in 1998 and was chosen to be lead female in Soiree musicale at Dame Ninette de Valois's 100th Birthday Gala. She joined the company in 1999 and was promoted to principal in 2002.

Núñez already has a large repertory and has created La Neige in Les Saisons and a role in Acheron's Dream. 2005 proved to be a great year for Marianela as she won high critical acclaim for her performance as Lise in La Fille Mal Gardee partnering Carlos Acosta. Her recent performances in Sylvia have also won high acclaim from some very discerning critics.

She has been credited with a refined sense of style, and of displaying a unique understanding of the choreographer Frederick Ashtons' style. Marianela Nuñez won The prestigious Richard Sherrington Award for Best Female Dancer 2005. In 2006 Marianela performed several times in the latest Royal Ballet production of Sleeping Beauty, both as the Lilac Fairy and as Aurora. Critics were impressed by the warmth of her Lilac Fairy. Her Aurora was said to be among the Royal Ballet's finest since 1946 with "the phrasing of an angel" In July 2006 at Sadlers Wells Theatre, London, in "Acosta and Friends", Marianela partnered Carlos Acosta in the demanding Diana and Acteon pas de deux. This, for many, was the highlight of the show. In January 2007 Marianela was nominated for a Laurence Olivier Award for her performances in The Royal Ballet’s Chroma and The Sleeping Beauty at the Royal Opera House and in Carlos Acosta’s programme at Sadler’s Wells.