Jonathan Cope (dancer)

Jonathan Cope, CBE (born 1963) is a British ballet dancer, a former principal and current répétiteur with The Royal Ballet.[1]

Cope was born in Devon. He created the role of The Prince alongside Darcey Bussell in The Prince of the Pagodas in 1989.[1]

He was awarded the CBE (Commander of the Order of the British Empire) in the 2003 Queen's New Year's Honours List for his services to Ballet.[2] He is married to the Portuguese-born ballerina Maria Almeida, also a former Royal Ballet dancer.[3]

Jonathan Cope was involved in the London 2012 Olympic Closing Ceremony, alongside fellow former Principal dancer and partner Darcey Bussell, who returned from retirement exclusively for this piece; Choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. Bussell flew to the stage on a flaming phoenix and when landing was met by Gary Avis, Jonathan Cope, Edward Watson (dancer) and Nehemiah Kish – and over 200 ballet dancers – including Kei Akahoshi, Ellie Sharpe and Chantel Roulston from English National Ballet, dancing en pointe to Spirit of the Flame, composed by David Arnold.

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Q&A: Jonathan Cope on The Prince of the Pagodas". Royal Opera House. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  2. ↑ "New Year Honours: Order of the British Empire". The Independent. 31 December 2002. Retrieved 22 March 2015.
  3. ↑ Marks, Kathy (26 July 1992). "Return of a star who quit: Jonathan Cope retired from the Royal Ballet aged 27. Now he is set for a comeback. Kathy Marks hears why". The Independent. Retrieved 26 October 2014.

External links

Jonathan Cope at the Internet Movie Database