Pennsylvania Ballet and Artistic Director Angel Corella announce the addition of Russell Ducker as a member of the Corps de Ballet for the 2014-2015 Season.
“I’ve had the pleasure of working with Russell in Barcelona and I’m thrilled to welcome him as a member of Pennsylvania Ballet,” said Artistic Director Angel Corella. “Not only is Russell an exquisite dancer but he’s also a skilled choreographer.”
A native of Basingstoke, United Kingdom, Mr. Ducker’s artistic development began at the Royal Ballet Lower School, White Lodge in 2000 and the Royal Ballet Upper School, Covent Garden, in 2007. In 2006 he won the Pamela Self Award for dance as well as a bursary from the NFL Foundation. As a choreographer he received awards in the Dame Ninette De Valois, Sir Kenneth MacMillan and Ursula Moreton choreographic competitions.
From August 2007 to April 2008 Mr. Ducker performed with “Angel Corella and Friends,” and soon thereafter joined Angel Corella’s Barcelona Ballet. With this Company, Mr. Ducker had the opportunity to dance various soloist and principal roles in Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, Stanton Welch’s Clear, Twyla Tharp’s In The Upper Room and in Christopher Wheeldon’s For Four, DGV, Polyphonia and VIII, among others. He also performed principle roles in suites of Marius Petipa’s Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire and Bournonville’s La Sylphide. Other career highlights include La Bayadere by Natalia Markarova, Bruch Violin Concerto by Clarke Tippet and Swan Lake by Angel Corella. Mr. Ducker was also included on tours to Los Angeles, New York, Buenos Aires, New Orleans, Santa Barbara, Houston, Seattle, Portugal and France.
Mr. Ducker has also been featured in television commercials for Canon, Verti Insurance, Sanex, Vodaphone, Nyt Syn glasses and Guaraná Antarctica (with premiere league footballer Neymar). He also performed in Cameron Mackintosh’s West End production of Oklahoma (alongside Hugh Jackman and Maureen Lipman).
“It’s great to be working in the United States and with Angel again,” said Russell Ducker. “I’ve always looked up to Angel and all he’s accomplished. The chance to be a part of Pennsylvania Ballet under Angel’s direction is truly an honor.”
About Pennsylvania Ballet
Founded in 1963 by Balanchine student and protégée Barbara Weisberger, Pennsylvania Ballet is one of the nation’s leading ballet companies. Headquartered in Philadelphia, the Company’s annual local season features six programs of classic favorites and new works, including the Philadelphia holiday tradition, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker™. For more information, visit www.paballet.org