Biography

English choreographer Liam Scarlett was The Royal Ballet’s Artist in Residence. His works for The Royal Ballet include Despite, Vayamos al Diablo, Consolations and Liebestraum (nominated for a Critics’ Circle Award), Asphodel Meadows (nominated for a South Bank Award and an Olivier Award, and winner of a Critics’ Circle National Dance Award), Sweet Violets, ‘Diana and Actaeon’ in Metamorphosis: Titian 2012, Hansel and Gretel, Jubilee pas de deux (in celebration of HM The Queen’s Diamond Jubilee), The Age of Anxiety, Summertime, Frankenstein (a co-production with San Francisco Ballet) and Symphonic Dances. In the 2017/18 Season he produced a new production of Swan Lake for The Royal Ballet. Liam Scarlett's position with The Royal Ballet ended in March 2020.
Scarlett was born in Ipswich and trained at the Linda Shipton School of Dancing before joining The Royal Ballet School, White Lodge. While at the School he won both the Kenneth MacMillan and Ursula Moreton Choreographic Awards, and was the first recipient of the De Valois Trust Fund Choreographers’ Award. He graduated into The Royal Ballet in 2005, promoted to First Artist in 2008. He retired as a dancer in 2012, that year becoming The Royal Ballet’s first Artist in Residence.
Scarlett’s work for other companies includes No Man’s Land (English National Ballet), Gargoyles and Funérailles (New York City Ballet), With a Chance of Rain (American Ballet Theatre), Vespertine, The Firebird and Carmen (Norweign National Ballet), A Misummer Night’s Dream (Royal New Zealand Ballet and Queensland Ballet), Viscera and Euphotic (Miami City Ballet), Hummingbird (San Francisco Ballet), Promenade Sentimentale (K-Ballet), Serpent (BalletBoyz: The Talent) and Hinterland and Indigo Children (Ballet Black). He was Artistic Associate at Queensland Ballet from 2016 to 2019.
News and features
How choreographer Liam Scarlett is reimagining Swan Lake
A fresh look at the great classic, The Royal Ballet's new production is the Company's first in 30 years.
What makes a good dance score?
Graceful Tchaikovsky, vivacious Stravinsky, angular minimalist music - or something else? We explore what makes the best music for ballet and beyond.
How does The Royal Ballet School create such great choreographers?
Several world-class choreographers began their training with The Royal Ballet School – how do they grow the dance-makers of the future?
Posts by Liam Scarlett
Liam Scarlett on Walter Sickert and Jack the Ripper
The choreographer on the inspiration for his new short ballet, Sweet Violets.
Photos
Liam Scarlett

Zenaida Yanowsky & James Hay in Symphonic Dances

Members of The Royal Ballet in Symphonic Dances

James Hay & Zenaida Yanowsky in Symphonic Dances

Nicol Edmonds & Tristan Dyer in Symphonic Dances

Liam Scarlett and Leanne Cope photographed for The Language of the Soul

Tristan Dyer in Liam Scarlett’s The Age of Anxiety

Liam Scarlett

Tamara Rojo and Bennet Gartside in Asphodel Meadows

Zenaida Yanowsky in Symphonic Dances

Reece Clarke & Zenaida Yanowsky in Symphonic Dances

Laura Morera, Steven McRae, Tristan Dyer and Bennet Gartside in Liam Scarlett's The Age of Anxiety

Tamara Rojo in Asphodel Meadows

Liam Scarlett and Laura Morera in rehearsal for Viscera, The Royal Ballet

Tristan Dyer in Liam Scarlett’s The Age of Anxiety

Liam Scarlett in rehearsal for The Age of Anxiety

Tamara Rojo in Asphodel Meadows

James Hay & Zenaida Yanowsky in Symphonic Dances

Zenaida Yanowsky in Symphonic Dances

Laura Morera and Steven McRae in Liam Scarlett’s The Age of Anxiety

Liam Scarlett

Liam Scarlett and Emma Maguire in the Neapolitan Dance in Swan Lake, Act III
