Sarah Mortimer, 20-year-old rising star, graduate of Ballet West and Genée finalist in 2011 is to join the prestigious Ballet Theatre UK company. She also received offers from other companies, including Opéra de Nice. Sarah has just completed four years training with Ballet West, in Taynuilt, West Highlands, with a BA in Classical Ballet and Dance Performance. She also danced principal roles in the Ballet West tours in Scotland and China.

Gillian Barton, Principal of Ballet West, congratulated Sarah on her appointment: “Sarah’s appointment to Ballet Theatre UK is richly deserved. She proved an exceptionally talented student, whose achievement was recognised in the Genée awards. An image of Sarah was chosen by the Royal Academy of Dance as the poster image for the Genée awards. I am sure she will have a great future.”

Sarah joins former Ballet West students Michael Doolan and Duncan Saul in achieving international recognition. Michael is now with the Greek National Ballet and after a dancing in major productions with Ballet Dortmund, Duncan is now moving to Ballet Hagen in Germany. Former Ballet West colleagues, Joseph Mackie-Graves, Vincent Cabot and Claire Corruble are regular guest artists with Ballet Theatre UK.

Following her appointment Sarah said: “I am very excited about joining Ballet Theatre UK. I will be sad to say au revoir to my wonderful teachers and colleagues at Ballet West but hope to dance with the Ballet West company in the future. I have had so much support and encouragement throughout my training, with opportunities to dance major roles in the Ballet West tours, alongside such talented and experienced professionals as my mentors, Sara Maria Smith and Jonathan Barton.”

Source: Ballet West