Delia Mathews
Born: Rotorua, New Zealand
Trained: The Dance Education Centre, Tauranga, New Zealand, and the Royal Ballet School
Joined: 2008; Principal, 2017
Awards: Laureate, Prix de Lausanne, 2007; Dame Ninette de Valois Award for Most Outstanding Graduate from the Royal Ballet School, 2008; Runner-Up, Young British Dancer of the Year, 2006 & 2007.
Created roles: David Bintley’s Cinderella (‘Winter’), The Tempest (Juno), Faster (Synchro) and E=mc2; Juanjo Arqués Ignite (River); George Williamson’s Embrace (She); and roles in Didy Veldman’s A Sense of Time, Alexander Whitley’s Kin. and Jessica Lang’s Wink.
Favourite role in current repertory: Giselle has always been one of my favorite ballets, I’ve been one of the peasants, corps Wilis as well as Queen of the Wilis before and this season I’m dancing Giselle which I’m really excited about.
Work with the Learning, Education, Access and Participation department:
I have helped with some 'Ballet? What’s that?' events to try and bring ballet to those who might not otherwise be exposed to it and hopefully inspire a new generation of performers or audience members.
REPERTORY INCLUDES
Frederick Ashton: La Fille mal gardée (Lise), Les Rendezvous (lead couple) A Month in the Country (Natalia Petrovna), Enigma Variations (Isabel Fitton), The Dream (Hermia)
George Balanchine: Serenade
David Bintley: Cinderella (title role, Skinny, 'Winter'), Beauty and the Beast (Belle), The Prince of the Pagodas (Empress Épine), Galanteries, Sylvia (Huntress, Diana's Followers) and Flowers of the Forest ('Scottish Ballad'), and David Bintley and Galina Samsova's production of Giselle (Title role, Myrtha)
Gillian Lynne after Robert Helpmann: Miracle in the Gorbals (The Suicide)
Kenneth MacMillan: Romeo and Juliet (Juliet), Pavane, Elite Syncopations ('Bethena Concert Waltz', 'Calliope Rag'), Concerto
Twyla Tharp: In the Upper Room
Alexander Whitley: Kin. (lead couple)
Peter Wright's productions of The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum Fairy), The Sleeping Beauty (Princess Aurora), Coppélia ('Prayer') and Peter Wright and Galina Samsova's production of Swan Lake (Odette/Odile, Hungarian Princess, Two Swan Maidens)
Header image: Clothing and styling generously supplied by UK dancewear specialists Dans-ez