Born in Shanghai, Lei Zhao trained at the Shanghai Dance School and then at Northern Ballet School. She joined BRB in 1995; First Artist, 2001; Soloist, 2003; First Soloist, 2008. In December 2003 she became an MA in Applied Studies in Dance and in August 2007, she received her Professional Dancers' Teaching Diploma from the Royal Academy of Dance.

REPERTORY INCLUDES
Frederick Ashton:Dante Sonata (lead Child of Light) and Birthday Offering
George Balanchine:Apollo (Calliope)
David Bintley:Beauty and the Beast (Belle, Vanité), Hobson's Choice (Salvation Army), Allegri diversi (lead role), The Nutcracker Sweeties (Volga Vouty,) The Seasons ('Winter'), Tombeaux (lead role), Les Petits Riens and David Bintley and Galina Samsova's production of Giselle (Moyna, peasant pas de deux)
Kim Brandstrup:Pulcinella (Pimipinella)
John Cranko:Brouillards ('Les Fées sont d'exquises danseuses')
Milicent Hodson and Kenneth Archer's reconstruction of The Rite of Spring (Chosen One)
Kenneth MacMillan:Elite Syncoptations ('Calliope Rag') and Song of the Earth(Fourth song)
Peter Wright's productions of Coppélia ('Dawn'), The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum Fairy, Clara, Rose Fairy, Snow Fairy), The Sleeping Beauty ( Fairy of Honour, pas de quatre, Songbird, Enchanted Princess), and Peter Wright and Galina Samsova's production of Swan Lake (Polish Princess, pas de trois)

AWARDS
First Prize, China Ballet Competition; bronze medal, Helsinki International Ballet Competition; Adeline Genée Award.

CHOREOGRAPHY
'Jupiter' in The Planets, performed on the Hippodrome stage in June 2005.