'2026 is the new 2016' at Birmingham Royal Ballet

News & Stories 30 Jan 2026

News Story

'2026 is the new 2016' is a trend that has been going viral on social media platforms since the start of the year, and BRB has decided to join in. Scroll down to see images of some of our dancers from 2016! 

Yaoqian Shang and César Morales performing Swan Lake Act I pas de deux at Birmingham Hippodrome.
Yaoqian Shang's debut as Juliet in Romeo and Juliet with William Bracewell and Max Maslen.
Sir Peter Wright coaches Céline Gittens and Brandon Lawrence onstage during The Nutcracker.
The Tempest with Yasuo Atsuji, Kit Holder, Tom Rogers and Brandon Lawrence.
Sir Anthony Dowell rehearsing The Dream with César Morales and Momoko Hirata.
Momoko Hirata's debut as Juliet with William Bracewell, Joseph Caley and James Barton.
Miki Mizutani rehearsing for her debut as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker with César Morales.
Five-a-side football on tour in Salford.
Winter from David Bintley's The Seasons with Yaoqian Shang, Tzu-Chao Chou and Ruth Brill.
Céline Gittens rehearsing Lady Macbeth from The Shakespeare Suite with Sir David Bintley.
The Taming of the Shrew with Yasuo Atsuji, Samara Downs and Marion Tait.
César Morales, Momoko Hirata, Tzu-Chao Chou, Yasuo Atsuji and Lachlan Monaghan in The Tempest.

These photos have been supplied by our dancers. Click on the profiles below to find out more about them and see where they are now in 2026. 

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