David Donnelly in La Destinee. Photograph : Johan Persson
David Donnelly is a phenomenally talented young dancer that I first saw when he performed during the finals of the 2012 Youth American Grand Prix. His technical abilities combined with his unique artistry brought him to the attention of the competition’s panel of international judges and was awarded the Outstanding Contemporary Dancer Award for his performance of Susie Payne’s Ch’i.
The 2012 Youth American Grand Prix awarded Mr. Donnelly the Richard and Julia MacDonald Scholarship which allowed him to study at The Royal Ballet Upper School. Roles while at the School included Man (Mark Annear’s La Destinée) in the 2013 annual matinee. After completing his studies at The Royal Ballet School he graduated into the Royal Ballet Company in 2013.
Mr. Donnelly’s repertory with the Royal Ballet Company has included roles in Don Quixote, Romeo and Juliet and The Rite of Spring.
The Royal Ballet School was established in 1931 and is one of the most respected ballet academies in the world. Some of the School’s most acclaimed alumni include Dame Margot Fonteyn, Darcey Bussell, and Alessandra Ferri. Kevin O’Hare became Director of The Royal Ballet on the retirement of Monica Mason in July 2012.
The Richard and Julia MacDonald Scholarship was established in support of the world-renowned Royal Ballet School to help promote the dreams of aspiring and talented dancers pursue a career in ballet. American sculptor Richard MacDonald has devoted his career to figurative art, which celebrates the beauty of the human spirit and has a close affinity with the expressive qualities of dance.
American Dancer David Donnelly joins the Royal Ballet in 2013.
Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition that awards over $250,000 annually in scholarships to leading dance schools worldwide. The competition is held annually around the world and in New York City, and is open to dance students of all nationalities 9-19 years old.
Filed under: Ballet Tagged: 2012 Youth American Grand Prix, Alessandra Ferri, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Darcey Bussell, David Donnelly, David Donnelly Ch'I, David Donnelly Variation from Swan Lake, David Donnelly Without Bounds, Don Quixote, Johan Persson, Kevin O’Hare, La Destinee, Mark Annear's La Destinée, Monica Mason, Outstanding Contemporary Dancer Award, Richard and Julia MacDonald Scholarship, Richard MacDonald, Romeo and Juliet, Royal Ballet, Royal Ballet School, Royal Ballet Upper School, Susie Payne's Ch'I, The Rite of Spring, YAGP, YAGP 2012 Indianapolis semi-finals, Youth American Grand Prix
