Alexander Campbell (dancer)

Alexander Campbell was born in Sydney, Australia in 1986. His father is Alan Campbell, who was a selector and manager for Cricket New South Wales, and State Director of Coaching for 20 years. Alexander was attracted to ballet at the age of five after seeing the work of his grandmother who was a ballet teacher at the time. Both his maternal grandmother and grandfather, Valma Briggs and Mario Desva, had been professional dancers with Ballet Rambert in London.{{cite web|url=http://www.balletassociation.co.uk/Reports/2013/Campbell13.html|title=Meeting report|work=Balletassociation.co.uk|accessdate=2017-02-22}}

Campbell, although training under Nicholina Kuner at the [http://www.academyballet.com.au/ Academy Ballet] school on the east side of Sydney, at first viewed ballet as a hobby alongside his participation in the sport of cricket. By the age of 14, both ballet and cricket were his passions.{{Cite news |last=Monahan |first=Mark |date=2017-04-24 |title=Alexander Campbell interview: 'Giving up cricket was a sacrifice' |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/dance/what-to-see/alexander-campbell-interview-giving-cricket-sacrifice/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |issn=0307-1235}} Realizing that progress to a professional career in either discipline meant he had to concentrate on just one, he later said, ‘I struggled with the decision for a long time but my love for ballet and the opportunity to do something that seemed unusual for a kid from Sydney was enticing.’{{cite web|url=https://www.soundcloud.com/royaloperahouse/what-do-cricket-and-ballet-have-in-common-dancer-alexander-campbell-on-bbc-test-match-special|title=What do cricket and ballet have in common? Dancer Alexander Campbell on BBC Test Match Special|work=SoundCloud|accessdate=2017-02-22}}

As his training progressed, Campbell was influenced by the performance style of Mikhail Baryshnikov and described him as "a massive inspiration."{{cite web |title=Cupcakes & Conversation with Alexander Campbell, Soloist of the Royal Ballet |date=2011-08-07 |work=Ballet News |url=http://balletnews.co.uk/cupcakes-conversation-with-alexander-campbell-soloist-the-royal-ballet/ |accessdate=2017-02-22}}

In 2002, Campbell won the McDonald's Ballet Scholarship at the Sydney Eisteddfod enabling him to approach the Royal Ballet Upper School in London.{{cite web|author= |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/dance/sydney-dancer-gets-royal-solo-treatment-20110726-1hymo.html |title=Royal Ballet appoints Sydney boy Alexander Campbell soloist |website=Smh.com.au |date=2011-07-27 |accessdate=2017-02-22}} In 2003, he auditioned for the school and was offered a place. In that same year, he was a finalist in the Prix de Lausanne and won the Genee International Ballet Competition.

In 2005, at the age of 18, he started his professional career graduating into the Birmingham Royal Ballet and was promoted to the position of the first artist followed by promotion to soloist (2007) and first soloist in 2009.

During his time with Birmingham Royal Ballet, his repertory included: both Romeo and Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet), Franz (Coppelia), Prince (The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and The Nutcracker,) Sam and Will Moffit (Hobson’s Choice).Cyrano (Cyrano) and Petrusha. He created the roles of Young Man in Michael Corder's La Baiser de la fée and Celeritas² in David Bintley's E=mc². In 2009 Campbell danced Puck in The Dream.{{cite web |author= |url=http://ballet-dance.com/200908/articles/brb_galanteries_20090624_mead.html |title=criticaldance ballet-dance magazine: Birmingham Royal Ballet - Review - Galanteries, The Dance House, The Dream |website=Ballet-dance.com |date=2009-06-24 |accessdate=2017-02-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304131148/http://ballet-dance.com/200908/articles/brb_galanteries_20090624_mead.html |archive-date=2016-03-04 |url-status=dead }}

In 2011 he joined the Royal Ballet as a soloist at Covent Garden and was promoted to first soloist in 2012 and principal in June 2016.

As first soloist at The Royal Ballet, Alexander performed many principal and non principal roles. During his career at Covent Garden he has danced Lescaut (Manon), Basilio (Don Quixote), Franz (Coppelia), Bratfisch and Hungarian Officer (Mayerling),Lewis Carroll/White Rabbit, Jack/Knave of Hearts and Magician/Mad Hatter (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland), Bluebird and Florestan (Sleeping Beauty), Bronze Idol (La Bayadère), Jack (Sweet Violets), Emble (The Age of Anxiety), Texan Kangaroo Rat (‘Still Life’ at the Penguin Café), Principal (In the Night), Officer (Anastasia), Florizel (The Winter's Tale), Victor Frankenstein (Frankenstein), Troyte (Enigma Variations) and roles in ‘Emeralds’(Jewels), Voices of Spring, Concerto, In the Night, Polyphonia, Birthday Offering, Requiem, Raven Girl, Connectome, Woolf Works, Swan Lake, Giselle, Viscera, Within the Golden Hour, Carbon Life and Obsidian Tear. Over several years he has danced the roles of both Hans-Peter and the Prince in The Nutcracker at the Royal Opera House.{{cite web|url=http://www.theartsdesk.com/dance/nutcracker-royal-ballet-1 |title=The Nutcracker, Royal Ballet |publisher=The Arts Desk |date= 4 December 2013|accessdate=2017-02-22}} He also frequently performed the role of Mercutio (Romeo and Juliet) at Covent Garden.{{cite web|author=Mark Monahan, Dance Critic |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/dance/what-to-see/royal-ballet-romeo-and-juliet-royal-opera-house-review/ |title=Royal Ballet's Romeo and Juliet, Royal Opera House, review: ' |website=Telegraph.co.uk |date=2015-09-20 |accessdate=2017-02-22}} Campbell danced with distinction in Song of the Earth in 2015.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/29/arts/dance/royal-ballets-focus-on-british-choreography-exposes-its-limits.html|title=oyal Ballet's Focus on British Choreography Exposes Its Limits|newspaper=The New York Times |accessdate=2017-02-22|date=2015-06-28|last1=MacAulay|first1=Alastair}} In the same year he performed his debut in the role of Colas (La fille mal gardee) with Yuhui Choe to critical acclaim.{{cite news|url=http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/a15a562e-e99b-11e4-a687-00144feab7de.html1#axzz3saz6xuTm |title=La Fille mal gardée, Royal Opera House, London — review |newspaper=Financial Times |date=23 April 2015 |accessdate=2017-02-22}}

In the role of The Young Man in Ashton's The Two Pigeons in 2016 Campbell, again dancing with Choe, garnered universal acclaim in 14 independent reviews including The Times, The Financial Times, The Daily Telegraph and The Guardian.{{cite news|author=Debra Craine |url=https://www.thetimes.com/comment/register/article/rhapsody-the-two-pigeons-at-covent-garden-w8hzflhkwsv |title=Rhapsody/The Two Pigeons at Covent Garden |newspaper=The Times |date=2016-01-21 |access-date=2017-02-22}}[http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/65c6988c-c02a-11e]{{dead link|date=February 2017}}{{cite news|author=Mark Monahan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/dance/what-to-see/rhapsody-and-the-two-pigeons-covent-garden-review-the-superstar/ |title=Rhapsody and The Two Pigeons, Covent Garden, review: 'the superstar outshone by the young pretender' |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=2016-01-21 |accessdate=2017-02-22}}[https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2016/jan/21/royal-ballet-ashton-double-bill-review-electric-athletics-form-osipova]{{dead link|date=February 2017}} Campbell's role creations at Covent Garden include Henry Clerval (Frankenstein).

His first role as Principal was as partner to the acclaimed Ashtonian dancer, Roberta Marquez in La Fille Mal Gardee at her Royal Ballet farewell performance in 2016. Campbell first danced Prince Florimund in The Sleeping Beauty at Covent Garden partnering Francesca Hayward on her debut as Aurora in February 2017.{{cite news|author=Mark Monahan |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/dance/what-to-see/sleeping-beauty-royal-ballet-covent-garden-review/ |title=Francesca Hayward and Alexander Campbell rise to the occasion - The Sleeping Beauty, Royal Ballet, review |newspaper=The Telegraph |date=2017-02-17 |accessdate=2017-02-22}} Later in 2017 he danced in Rubies (Jewels), Tarantella and as Oberon in The Dream.{{Cite news |date=2017-06-06 |title=Marguerite and Armand, Royal Opera House, London — self-indulgent |work=Financial Times |url=https://www.ft.com/content/a5febc32-4aa2-11e7-919a-1e14ce4af89b |access-date=2023-04-06}} In 2018 he debuted as Albrecht partnering Francesca Hayward in Giselle.{{Cite news |last=Monahan |first=Mark |date=2018-02-10 |title=Francesca Hayward makes a ravishing debut – Giselle, Royal Ballet, Covent Garden, review |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/dance/what-to-see/francesca-hayward-ravishing-giselle-royal-opera-house-review/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |issn=0307-1235}}

In April 2018 Campbell made his debut as des Grieux in Kenneth McMillan’s Manon and in the same run of performances at Covent Garden danced on different days the roles of both des Grieux and Lescaut; a rare distinction in the history of the Royal Ballet.{{Cite web | url=http://rohcollections.org.uk/performances.aspx/ |title = Royal Opera House Performance Database}}{{Cite web | url=https://miriskusnik.wordpress.com/2018/05/16/performances-of-note-alexander-campbell-in-the-royal-ballets-manon/ |title = Performances of Note: Alexander Campbell in the Royal Ballet's Manon|date = 2018-05-16}} In the following month he danced the expanded role of Benno at the World premiere of Liam Scarlett’s new production of Swan Lake.{{Cite web | url=https://www.thestage.co.uk/reviews/2018/swan-lake-review-liam-scarlett-at-royal-opera-house-london-2/ |title = Swan Lake review at Royal Opera House, London – 'admirable but cool'}} In June 2019 Campbell gave a stand out performance of the 3rd movement of Symphony in C.{{Cite news |last=Monahan |first=Mark |date=2019-06-05 |title=The Firebird / A Month in the Country / Symphony in C, Royal Ballet, review: a Russian-tinted evening of infinite variety |language=en-GB |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/dance/what-to-see/firebird-month-country-symphony-c-review-royal-ballet-royal/ |access-date=2023-04-06 |issn=0307-1235}}

In major roles, Campbell toured with the Royal Ballet in Russia, Japan, The United States of America, Spain and Australia and has made guest appearances with Birmingham Royal Ballet and Australian Ballet.

In 2015 Campbell performed the role of The Devil in Will Tuckett’s a Soldiers Tale in Tokyo. He partnered Francesca Hayward in Robert Binet's immersive work, The Dreamers Ever Leave You in collaboration with the National Ballet of Canada at The Printworks in London in October 2017.[https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/dance-review-the-dreamers-ever-leave-you-at-print/ The Times]{{dead link|date=April 2025|bot=medic}}{{cbignore|bot=medic}} Campbell starred with Francesca Hayward in the BBC television documentary film Dancing the Nutcracker: Inside the Royal Ballet which was first shown on Christmas Day 2016. As a presenter, Campbell has introduced broadcasts of ballet from the Royal Opera House and co-presented World Ballet Days with Kristen McNally.World Ballet Day. https:// www.roh.org.uk/news/world-ballet-day-2018/

In 2024, Campbell retired from the stage to become the artistic director of the Royal Academy of Dance. His last performance was as Des Grieux in Manon.{{cite web|url=https://www.royalacademyofdance.org/rad-announces-alexander-campbell-as-its-new-artistic-director/|title=Royal Academy of Dance announces Alexander Campbell as its new Artistic Director|work=Royal Academy of Dance|date=21 February 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.roh.org.uk/news/alexander-campbell-artistic-director-royal-academy-of-dance|title=Principal dancer Alexander Campbell leaves The Royal Ballet to join the Royal Academy of Dance as Artistic Director.|work=Royal Opera House|date=22 February 2024}}

In 2007 Campbell appeared as Mercutio for Ballet Hoo! in a collaboration working with under-privileged children which was broadcast by Channel 4.

In June 2017 Campbell was appointed an ambassador for the Royal Academy of Dance and Marylebone Cricket Club joint project to encourage more boys to take up ballet and more girls to take up cricket.{{Cite news | url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-40138653/ | title=Sporting plan to boost boys in ballet| work=BBC News| date=2017-06-03| last1=Burns| first1=Judith}} In 2017 he took part in a BBC live interactive ballet learning experience for 7- to 11-year-olds broadcast to schools across the UK ,/http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/57XcCL5bzLkDyXz7w3MN4p/ten-pieces-and--the-nutcracker-live-lesson/ and was a guest teacher at the Royal Ballet School’s summer program.{{Cite web | url=https://www.royalballetschool.org.uk/2017/07/24/impressive-line-up-of-current-and-former-ballet-stars-teach-summer-programme-2017/ |title = Impressive line-up of current and former ballet stars teach Summer Programme 2017|date = 2017-07-24}}

In 2018 he gave masterclasses to vocational level students at the Royal Academy of Dance in London.{{Cite web | url=https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/alexander-campbell-masterclass-tickets-45916892662# |title = Alexander Campbell Masterclass}} and was appointed an ambassador of The Sydney Eisteddfod.{{Cite web | url=https://sydneyeisteddfod.com.au/meet-sydney-eisteddfods-newest-ambassador-alexander-campbellnew-article/ |title = Sydney Eisteddfod ambassador Alexander Campbell}}

Campbell was awarded British Citizenship in 2013.

He has always maintained his love and knowledge of cricket and was invited in 2010 to speak annually to the England and Wales Cricket Board as part of their Level Four Training for international cricket coaches. In 2015, he was invited to take part in the BBC program Test Match Special with an interview entitled, View from the Boundary.

Campbell was born with significant hearing loss, and testing in his early 20s established that he had "around 40 per cent below average hearing", requiring him to sometimes wear hearing aids. Campbell says that when waiting to go on stage he sometimes relies on colleagues to give him his cues, but that once on stage he can usually hear the orchestra playing.{{Cite news |date=2018-02-18 |title=Men in tights: Australia's own Billy Elliots conquer the world |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-19/how-alexander-campbell-and-steven-mcrae-dominate-ballet/9447392 |access-date=2024-08-02 |work=ABC News |language=en-AU}}{{Cite web |title=Alex Campbell, principal, Royal Ballet - Dance Australia |url=https://www.danceaustralia.com.au/artists/alex-campbell-principal-royal-ballet |access-date=2024-08-02 |website=www.danceaustralia.com.au |language=en}}

In 2018 Campbell was featured on ABC Television (Australia) in a documentary charting his early life and that of fellow Royal Ballet Principal, Steven McRae.{{Citation |title=Leap of Faith |date=2018-02-19 |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-02-19/leap-of-faith/9463014 |access-date=2023-04-06 |publisher=ABC News |language=en-AU}}

In 2022, Campbell married fellow Royal Ballet dancer Claire Calvert.{{Cite web|url=https://balletassociation.co.uk/pages/reports-2023-alexander-campbell|title=Alexander Campbell Principal, The Royal Ballet|website=Ballet Association|first=David|last=Bain|date=28 February 2023|accessdate=10 May 2024}} They have a daughter, born in 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/CxSpj_UIhtk/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==|title=Oh Isla Rose Campbell you have stolen our hearts. Welcomed to the world on the 13.9.2023 and already bring us all the love and joy.|author=Claire Calvert|via=Instagram|date=17 September 2023|accessdate=10 May 2024}}

Campbell can be seen dancing in the following productions:

BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET

• Cinderella NVC Arts Warner Classics (2011) (Dancing Master)

ROYAL BALLET

• Romeo and Juliet Opus Arte (2013) (Mercutio)
• Ashton Celebration Opus Arte (2013) (Voices of Spring)
• Swan Lake. Opus Arte (2015) (Pas de Trois)
• Frankenstein Opus Arte. (2016) (Henry Clerval)
• The Nutcracker Opus Arte (2017) (Hans Peter/Nutcracker)
• Swan Lake Opus Arte (2018) (Benno)
• Within the Golden Hour Opus Arte (2020)

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Category:1986 births

Category:Living people

Category:Australian emigrants to England

Category:Australian male ballet dancers

Category:Naturalised citizens of the United Kingdom

Category:Principal dancers of The Royal Ballet