Liam Scarlett

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Liam Scarlett
Born(1986-04-08)8 April 1986
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
Died (aged 35)
Ipswich, Suffolk, England
EducationRoyal Ballet School
OccupationChoreographer

Liam Scarlett (8 April 1986 – 16 April 2021) was a British choreographer who was an artist in residence with The Royal Ballet and artistic associate with Queensland Ballet.[1] He also choreographed new works for Ballet Black, Miami City Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, the BalletBoyz, English National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Polish National Ballet, and the Royal Ballet School.

Early life[edit]

Scarlett was born on 8 April 1986 in Ipswich, and started dancing aged four.[2][3] He trained at the Linda Shipton School of Dancing in Ipswich, followed by the Royal Ballet Lower School, which he entered at the age of eight,[4] and then the Upper School.[5]

Choreographer[edit]

His first work for the main stage at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden was Asphodel Meadows in 2010. It was a work for 20 dancers set to Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos.[6] In 2008, the work was commissioned by The Royal Ballet's then director, Monica Mason, who was eager to develop his choreographic abilities.[4]

Scarlett is the youngest choreographer to have had a full-length ballet commissioned by the Royal Ballet.[7]

Edward Villella, the then director of Miami City Ballet, saw the dress rehearsal and commissioned Scarlett there and then. Viscera's critically acclaimed premiere took place in January 2012.[6] As well as further work for the Royal Ballet and Miami City Ballet, Scarlett created new works for the Norwegian National Ballet, the BalletBoyz, English National Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre,[6] and the Polish National Ballet.[8]

In November 2012, aged 26, Scarlett gave up his dancing career as a first artist with The Royal Ballet, to become their first artist in residence, a post created especially for him by the Ballet's director, Kevin O'Hare.[3][5]

On 29 April 2014, Scarlett's Hummingbird, inspired by Philip Glass's Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra premiered at the San Francisco Ballet.[4] In its review, The Arts Desk website's critic thought that it stood "above offerings from Wheeldon, Morris and Liang," and that Scarlett created "a fabulous, compelling visual and emotional world ... stirring stuff, and beautiful."[9]

In August 2019, he was suspended by the Royal Ballet amid allegations of sexual misconduct against his students.[10] An investigation found no evidence to corroborate the allegations and no criminal charges were brought against him.[11] In March, the Royal Opera House announced Scarlett's position with the Royal Ballet had ended because he had decided to leave.[12] Even after having been cleared the choreographer left the company nevertheless.[13]

Personal life and death[edit]

At the time of his death, Scarlett was in a relationship with dancer Fernando Duarte.[14]

Scarlett died in his hometown of Ipswich on 16 April 2021, aged 35.[2][15][16] No cause of death was given.[17] However, his colleagues Dmitri Tcherniakov and Alexei Ratmansky called his death a suicide and blamed cancel culture.[18] A day before his death, the Royal Danish Theatre had cancelled[19] his Frankenstein show over allegations of unacceptable behaviour in 2018 and 2019.[15][20] An inquest later determined suicide.[21]

Works[edit]

All for The Royal Ballet, unless otherwise noted:

Awards[edit]

  • Kenneth MacMillan Choreographic Award (2001)
  • Ursula Moreton Choreographic Award[37] (2003 and 2004)
  • De Valois Trust Fund Choreographers' Award (2005)[38]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Liam Scarlett – Artistic Associate". Queensland Ballet. Queensland Ballet. Archived from the original on 8 March 2019. Retrieved 31 March 2018.
  2. ^ a b Sulcas, Roslyn (17 April 2021). "Liam Scarlett, Acclaimed British Choreographer, Dies at 35". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  3. ^ a b Duchen, Jessica (11 December 2012). "Liam Scarlett: Dance's hottest property". The Independent. Archived from the original on 14 June 2022. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
  4. ^ a b c Hunt, Mary Ellen (28 April 2014). "Liam Scarlett's smooth leap from corps to choreography". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  5. ^ a b "Liam Scarlett, Choreographer". Royal Opera House. Retrieved 24 August 2014.
  6. ^ a b c Sulcas, Roslyn (24 January 2014). "Gestures of a Hot Hand | Liam Scarlett Creates a Work for City Ballet". The New York Times. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  7. ^ "2017 Repertory Season: Frankenstein: San Francisco Ballet". sfballet.org. Archived from the original on 28 August 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016.
  8. ^ "Notre Chopin". Teatr Wielki Opera Narodowa. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  9. ^ Weibye, Hanna (24 January 2014). "theartsdesk in Paris: San Francisco Ballet 2". The Arts Desk. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
  10. ^ "Choreographer Scarlett suspended by Royal Ballet". BBC News. 30 January 2020. Retrieved 30 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Royal Ballet cuts ties with Liam Scarlett after sexual misconduct claims". The Guardian. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 15 June 2020.
  12. ^ "Choreographer Liam Scarlett to leave Royal Ballet". BBC News. 23 March 2020. Retrieved 26 March 2020.
  13. ^ "Liam Scarlett: Former Royal Ballet choreographer dies at 35". bbc.com. 18 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  14. ^ Jays, David (19 April 2021). "Liam Scarlett obituary". theguardian.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  15. ^ a b Crossland, David; Burgess, Kaya (17 April 2021). "British ballet supremo Liam Scarlett found dead". The Times. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  16. ^ "Internationally renowned choreographer Liam Scarlett dies aged 35". Sky News. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  17. ^ Badshah, Nadeem (17 April 2021). "Former Royal Ballet choreographer Liam Scarlett dies aged 35". The Guardian. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  18. ^ Авдеева, Екатерина (18 April 2021). "Обвиненный в харассменте британский хореограф Лиам Скарлетт умер в возрасте 35 лет" [British choreographer Liam Scarlett, accused of harassment, dies at 35]. Teatr [ru] (in Russian). Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  19. ^ "Royal Danish Theater". Press Release. 16 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Liam Scarlett: Former Royal Ballet choreographer dies at 35". BBC News. 17 April 2021. Retrieved 18 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Choreographer Liam Scarlett took own life after misconduct claims". BBC News. 12 November 2021.
  22. ^ "Few Things Are". Royal Opera House Collection Online. rohcollections.org.uk. Retrieved 17 April 2021.
  23. ^ "Asphodel Meadows - Dance/Opera - Running Time: 2h50 - Closing: 15/05/2010". officiallondontheatre.com. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  24. ^ "Choreographers, composers and dancers". nationalgallery.org. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  25. ^ Jennings, Luke (12 May 2013). "Hansel and Gretel – review". theguardian.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  26. ^ Jennings, Luke (17 March 2013). "BalletBoyz: the Talent 2013 – review - Sadler's Wells, London". theguardian.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  27. ^ Parry, Jann (10 November 2014). "Reviews: Royal Ballet – Ceremony of Innocence, The Age of Anxiety, Aeternum – London". dancetabs.com. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  28. ^ May, Emily (21 September 2018). "Review: English National Ballet's Lest We Forget – "compelling, visually, emotionally & intellectually arresting"". thewonderfulworldofdance.com. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  29. ^ "With a Chance of Rain - Choreography by Liam Scarlett". abt.org - American Ballet Theatre. 22 October 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  30. ^ "The Norwegian National Ballet, Season 2014/15". danzaballet.com. 10 September 2014. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  31. ^ Mackrell, Judith (5 May 2016). "Royal Ballet: Frankenstein review – Steven McRae reanimates Shelley's tragic demon". theguardian.com. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  32. ^ "Symphonic Dances - Dance/Opera -- Closing: 31/05/2017". officiallondontheatre.com. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  33. ^ Marriott, Bruce (15 May 2018). "Reviews: Royal Danish Ballet – The Queen of Spades – Copenhagen". dancetabs.com. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  34. ^ Mackrell, Judith (18 May 2018). "Swan Lake review – the Royal Ballet's spellbinder leaves you weeping". theguardian.com/. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  35. ^ "Concerto in E minor A ballet in one act by Liam Scarlett". teatrwielki.pl. 19 April 2021. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  36. ^ Bauer, Claudia (29 March 2019). "San Francisco Ballet – Die Toteninsel (premiere), Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes, Björk Ballet". dancetabs.com. Retrieved 19 April 2021.
  37. ^ "Royal Ballet School Special Collections". Archives Hub. The Ursula Moreton Collection. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
  38. ^ Colombus, Katie. "The rise and rise of Liam Scarlett: En pointe". The Stage. Retrieved 28 August 2014.
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