Mr Robert Parker, Artistic Director of Elmhurst Ballet School Robert joined Elmhurst as Artistic Director in autumn 2012, following his retirement as a Principal dancer with Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Born in Kingston upon Hull, Robert Parker trained at the Royal Ballet School and joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1994 under the directorship of Sir Peter Wright. He received early acclaim when he danced the Second Seminarian in Carmina burana at the Royal Opera House in 1996. He quickly rose through the ranks and was promoted to Principal in 1999. He has danced a wide and varied repertoire from the classics to contemporary works, closely collaborating and creating many lead roles with director and choreographer David Bintley and other international choreographers. He has made guest appearances with the Royal Ballet and received various accolades including a Critics’ Circle Award in 2003 and an Olivier Award nomination in 2001.

Robert completed a Master’s degree in Philosophy in Education and was selected to attend the 2012 Rural Retreat for aspiring artistic leaders. After retiring from Birmingham Royal Ballet he passed his RAD Professional Dancers’ Teaching Diploma with distinction. That same year he was appointed President of the London Ballet Association. Robert joined Elmhurst as Artistic Director in autumn 2012 and has guest taught in ballet companies and guest adjudicated at numerous international ballet competitions around the world.

His repertory with Birmingham Royal Ballet included:
Frederick Ashton: La Fille mal gardée (Colas), The Two Pigeons (Young Man), Scènes de ballet and Voices of Spring
George Balanchine: Apollo (title role), Agon (first pas de trois), Four Temperaments (Melancholic Variation), Prodigal Son (title role), Slaughter on Tenth Avenue (Hoofer), Western Symphony (Fourth Movement) and Duo Concertant
David Bintley: Edward II (Edward, Gaveston), Far from the Madding Crowd (Oak), Hobson’s Choice (Will Mossop, Fred Beenstock), Carmina burana (Second Seminarian), Choros (Pyrrhic), The Seasons (‘Spring’, ‘Autumn’), Tombeaux (lead role), Dance House, and David Bintley and Galina Samsova’s production of Giselle (Albrecht)
Ninette de Valois: Checkmate (Red Knight), Job (Satan) Kenneth MacMillan: Romeo and Juliet (Romeo), Elite Syncopations (‘Friday Night’) and Song of the Earth (Messenger of Death) and Song of the Earth (Messenger of Death)
Hans van Manen: Five Tangos
Jerome Robbins: Fancy Free (Sailor)
Twyla Tharp: In the Upper Room, Nine Sinatra Songs
Peter Wright’s productions of Coppélia (Franz), The Nutcracker (Prince), The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Florimund, Bluebird), and Peter Wright and Galina Samsova’s production of Swan Lake (Siegfried)
Spring Waters pas de deux

His created roles include:
David Bintley: Arthur (title role, Mordred) Cyrano (title role), Beauty and the Beast (Beast), The Nutcracker Sweeties (Sailor), The Orpheus Suite (Orpheus), The Shakespeare Suite (Hamlet) and The Protecting Veil
Stanton Welch: Powder
Lila York: Sanctum
Kim Brandstrup: Pulcinella

His awards include:
Olivier Award nomination, 2001; Critics’ Circle Award nomination, 2001; Critics’ Circle Award for Outstanding Male Artist, 2003.