Federico Bonelli: stories from a glittering Royal Ballet career and new beginnings at Northern

Italian dancer Federico Bonelli was a Principal of The Royal Ballet and joined the Company in 2003. He became the Artistic Director of Northern Ballet in May 2022. Federico was born in Genoa and grew up in Casale Monferrato, he trained locally and at the Turin Dance Academy. His awards include first prize at the Rieti International Ballet Competition and a Prix de Lausanne scholarship. He joined Zürich Ballet in 1996, promoted to Soloist in 1997. He joined Dutch National Ballet in 1999, promoted to Principal in 2002. Federico’s repertory with The Royal Ballet includes all the classical ballets, Romeo, Daphnis, Lensky, Onegin, Palemon (Ondine), James (La Sylphide), Armand (Marguerite and Armand), Pierrot (Pierrot Lunaire), Des Grieux (Manon), Crown Prince Rudolf (Mayerling), Apollo, Aminta (Sylvia), Jack/Knave of Hearts (Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland), Malin (Age of Anxiety) and roles in After the Rain, Polyphonia, Agon, Requiem, Tombeaux, Ballet Imperial, Homage to The Queen, Voluntaries, Four Temperaments, Theme and Variations, Serenade, Dances at a Gathering, L’Invitation au voyage and Ballo della regina. His role creations for the Company include Polixenes (The Winter’s Tale), Dr Samuel-Jean Pozzi (Strapless), Victor (Frankenstein) and roles in Chroma, DGV: Danse à grande vitesse, Live Fire Exercise, Aeternum, The Human Seasons, Tetractys, Woolf Works, Acosta’s Carmen and Multiverse. In 2019 Federico graduated from the Clore Leadership Programme (The Clore Fellowship). He curated the programme for The Royal Ballet activities in Doncaster as part of the Doncaster Creates festival, prior to its pandemic postponement and has coached Royal Ballet repertory, helping to nurture and develop the high standards of the company’s dancers. Federico also co-facilitates The Royal Ballet’s Inclusivity Focus Group, a process that brings together dancers and management of the company to discuss all areas of Diversity and Inclusion, with the aim to influence strategic and operational decisions at The Royal Ballet. If you like this video, please consider joining the London Ballet Circle (LBC). The LBC is a registered charity. The LBC offers informal talks by figures from the world of dance, visits to company rehearsals and ballet schools, and a range of other dance-related activities. Become a member to receive regular newsletters and updates. All the funds raised provide help for young students in their training, sponsorship for schools, or support for specific projects within companies. It is easy to Donate to the LBC. Thank you for your support.