In Conversation with AITOR ARRIETA and KATJA KHANIUKOVA … (via Zoom)
ENB lead principal Aitor Arrieta and first soloist Katja Khaniukova in conversation prior to their London shows of Mary Skeaping’s Giselle
Photo credits: Mary Skeaping’s Giselle by Tristram Kenton
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DATE : Monday 9 December 2024, at 7pm 🇬🇧
INTERVIEWER : dance writer Deborah Weiss
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Aitor Arrieta and Katja Khaniukova join Deborah Weiss In Conversation prior to reprising their much praised partnership in Giselle at the London Coliseum in January 2025.
Aitor Arrieta was born in Errenteria in the Spanish Basque Country and studied at the Mariemma Royal Conservatory of Professional Dance, Madrid. He danced with the Compañía Nacional de Danza, Madrid, performing leading roles including Delibes Suite, Raymonda Variations and Don Quixote by José Martínez, as well as works by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin and Tony Fabre.
Aitor joined English National Ballet in 2016 and was promoted to Soloist in 2017, First Soloist in 2019, Principal in 2022 and Lead Principal in 2023. He was the joint winner of ENB’s Emerging Dancer Award in 2017.
His roles with ENB include Albrecht in Akram Khan’s Giselle, Nephew/Prince and Nutcracker in Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker, Prince Siegfried in Derek Deane’s Swan Lake, Des Grieux in Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, Albrecht in Mary Skeaping’s Giselle, Paris in Rudolph Nureyev’s Romeo & Juliet, one of the Four Fates and Prince Guillaume in Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella and Lankendem in Anne-Marie Holmes’s Le Corsaire. He has also danced in George Balanchine’s Theme & Variations, David Dawson’s Four Last Songs, William Forsythe’s Blake Works and Playlist (Track 1, 2).
Aitor received The Professional Dancers’ Association of Gipuzkoa Discover Award in 2015; Gold Medal at the International Dance Contest of Biarritz, 2013 and 1st place Championship of Euskadi Aurresku, 2011.
Katja Khaniukova was born in Kyiv, Ukraine and trained at the Kyiv State Choreographic Institute. She was a Principal Dancer at Kyiv Ballet where her roles included Juliet, Kitri, Don Quixote, Clara in Nutcracker, Aurora and Princess Florine (Bluebird) in Sleeping Beauty, Odette/Odile (Swan Lake), and Gulnare (Corsaire)
Katja joined English National Ballet in 2014 and was promoted to Soloist in 2017 and First Soloist 2019. Katja has appeared as Clara in Wayne Eagling’s Nutcracker, and roles in Ronald Hynd’s Coppélia, Derek Deane’s Swan Lake, Medora and Gulnare in Corsaire, van Manen’s Adagio Hammerklavier; Neumeier’s Spring and Fall,the title role in Mary Skeaping’s Giselle and the Novice in The Cage by Jerome Robbins. Additional roles include Lescaut’s Mistress in Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, Frida Kahlo in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Broken Wings.and Stepsister Clementine in Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella.
She has danced as Guest Principal with Latvian National Opera and Ochi International Ballet (Nagoya, Japan). International awards include Gold Medal at the Serge Lifar International Ballet Competition (2005); Silver Medal – Youth Ballet of the World Competition (2007); Gold Medal at the Seoul International Ballet Competition (2011) and Gold Medal at the Istanbul International Ballet Competition (2012). Katja was a finalist in English National Ballet’s annual Emerging Dancer competition (2015). In 2020 she received the Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Female Performance (Classical) for her portrayal as Frida Kahlo in Broken Wings.
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*** The ZOOM event is FREE to LBC members ***
Non-members are welcome to join by booking below.
