June 2025

Aakash Odedra performs in Songs of the Bulbul; photo: Angela Grabowska

National Dance Awards

Hip-Hop Meets Kathak

Sixty dance critics are members of the Critics’ Circle in Great Britain. Their votes for the National Dance Awards 2024 (1 January to 31 December) were announced on 9 June: Best Male Dancers are the hip-hop performer Tommy Franzén and the kathak dancer Aakash Odedra. For the first time, this award has been won by a dancer in either genre. The choreography awards both went to North America. Kyle Abraham from New York´s A.I.M won the Best Modern Choreography for the second successive year for Love Letter (on shuffle), performed by New York City Ballet; Canadian choreographer Crystal Pite won her fourth NDA for Angel’s Atlas, performed by National Ballet of Canada (and also Staatsballett Berlin). Best Female Dancer ist Erina Takahashi from English National Ballet. Acosta Danza won the Best Mid-Scale Company award, and London City Ballet is the Best Independent Company after only its first season.  By the way: Two former members of Staatsballett Berlin (our hometown) are now dancing with London City Ballet: Alejando Virelles and Yuria Isaka are now part of Christopher Marney’s small, fine troupe – just like Constance Devernay-Laurence – the body double of Cheyenne Toussaint aka Lou de Laâge in Étoile.