National Youth Ballet appoints artistic director

The National Youth Ballet (NYB) has announced that AMELIA O’HARA will step up to the role of artistic director of its Residential Performance Company from her current position as NYB’s associate artistic director, which she took up in 2022.

NYB has also appointed LOUISE BENNETT to the new post of artistic consultant, which she will undertake alongside her work as artistic director of London Vocational Ballet School.

O’Hara trained at the Royal Ballet School and Tring Park School and performed with companies such as Scottish Ballet, Ballet Cymru, Peter Schaufuss Ballet Company and Ballet Ireland.

After embarking on a career in teaching and arts management, she worked at organisations including Ballet Boost, Ballet Ireland and ACE Dance. She currently teaches for the Royal Ballet School’s Associate programme in Manchester and for Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Dance Track department.

She has worked with NYB for over a decade, assisting founder JILL TOOKEY and five subsequent artistic directors.

BARBARA PALCZYNKSI, NYB’s chief executive, said, “NYB’s Residential Performance Company has gone from strength to strength since 2021, with superlative artistic leadership under Louise, supported by Amelia. I have been inspired by the way they have worked together with an unswerving commitment to the quality of the experience we offer young dancers, both artistically and with a focus on wellbeing.

“Developing our team and their skills is an important part of our growth and a key part of NYB’s future sustainability. I am excited to embrace the different energy that Amelia will bring as artistic director, and I look forward to working more closely with Louise as artistic consultant, knowing that, with their thoughtful artistic approaches, NYB will thrive and continue to achieve its mission.”