ROYAL BALLET SOLOIST LAUREN CUTHBERTSON TALKS US THROUGH HER FAVOURITE IMAGES FROM THE NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY’S CURRENT EXHIBITION CELEBRATING 75 YEARS OF THE ROYAL BALLET Dancing queen: Lauren’s C.V. Devon-born Lauren, 21, trained at the Royal Ballet School, graduating straight into the company. She was promoted to soloist within a year and, aged just 19, made her debut as Juliet – a challenging role that has attracted ballerinas of the calibre of Darcey Bussell and Sylvie Guillem. Named Outstanding Female Artist at the 2004 National Dance Awards, Lauren has the world at her feet. SIR KENNETH MACMILLAN BY JULIAN BROAD “Macmillan is one of my biggest influences, the one whose ballets I most want to do – Romeo and Juliet is my favourite to date. The way he relates emotion is so true you don’t need to embellish further – it’s all there in his choreography, the way he’s told the story. You just need to add your soul to the role to make it yours. I was so excited to dance Juliet for thefirst time, I didn’t feel nervous – if you get given what you’ve always dreamt of, why waste it being scared of it? You need to enjoy it, otherwise, what’s it all for?” LYDIA LOPOKOVA, SIR FREDERICK ASHTON, HAROLD TURNER BY CECIL BEATON “The very distinctive style of Ashton’s choreography gives the Royal Ballet its identity. You have to ooze sensuality with your upper body, as seen here. His work is just amazing. I’ve danced his Symphonic Variations and Scènes de Ballet and you feel like part of a masterpiece when you’re performing them.” JONATHAN COPE AND DARCEY BUSSELL BY JILLIAN EDELSTEIN “It’s a great shame that Darcey is retiring at the end of this year to be a guest artist. She’s always been someone I’ve aspired to because she’s been our British dancer for so many years.” � � �