Liam Scarlett
Great Britain- Early Life and Training
- Choreographic Debut
- International Recognition
- Artist in Residence and "Hummingbird"
- Controversy and Departure
- Personal Life and Death
Early Life and Training
On April 8, 1986, Liam Scarlett was born in Ipswich, England. He began dancing at the tender age of four, developing his skills at Linda Shipton's Dance School. At eight years old, he joined the Royal Ballet School's junior division, later progressing to the upper school.
Choreographic Debut
In 2010, Scarlett's "Asphodel Meadows" premiered on the main stage of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden. This work for 20 dancers was set to Poulenc's Concerto for Two Pianos. Seeking to nurture his choreographic talent, the then-director of the Royal Ballet, Monica Mason, commissioned the piece in 2008.
International Recognition
After seeing a dress rehearsal of "Asphodel Meadows," Edward Villella, director of Miami City Ballet, commissioned Scarlett. "Viscera," its critically acclaimed premiere, took place in January 2012. Scarlett's choreographic talents were further showcased with works for the Norwegian National Ballet, BalletBoyz, English National Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Polish National Ballet.
Artist in Residence and "Hummingbird"
At the age of 26, Scarlett relinquished his dancing career as a First Soloist with the Royal Ballet to become their first Artist in Residence, a position created specifically for him by artistic director Kevin O'Hare. On April 29, 2014, Scarlett's "Hummingbird" premiered at San Francisco Ballet, inspired by Philip Glass's Tirol Concerto for Piano and Orchestra. According to The Arts Desk, "Hummingbird" surpassed works by other renowned choreographers and presented a "visually and emotionally compelling world... thrilling and beautiful."
Controversy and Departure
In August 2019, the Royal Ballet suspended Scarlett following allegations of sexual misconduct against his students. An investigation found no evidence supporting the accusations, and no criminal charges were filed. In March 2021, the Royal Opera House announced the end of Scarlett's association with the Royal Ballet as he had decided to step down. Despite being cleared, he was not able to return. The day before his death, the Royal Danish Theatre canceled his "Frankenstein" production due to allegations of inappropriate behavior in 2018 and 2019.
Personal Life and Death
At the time of his passing, Scarlett was in a relationship with dancer Fernando Duarte.
Tragically, Scarlett passed away in his hometown of Ipswich on April 16, 2021, at the age of 35. The cause of death has not been disclosed, but colleagues Dmitry Chernyakov and Alexei Ratmansky have attributed it to suicide and the impact of cancel culture.
