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The 2008 winner is Anh Ngoc Nguyen
The nominations for 2008 were:
Anh Ngoc Nguyen, Aaron Sillis and Alexander Whitley
More information about each artist is given below:
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Anh Ngoc Nguyen
(Wayne McGregor | Random Dance)
Anh Ngoc Nguyen was born in Vietnam and trained, initially in ballet, in Hanoi, later studying both ballet and contemporary in Hong Kong. Nguyen joined Random Dance in January 2003 and has performed in all of the company’s works since that date, his classical precision and speed proving a perfect match for Wayne McGregor’s whiplash choreography. Last season he made a lasting impression in McGregor’s Entity, in which his lean flexibility was pushed to the limit. Besides dancing, Nguyen is also a dance-maker, and a Place Prize finalist in both 2006 and 2008.
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Aaron Sillis
(New Adventures)
Born in Norwich, Sillis trained at the Central School of Dancing in Norwich and at the Bird College in Sidcup. He joined New Adventures for The Nutcracker, then left to dance with pop singers - Take That, Lulu and Maria Carey, among others. He was assistant choreographer on two Kylie Minogue tours and has choreographed in his own right. He rejoined New Adventures to play Angelo in The Car Man and Basil Hallward in Dorian Gray. He is nominated for his compelling characterisation of Basil, the photographer who 'creates' Dorian and is destroyed by him.
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Alexander Whitley
(Rambert Dance Company)
Alexander Whitley grew up in Malmerby ten miles from Penrith and started at a local dance school before being accepted at age ten for the Royal Ballet School. Upon graduation, he joined Birmingham Royal Ballet and was promoted to first artist in 2002. He proved himself an elegant dancer with a beautiful unforced line, and soft light jumps. He also became interested in educational work with local schools and in choreographing. In 2004, he joined Rambert Dance Company and has proved himself a formidable dancer offering taut balance, flexibility and speed. He continues to choreograph receiving much acclaim.
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Picture credits
Henry Montes © Richard Dean,
Anh Ngoc Nguyen © Ravi Deepres,
Aaron Sillis © Bill Cooper,
Alexander Whitley © Hugo Glendinning.
All text is © copyright of the Critics' Circle / National Dance Awards. |
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