A University of Salford alumnus has landed a role in the UK’s biggest dance company’s Swan Lake production less than a year after graduating.
MA Dance: Performance and Professional Practices graduate Louis Harris has been announced as a cast member on the 30th year anniversary tour of Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, which premieres later this year at the Theatre Royal Plymouth.
First staged at Sadler’s Wells in London in 1995, the audacious reinvention of Tchaikovsky’s masterpiece was a sensation, taking the dance world by storm as it became the longest running full-length dance classic in the West End and on Broadway.
Louis has been announced as part of the 40-person company for dance-theatre group New Adventures’ 2024-25 touring production. He graduated from Salford in November 2023, securing a contract on New Adventures’ earlier production of Romeo + Juliet.
Debbie Milner, Programme Leader for MA Dance: Performance and Professional Practices, said:
“Louis’ five-year ambition was to successfully audition for Swan Lake so to have achieved this just one year after graduating is a tremendous achievement.
“Louis demonstrated on the programme that he was a significant talent with exceptional musicality and performance ability. We are beyond proud of him and look forward to watching the 30th anniversary tour when it comes to The Lowry.”
Dancers on the course are taught by Debbie alongside Joss Arnott, Artistic Director of Joss Arnott Dance, who trains and takes the students on a nationwide tour as part of the Emergence dance company.
Joss added:
“Louis was a fantastic role model during his time with us in Emergence. His love for dance was evident and his talent is extraordinary.
“We have a fantastic relationship with New Adventures, inviting the company each year to work with our MA students. For Louis’ cohort, the dancers worked with Etta Murfitt (Associate Artistic Director) and Kerry Biggin (Take Part Creative Director) on Swan Lake repertoire.
“It will be wonderful to see Louis performing on stage at The Lowry, now part of this internationally renowned dance company. We’re extremely proud of Louis and his commitment to dance. We look forward to seeing how his career develops as an extremely gifted dance artist.”
