Scottish Ballet’s Paul Liburd awarded
Liburd wins Best Male Dancer but announces he is to retire from Scottish Ballet
Paul Liburd, Scottish Ballet’s popular soloist, has won the top accolade from the Critics Circle Dance Awards, as he announces that he is to retire from the company at the end of the Spring season.
Liburd received the Dancing Times Best Male Dancer Award at a ceremony in London on Thursday. This is the tenth year of the awards, which are voted on by over 50 members of the Dance section of the Critics Circle. He was up against the Royal Ballet’s Federico Bonelli and freelance dancer and choreographer Colin Dunne.
Paul Liburd and company in Krzysztof Pastor’s Romeo and Juliet. Pic: Andrew Ross
Liburd joined Scottish Ballet in 2004 from the Rambert Dance Company, and won the Critics Circle Outstanding Male Artist Award for his work with Rambert shortly after. In 2009 he received the MBE in the Queen’s birthday honours for services to dance. He will retire from Scottish Ballet after his last performance in the revival of Krzysztof Pastor’s Romeo and Juliet which tours in April and May.
Scottish Ballet’s Artistic Director Ashley Page said: “We are absolutely delighted and thrilled that Paul’s timeless commitment and unique stage presence have been recognised in this way. It has been a privilege to work with such an incredible dancer and a truly lovely man and I wish him every success with future endeavours.”
Last seen in Edinburgh in Scottish Ballet’s Nutcracker, dancing the role of the Grandfather, Liburd brought technical and physical strength to the company. Combined with a charismatic stage presence, he is regarded as a dancer of the highest quality throughout the industry.
Scottish Ballet received nominations in two other categories for the awards. Although recognised for their achievements over the year, they lost out to Ballet Black in the Dance Europe Award for Outstanding Company. Soloist Martina Foriso, nominated in the Outstanding Female Performance (Classical) category for her Carmen, was beaten by the Royal Ballet’s Melissa Hamilton.
ENDS
