Principal Dancer
William Bracewell is a Welsh ballet dancer. He joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2010, and was named soloist in 2014. In 2017, he joined the Royal Ballet in London, and was promoted to principal dancer in 2022. He is the first Welsh person to hold the position.
Source: Wikipedia · CC BY-SA 4.0
La Fille Mal Gardée as Colas · Royal Opera House · Jun 9, 2026
Beginning ballet at eight in his native Swansea, William Bracewell ascended through rigorous classical training to debut professionally with Birmingham Royal Ballet in 2010, immediately establishing himself as a dancer of rare dramatic sensitivity and technical command. Over the following decade, he rose steadily through The Royal Ballet's ranks, becoming celebrated for his interpretations of the MacMillan canon—particularly *Romeo and Juliet* and *Mayerling*—while maintaining mastery of the classical repertoire. His 2022 promotion to Principal Dancer, a historic first for a Welsh-born dancer at the company, represents the culmination of a career defined by intelligence, intensity, and an uncommon ability to inhabit complex dramatic roles.
Promotion to Principal Dancer with The Royal Ballet in 2022, becoming the first Welsh-born dancer to achieve this rank; Critics' Circle National Dance Awards Best Male Dancer (2023)
Pamela Miller Ballet School (Swansea, Wales); The Royal Ballet School (London, 2002–2010)
Verified past & upcoming performances
Showing engagements within the last 24 months. Upgrade to Patron to see William Bracewell's full career archive.
Looking for William Bracewell's live performances? Their engagement history is in the timeline above.