Agnes Oaks to hang up her ballet shoes

Agnes Oaks has announced final performances at the London Coliseum with English National Ballet and a celebration of her career with husband and partner Thomas Edur. Agnes Oaks, one of the most respected and accomplished stars of classical ballet will hang up her ballet shoes following English National Ballet’s 2008/2009 Season.

Oaks has danced professionally for 20 years and with English National Ballet for almost 19 of those, and has performed many of the greatest roles in classical ballet to critical acclaim. She is warmly received wherever she performs, the drama of her dancing making her performances electrifying.

“Agnes is a complete performer. She brings her own special magic to everything she does. Her presence will be missing from next season. I wish Agnes success and happiness in her future and I will miss her as a wonderful artist and a valued friend” Wayne Eagling, Artistic Director of English National Ballet

Agnes Oaks is currently on tour with English National Ballet performing Manon and The Sleeping Beauty around the UK. She will perform her last shows in Manchester at the Palace Theatre on 12 November, and in Liverpool at the Empire Theatre on 30 November. Her last performances at the London Coliseum with English National Ballet will be in January 2009 with Manon.

Since the beginnings of her career, Oaks has danced with her Husband Thomas Edur. One of ballet’s great partnerships, Thomas Edur and Agnes Oaks have been dancing with English National Ballet since they were newly-married in 1990. Winners of numerous awards including Best Couple at the International Ballet Competition, an Olivier Award and the Unique Partnership Award from the Critics’ Circle, their careers have spanned the repertoire. To celebrate their unique partnership they will perform a one-off gala Celebration at Sadler’s Wells in London in January 2009.

Celebration provides a unique opportunity to see Edur and Oaks and dancers of English National Ballet performing pieces chosen by this extraordinary partnership to reflect their lives in dance.

The evening’s performance features Balanchine’s Apollo, Deane’s Impromptu, Stevenson’s Three Preludes, McGregor’s 2 Human, Eagling’s Duet, the pas de deux from Balanchine’s Who Cares? and the Grand Pas de Deux from Act III of The Sleeping Beauty. Performing with Edur and Oaks will be English National Ballet dancers Daria Klimentová, Erina Takahashi, Begoña Cao, Arionel Vargas, Esteban Berlanga, and James Forbat.

Agnes Oaks will complete English National Ballet’s 2008/2009 season.

For performance listing and more information, log on to Ballet.org.uk.