Promotions, retirement: New York City Ballet, Vienna State Ballet, Ballet Black, Philadelphia Ballet
New York City Ballet (NYCB) promoted three corps de ballet members, Meaghan DuttonO’Hara, Owen Flacke and Kloe Walker, to Soloists, the company said in a press release on 19th October 2026. The promotions were made on 17th October, following the company’s matinee performance of the All Balanchine programme in its fall season, which concluded in the following day.
NYCB Principal Adrian Danchig-Waring took a final bow on stage after dancing 24 years with the company, it said in its Instagram post on 19th October.
Wiener Staatsballett (Vienna State Ballet) Principal Olga Esina will retire from the stage in June 2027 after dancing more than 20 years with the company, it said in a news release on 15th October 2026. The Vaganova-trained Esina joined the company in 2006 as a Soloist from Mariinsky Theater. She was promoted to a Principal in 2010.
Ballet Black's Senior Artist Ebony Thomas will make the final performance in Ingoma in November 2026, the company said in its Instagram post on 19th October 2026. The award winning Thomas will leave the company to pursue career as a personal trainer, for which he has been certified. He joined the company in 2017.
Philadelphia Ballet announced two promotions in its Instagram posts earlier in October 2026. Pau Pujol was promoted to a Principal Dancer. Lucia Erickson was promoted to a First Soloist.