Retirement: Jose Alves, Pacific Northwest Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem
- Ikuko
- May 14
- 1 min read
London-based ballet dancer Jose Alves retired from the stage on 9th May 2026, the Brazilian dancer said in his Instagram post. Alves danced with Ballet Black from 2012 to around 2021, before becoming a freelance dancer. He was lastly associated with the New English Ballet Theatre. In 2018, he won Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Outstanding Male Classical Dancer. A little too early, Jose!
Elizabeth Murphy, Pacific Northwest Ballet's Principal, will retire at the end of the current 2025-2026 season, the company announced in March 2026. Murphy joined the company as the corps de ballet member in 2011 and was promoted to a principal in 2015. Prior to Pacific Northwest Ballet, she performed with Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet West II and Ballet West.
American Repertory Ballet's Annie Johnson took a final bow, the company said on 7th May 2026 in its Instagram post. Johnson joined American Repertory Ballet as a trainee after graduation from Butler University, became a member of ARB2 in 2017 and joined the main company in 2018.
Ingrid Silva said a goodbye to Dance Theatre of Harlem earlier in May 2026. But prior to the goodbye to her home for 18 years, the Brazilian ballerina told the Pointe magazine in April that it was not a retirement. She already had a jam-packed diary as she would shift focus to choreography and she was creating her own dancewear line.
