Valentino Zucchetti to leave The Royal Ballet
- Ikuko
- 2 days ago
- 1 min read
The Royal Ballet's First Soloist Valentino Zucchetti will leave the company after 16 years to pursue his choreographic and producing career, it announced in a press release on 2nd July 2026.
Zucchetti's last performances will be the role of Lescaut in Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon on 19th October and the evening show of 24th October.
Zucchetti was born in Calcinate, Italy. He moved to Milan to study at La Scala Ballet School when he was eleven years old and subsequently trained at The Royal Ballet Upper School in London, the United Kingdom. After graduation, he joined Zürich Ballet in Switzerland and then Norwegian National Ballet in Norway. He returned to London and joined The Royal Ballet in 2010, was promoted to First Artist in 2011, Soloist in 2012 and First Soloist in 2014.
While dancing with The Royal Ballet, he produced many choreographies for his colleagues including Anemoi in 2021, which won Critics’ Circle National Dance Award for Best Classical Choreography. He has also been active as Executive Producer of New English Ballet Theatre.
Best of luck, Valentino! I very much look forward to seeing his future choreographies!