Liam Scarlett (1986-2021). British dancer and choreographer

Liam Scarlett was born in Ipswich, Suffolk, in 1986. He trained at The Royal Ballet School from 1998 until 2005 when he joined The Royal Ballet. He won many awards for his choreography during his studies at the School and was the first recipient of the De Valois Trust Fund Award. His interest in, and ability to choreograph was his lifeblood. From a young age he forged his own style, always within the parameters of classical ballet, but pushing at the boundaries. He was especially able to reflect the developments in classical ballet technique without losing a thread to the past to keep within the canon. He was much in demand as a choreographer worldwide and his works continued to win acclaim and awards. He was artist in residence for The Royal Ballet from 2012, and was also artistic associate with the Queensland Ballet in Australia. In 2018 he produced a re-working of Swan Lake for The Royal Ballet. His final years were overshadowed by controversy, the truth underlying which may never be known. However, his ballets will remain after his death in 2021.