Ballet director Tamara Rojo defends relationship with dancer

Tamara Rojo, the prima ballerina turned artistic boss of English National Ballet, has defended her relationship with one of her dancers and spoken of her distress at reports of unhappiness within the company.

The ENB has been rocked by reports that quote anonymous insiders describing a hostile or even toxic working environment which has led to the company losing a third of its dancers in two years.

Those same insiders have also spoken of discomfort at Rojo’s romantic relationship with the dancer Isaac Hernández, a lead principal.

At the ENB’s annual press conference on Tuesday, Rojo, 43, digressed from speaking about the forthcoming season to address the concerns.

On her relationship with Hernandez, 27, described by one newspaper as “a smouldering Mexican, 16 years her junior”, Rojo said: “Isaac and I have always been very open and clear and honest about the fact we were in a relationship, both with the members of the company and with our board and my chairman. There has never been any conflict of interest at any time.”

Source: theguardian