Backstage with Edward Watson
In warm up suit and boots, on the blue carpet of his home away from home, he stretches his body and feet preparing for the evening's performance. His day begins early and does not end until late, cloistered in the studios and on the stage of London's magnificent, state-of-the-art Royal Opera House.
Edward Watson, the only English principal male dancer in the Royal Ballet began his journey by chance when at the age of three, he and his twin sister wandered into a dancing school, opposite his home in Dartford, England and liked it well enough to stay through primary classes and continue training in the RAD syllabus. By the age of 10 he began to think seriously of ballet as a possible career choice. A representative from The Royal Ballet School was present when he took his exams and he was invited to join the school's Junior Associates Program. Students, known as JA's study at their regular dance schools and participate in Associate classes on a weekly, bi-monthly or monthly basis taught in regional centers using The Royal Ballet School system of training. They are encouraged to audition for the RB's Lower School and Edward was a successful candidate. He trained and boarded at White Lodge from the time he was 11 until entering the Upper School at age 16. The school, at that time under the direction of Dame Merle Park, was very much focused on the Russian style of training and Edward cites the late Anatole Grigoriev as the teacher who inspired him to continue. When graduation time comes around, the students of The Royal Ballet School get their chance to perform on the great stage and Edward had featured roles in Ashton's Monotones II and the Bourneville classic Napoli.
Joining The Royal Ballet Company in 1994, Watson rose through the ranks, becoming a soloist three years later and a principal in 2005. His repertoire includes ballets by two former company directors, Sir Frederick Ashton and Sir Kenneth MacMillan. Among his favorite ballets are Ondine, Mayerling and Gloria. Roles he enjoys dancing are Romeo and Albrecht in Giselle. A favorite with contemporary choreographers, Edward has had ballets created for him by Ashley Page, Christopher Wheeldon and Wayne McGregor who was just named Resident Choreographer for the company. Two of the dancers who he looked up to in the company were Jonathan Cope, who is now a repetiteur, and Bruce Samson, now Artistic Director of the Central School of Ballet in London.
Having received his academic education at The Royal Ballet School, he excelled in his exams garnering nine GCSE's and two A levels and perhaps when time permits, he will consider going on with his education.
At present, Edward's career is all consuming leaving little time for anything else. Before coming to class, he does a Pilates workout and also finds time to work out in a gym with a personal trainer and, besides a broken foot when he was young, he has been lucky and not had many injuries. In his limited spare time, Watson, who has a sly sense of humor, enjoys theatre, films and dining out with friends because he cannot cook.
...And so his long day ends, leaving not much time for any other activities and when asked if he has any other career interests, the answer comes..." at the moment, I can not think of anything else I would rather do." ...And, Watson's twin sister never opted for a dancing career. She took a different path and is an English teacher.