Kevin O'Hare

Kevin O'Hare
Queensland Performing Arts Centre · CC BY 3.0 · source
Name	Kevin O'Hare
Birth date	1965
Birth place	Belfast, Northern Ireland
Occupation	Ballet director, former dancer
Years active	1984–present
Known for	Director of The Royal Ballet

Kevin O'Hare

Kevin O'Hare (born 1965) is a Northern Irish ballet director and former principal dancer known for his leadership of The Royal Ballet. He trained and danced with major companies before moving into administrative and artistic leadership roles, overseeing repertoire, commissioning, and institutional strategy at one of the world's leading dance companies.

Early life and education

Born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, O'Hare grew up amid cultural institutions such as the Lyric Theatre (Belfast), Ulster Orchestra, Queen's University Belfast student arts scene and local ballet schools. He received training that connected him to institutions like the Royal Ballet School, Royal Academy of Dance syllabi, and teachers influenced by the Cecchetti method, Vaganova method and Demi-Character traditions. Early exposure to touring companies including English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Scottish Ballet and visiting choreographers informed his formative study and audition pathways into professional companies.

Dancing career

O'Hare joined a major British company in the mid-1980s, progressing through corps de ballet ranks amid repertoires by choreographers such as Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, Christopher Wheeldon, George Balanchine and John Cranko. His performance credits encompassed narrative classics like Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty (ballet), La Bayadère and contemporary works staged by guest artists from New York City Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet. He toured internationally to venues including Royal Opera House, Linbury Theatre, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Metropolitan Opera House and festivals such as Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Spoleto Festival and Vail International Dance Festival. Collaborations with dancers from Mikhail Baryshnikov's circle, choreographers linked to Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and teachers from Kirov Ballet and Bolshoi Academy shaped his stagecraft and repertory knowledge.

Transition to administration and leadership

After retiring from full-time performance, O'Hare shifted to company administration, assuming positions that interacted with institutions including Royal Opera House, Sadler's Wells Theatre, Arts Council England and philanthropic bodies such as The Prince's Trust and arts foundations. He served in roles coordinating production, casting and programming, liaising with choreographers like Dame Ninette de Valois's successors, Wayne McGregor, Liam Scarlett, William Forsythe and Sir Peter Wright. His administrative work required engagement with funding bodies including National Lottery (United Kingdom), touring networks like Dance Consortium and international partners such as Teatro alla Scala, Staatsballett Berlin and San Francisco Ballet.

Director of The Royal Ballet

Appointed Director of The Royal Ballet and Head of Ballet at the Royal Opera House in 2012, O'Hare succeeded predecessors tied to legacies of Dame Monica Mason and Anthony Dowell. His directorship involved stewardship of a company with historic links to Sadler's Wells Ballet, The Royal Ballet School, Dame Margot Fonteyn and Sir Frederick Ashton. Responsibilities encompassed programming at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, commissioning works from choreographers associated with New York City Ballet, BalletBoyz, Akram Khan Company and Alonzo King LINES Ballet, and fostering relationships with international companies such as Mariinsky Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet and Paris Opera Ballet. He managed artistic staff appointments, casting, global touring plans to venues like Lincoln Center, Royal Albert Hall and Teatro Colón, and partnerships with cultural bodies including British Council and European Festivals Association.

Artistic vision and repertoire development

O'Hare promoted a balance of classic and contemporary repertoire, expanding programs to include revivals of works by Kenneth MacMillan and Frederick Ashton, premieres by Wayne McGregor, Christopher Wheeldon and emerging choreographers from institutions such as The Place and Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance. He advanced initiatives for new commissions, collaborations with designers from Royal College of Art and guest castings involving principals from American Ballet Theatre, Mariinsky Ballet and Stuttgart Ballet. His repertoire strategy engaged with historical reconstructions, contemporary dance-makers linked to Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui and Jiri Kylian, and educational outreach with partners like Royal Ballet School, Young Vic and English National Opera. O'Hare supported recording projects with broadcasters including BBC and tours to festivals such as Salzburg Festival and Jacob's Pillow to increase global audience reach.

Awards and honours

O'Hare's leadership and service have been recognized by industry organizations and cultural institutions, with acknowledgements from bodies such as Critics' Circle, Royal Philharmonic Society and dance awards associated with Danza & Danza and National Dance Awards (UK). Institutional honours and invitations have linked him with advisory roles at Royal Ballet School, trustee positions in arts charities and engagements with cultural diplomacy initiatives through British Council and state visits involving performing arts delegations.

Category:British ballet directors Category:People from Belfast Category:1965 births