Interview with Xander Parish

What you are currently working on aside from preparing for Iconique?

Back in September, I made my acting debut in a new play called "The Gates of Kyiv" based on the life of the Soviet pianist Maria Yudina. It was my first time speaking on stage and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience. This play had its try out period at the Theatre Royal Windsor and now the producers want to transfer the production to the West End. I'm currently waiting for the dates to be fixed, but this is likely to be my next project.

Can you please tell me how long you have been working with the Covent Garden Dance Company?

That's a great question! I've had the pleasure of knowing Matt for quite a long time now and he's become not just someone I love working with but a great friend too. I think I worked with Covent Garden Dance Company for the first time in early 2018 when Matt put on a fabulous show in Dubai.

What is special about the Covent Garden Dance Company - what makes you return for more?!

Well that's easy - in a word, Matt! He's not just a great person to work with, but always gives the artists a good time. Also, he doesn't just create a good show, he brings together a really nice group of people so it's always fun to be involved in his productions. 

Photo credit: Andrej Uspenski

What are you looking forward to most about performing at Iconique for a second time?

To have warmth, sunshine, and the opportunity to dance right next to the beach in March when Europe & the UK are emerging from winter is certainly a plus! Also I'm looking forward to seeing friends I made while there last year.

What will you be performing and with whom?

I will be dancing with the wonderful Lauren Cuthbertson, Principal dancer at the Royal Ballet. We will be dancing two pieces; Moonlight by Florent Melac and the Rose Adagio from Petipa’s Sleeping Beauty.

I will also be dancing with Katya Chebinkaya from the Béjart Ballet. We danced together at Hatch House in 2024 and it will be a real pleasure to dance the iconic Diamonds by George Balanchine again.

Xander & Katya dancing George Balanchine’s Diamonds at Hatch House, 2024

When you’re dancing these works how does it make you feel, what do you hope the audience feels?

One of the best things about performing ballet is dancing to exquisite pieces of music. It was George Balanchine who said, "See the music, hear the dance", and how right he was. It's a wonderful feeling to be on stage wrapped up in the music and the hope is that the audience feels something of that experience too through watching,

Photo credit:Natasha Razina

You will be performing alongside some wonderful artists from all around the world this year, who are you most looking forward to dancing alongside?

I always enjoy seeing Ksenia Ovsyanik and Zdenek Konvalina who I often see and work alongside at Covent Garden Dance productions. I've had the pleasure of dancing several times with Ksenia which is always fun.

Many children will be coming to watch the rehearsal on the 6th March - how important are these opportunities for future generations of dancers?

Some of those children could be the part of the next generation of professional dancers so it is extremely important that they have the opportunity to watch and discover this extraordinary art form at a young age. Even for those who will not go on to be professionals, it will shape their development as they grow and learn so I believe it is very important.

Can you tell us three things people don’t know about you?

I have a great love of photography and especially love using 35mm film. I actually had an exhibition in St Petersburg of backstage photos that I took at the Mariinsky Theatre which was great fun to organise!

I run a website called balletclass.com where my friends and colleagues from around the ballet world teach their own on demand and sometimes live classes. I set it up during the pandemic and it's been a side project ever since from which I've learned many lessons (often difficult ones!) about business and entrepreneurship.

I have a little multipoo dog called Winston. He may be little in size, but he has a big personality so has a big name to match!