Marianela Núñez

Marianela Nunez on the evening of 1 Feb 2018 marking her 20th anniversary as a member of The Royal Ballet.

Marianela Núñez OBE (born 23 March 1982) is an Argentine-British ballet dancer. She is a principal dancer with The Royal Ballet, London.

Early life Marianela Núñez was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina. She has three older brothers. Her mother sent her to ballet classes when she was three. At first, she took dance classes at her teacher's garage. At age five, Núñez decided to focus on ballet. She entered Teatro Colón Ballet School at age six.

In 2001, Núñez replaced the injured Leanne Benjamin as Kitri in Don Quixote, with Carlos Acosta as Basilio. She was promoted to principal dancer the following year. She has danced leading roles in both classical and contemporary works by choreographers including Frederick Ashton, John Cranko, Kenneth MacMillan, Wayne McGregor and Christopher Wheeldon.

In 2018, following a performance of Giselle, Núñez celebrated her 20th anniversary at The Royal Ballet. Artistic director Kevin O'Hare declared her "one of the greats of her generation". Present were Lady Sarah Chatto, Peter Wright, Monica Mason, and The Argentine ambassador to the UK Renato Carlos Sersale di Cerisano.

Outside the Royal Ballet, Núñez has made many guest appearances worldwide, including in Austria, the U.S., Italy, Argentina and Australia.

Reviews On Don Quixote, The Guardian wrote that she is "a brilliant exponent of rubato dancing, stretching chosen phrases to breaking point and then flying through the music with ecstatic abandon."

Reviewing Núñez's guest appearance in American Ballet Theatre's Cinderella, the New York Times noted: "effortless attack and enthusiastic impetus made the sequence thrilling."

The Times also praised Núñez's portrayal of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, saying she "has a pure line, a melting plasticity and a smooth legato quality. Her Odette was lyrical and sorrowful; her Odile steely and sexy."

On Núñez as Nikiya in La Bayadère, The Independent noted she "has luscious musical phrasing and floating line."

Personal life Núñez married fellow principal at the Royal Ballet, Thiago Soares in 2011 in Buenos Aires. The couple separated in 2014 and announced their divorce in January 2016, but remain friends and continue to dance together.

Núñez is a naturalised British citizen.

Selected repertoire Núñez's repertoire with The Royal Ballet includes:

Created roles