English dancer Joseph Sissens is a Principal of The Royal Ballet. He trained at The Royal Ballet School and graduated into the Company in 2016. He was promoted to First Artist in 2018, to Soloist in 2021, to First Soloist in 2022 and Principal in 2024. In the 2024/25 Season, he curated Legacy as part of The Royal Ballet's Black History Month celebrations. His choreography while with The Royal Ballet includes a piece for Draft Works 2017.

Sissens’s role creations with the Company include in Robert Binet's Dark with Excessive Bright, Crystal Pite’s Flight Pattern and Light of Passage, Robert Binet’s Void and Fire, Wayne McGregor's The Dante Project and Untitled, 2023, Kyle Abraham's The Weathering, Joseph Toonga's See Us!! and Christopher Wheeldon's Like Water for Chocolate. His repertory includes Romeo, The Prince (Cinderella), Espada (Don Quixote), Siegfried (Swan Lake), Florizel (The Winter's Tale), Lescaut (Manon), The Prince and Hans-Peter (The Nutcracker), Florestan and Bluebird (The Sleeping Beauty), Dance of the Blessed Spirits, Lensky (Onegin), The White Rabbit (Alice's Adventures in Wonderland), Jimmy (MADDADDAM).

Book to watch Joseph perform

What have you been working on recently and what have been your highlights of this season?

So, I actually had a quieter end to the season than I’m used to, but still filled with beautiful moments on stage in works like So Are We: Leon and Lightfoot. I would say that my highlight of the season would be making my debut in Sir Peter Wright’s Giselle. It was such a dream of mine, as well as an enormous challenge coming back from an injury. Truly fulfilling.

What made you want to join Covent Garden Dance Company for this gala production?

A few of my colleagues have danced at Hatch House and each time they’ve said how brilliant it was. It is always nice to dance outside of your home theatre, experiencing different audiences and teams. Also, I love its surrounding nature and I very much enjoy having the time to get outside after working in such a busy city.

What will you be performing with Viola Pantuso and why did you choose these pieces?

Viola and I are super close as people, we have a bond that can only be described as siblings, and I cherish any time I get to share the stage with her. We will be dancing Wayne McGregor’s final Infra pas de deux, originally created on Edward Watson and Marianela Nunez, and Petipa’s Sleeping Beauty.

What do you hope the audience feels when watching you dance these pieces?

Within our chosen repertoire, I hope the audience enjoys getting to watch us more closely and intimately. Especially with Infra, I interpret the piece to imbue a sort of universal love, that I hope can touch people in a way that they can relate it to their own experiences.

“After all, love is all we’ve got.”

Book your tickets

Since its first production, our company has sought to nurture new works and artists alongside bringing world class dancers together to delight audiences around the world, how important are companies and galas such as ours?

I believe that galas like this are really important, not only because they allow audiences to see us outside our usual environments, but also because they give dancers the chance to experience other artists’ work and be inspired by different forms of expression. I think that’s what makes an artist so special, the variety of influences they absorb throughout their career.

“Opportunities like this allow us to learn from one another, grow creatively, and continue evolving as artists.”

Last tickets remaining

The Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance in Bath will be performing a new work inspired by nature and the grounds, how important is it to provide performance opportunities such as these, to the next generation of young dancers?

I think performance opportunities like this aren’t just important for the younger generation, they’re absolutely essential. They not only gain invaluable experience performing on stage in a variety of works, but they also have the chance to share the space with more experienced artists and be inspired not just by our dancing, but by the knowledge, perspective, and experience we’ve built throughout our careers.

“I think those exchanges are incredibly valuable and play an important role in shaping the next generation of artists.”

Your career has been meteoric, with new debuts this year. With all the experience you have garnered over the years, what do you hope to bring to this year's performance?

What I hope to bring to this year’s Hatch House gala is the same thing I hope to bring to every performance: honesty and authenticity.

“For me, dance is about genuine connection—telling a story and communicating something truthful through movement. If I can leave the audience feeling something real, then I’ve done my job.”

What would be your dream role to dance next? Or have you danced them all?

One of the next roles I’m hoping to take on is Des Grieux in Manon. It’s one of my favourite ballets, and it’s a role I’ve dreamed of dancing for a long time. Beyond that, I’d also love the opportunity to create new works and originate roles. There’s something incredibly exciting about being part of the creative process from the very beginning and helping to bring a new character or story to life.

Book to watch Joseph and Viola perform

Book Ballet Under the Stars

Interview with Joseph Sissens

What have you been working on recently and what have been your highlights of this season?

What made you want to join Covent Garden Dance Company for this gala production?

What will you be performing with Viola Pantuso and why did you choose these pieces?

What do you hope the audience feels when watching you dance these pieces?

“After all, love is all we’ve got.”

Since its first production, our company has sought to nurture new works and artists alongside bringing world class dancers together to delight audiences around the world, how important are companies and galas such as ours?

“Opportunities like this allow us to learn from one another, grow creatively, and continue evolving as artists.”

The Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance in Bath will be performing a new work inspired by nature and the grounds, how important is it to provide performance opportunities such as these, to the next generation of young dancers?

“I think those exchanges are incredibly valuable and play an important role in shaping the next generation of artists.”

Your career has been meteoric, with new debuts this year. With all the experience you have garnered over the years, what do you hope to bring to this year's performance?

“For me, dance is about genuine connection—telling a story and communicating something truthful through movement. If I can leave the audience feeling something real, then I’ve done my job.”

What would be your dream role to dance next? Or have you danced them all?

Can you tell us three things people may not know about you?

Interview with Joseph Sissens

What have you been working on recently and what have been your highlights of this season?

What made you want to join Covent Garden Dance Company for this gala production?

What will you be performing with Viola Pantuso and why did you choose these pieces?

What do you hope the audience feels when watching you dance these pieces?

“After all, love is all we’ve got.”

Since its first production, our company has sought to nurture new works and artists alongside bringing world class dancers together to delight audiences around the world, how important are companies and galas such as ours?

“Opportunities like this allow us to learn from one another, grow creatively, and continue evolving as artists.”

The Dorothy Coleborn School of Dance in Bath will be performing a new work inspired by nature and the grounds, how important is it to provide performance opportunities such as these, to the next generation of young dancers?

“I think those exchanges are incredibly valuable and play an important role in shaping the next generation of artists.”

Your career has been meteoric, with new debuts this year. With all the experience you have garnered over the years, what do you hope to bring to this year's performance?

“For me, dance is about genuine connection—telling a story and communicating something truthful through movement. If I can leave the audience feeling something real, then I’ve done my job.”

What would be your dream role to dance next? Or have you danced them all?

Can you tell us three things people may not know about you?

Witchmark x Maxfield Dyer