London's 1000 most influential people 2011: Dance

5 April 2012

Wayne McGregor
Random Dance founder and Royal Ballet Resident choreographer
Innovative choreographer and former outsider who's made the Royal Ballet his own while effortlessly running his own company from Sadler's Wells and juggling umpteen other projects. His choreographic style still offends some traditionalists, but McGregor's ideas, energy and work ethic are the stuff of classicism.

Alistair Spalding
Sadler's Wells, artistic director and CEO
The pre-eminent match-maker of British dance, Spalding has put together some of the most creative collaborations of recent years. Arts cuts don't seem to break his stride, they just prompt innovative link-ups with other theatres. Relaxes by hill-walking - doubtless gracefully.

Kevin O'Hare
Royal Ballet, director-designate
Few predicted the former dancer and administrator would snag the top job at the Royal Ballet when long-standing director Monica Mason retires next summer. It's one of the best and most influential posts in the dance world, although O'Hare has thus far given little hint of his plans.

Akram Khan
Akram Khan company, founder
Charismatic dancer-choreographer whose recent solos have provided a master class in sustained theatrical magic. They mix the kathak training of his Bangladeshi heritage with western contemporary dance, and show how serious intent and beguiling charm need not exclude each other. Runs his dance company from Islington.

Hofesh Shechter
Hofesh Shechter Company, founder
The Israeli-born, multi-talented Shechter is a rare combination of originality, seriousness and low-key cool whose deft mix of big issues and good humour is unmatched. His full-company creations splice social dances with the contortions of battle and are one of the most affecting ideas of the past decade.

Matthew Bourne
Artistic Director New Adventures
Multi-award-winning ballet star who first shot to fame with his male Swan Lake and has retained a knack for populist, credible dance - even if the critics occasionally carp. His latest production is an ambitious reworking of Tchaikovsky's Sleeping Beauty, with a twist, which will debut next year.

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