Yasmine Naghdi appointed Royal Ballet principal

London-born dancer Yasmine Naghdi has been promoted to principal at the Royal Ballet.

Naghdi, who joined the company in 2010 after training at the Royal Ballet School, is the second British dancer to be promoted to the highest rank in the company in as many years.

She follows Francesca Hayward, who was made a principal last year.

Royal Ballet director Kevin O’Hare said: “I’m delighted to promote Yasmine Naghdi to principal. She has had an extraordinary year, making successful debuts in a number of classic and contemporary ballets, and I look forward to this new chapter of her career and the opportunities that await.”

Naghdi will dance her first principal role in Opening the New, part of the Hull UK City of Culture celebrations.

Her appointment comes as O’Hare announces a raft of promotions within the company.

Matthew Ball and Marcelino Sambe are promoted for first soloist, with Reece Clarke, Benjamin Ella and Anna Rose O’Sullivan becoming soloists.

Other appointments include new principal character artists Christina Arestis, Bennet Gartside, Kristen McNally and Thomas Whitehead.

Elsewhere, principal Matthew Golding leaves the Royal Ballet after three years, and Zenaida Yanowsky will also step down as principal after 23 years with the company.