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# Iain Mackay calls it a day after 20-year-long ballet career
- URL: https://www.birminghameastside.co.uk/iain-mackay-birmingham-royal-ballet/
- Published: 2018-01-19T16:50:13.000Z
- Updated: 2018-01-19T16:50:13.000Z
- Author: Birmingham Eastside
- Tags: Art, Culture, Features, News, #Migrated-1786701253228, #wp, #wp-post, #Import 2026-08-14 09:54

[**Birmingham Royal Ballet**](https://www.brb.org.uk/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk)'s principal dancer, [**Iain Mackay**](https://twitter.com/iainmackaydance?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk)will perform for the last time this evening at Symphony Hall.

![](http://birminghameastside.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/14489983139_741d609ee0_o.jpg)

Beauty and the Beast; Nao Sakuma as Belle and Iain Mackay as the Beast. Photo: Roy Smiljanic

![](http://birminghameastside.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/25375851556_aa7b8157df_o.jpg)

Romeo and Juliet: Jenna Roberts as Juliet and Iain Mackay as Romeo. Photo : Roy Smiljanic

![](http://birminghameastside.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/01/25402026415_684233d9a3_o.jpg)

Romeo and Juliet: Jenna Roberts as Juliet and Iain Mackay as Romeo. Photo: Roy Smiljanic

After a career spanning almost two decades, retiring danseur will take up a new job as the artistic director of the [**Yorkshire Summer Ballet School.** ](https://twitter.com/InfoYBSS?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk)

Mackay held the highest rank of Principal Dancer, with some memorable roles performed nationally and internationally.

He recently founded [**Open Door Dance**](https://www.opendoordance.com/?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk), an initiative that aids creative collaborations with the aim of taking high quality dance performances to fresh audiences and venues.

The Scottish artist is also the Male Dance Ambassador for the Royal Academy of Dance.

https://twitter.com/RADheadquarters/status/954298838944305152

Mackay's swan song will be the world premiere of Khachaturian's *Spartacus* with the 37-year-old playing the eponymous role and Jenna Roberts essaying Phrygia. The pair have enjoyed several successful collaborations in the past including their stellar performances in *Romeo and Juliet* and will perform some a few other classics together tonight.

https://twitter.com/iainmackaydance/status/954154392281931776

Click[ here](https://www.thsh.co.uk/event/an-evening-of-music-and-dance-with-birmingham-royal-ballet-the-royal-ballet-sinfonia?ref=birminghameastside.co.uk) for tickets.