Marianela Núñez and Patricio Revé in Don Quixote

Marianela Núñez and Patricio Revé in Don Quixote. Music by Ludwig Minkus, choreography by Alexander Gorsky after Marius Petipa. Ballet Icons Gala 2026, London Coliseum 15.2.2026.

Marianela Núñez and Patricio Revé are high-profile principal dancers with The Royal Ballet in London. While Marianela is a seasoned icon of the company, Patricio is its newest star addition.

Marianela Núñez

Marianela is widely considered one of the greatest living classical ballerinas. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she joined The Royal Ballet in 1998 and was promoted to Principal in 2002. She is celebrated for her impeccable technique, “gold-standard” placement, and a famously warm, joyous stage presence. She has won numerous awards, including the Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Dance, and was recently awarded an OBE in 2024 for her services to dance. She is the definitive Odette/Odile (Swan Lake), Aurora (The Sleeping Beauty), and Kitri (Don Quixote) for the current generation.

Patricio Revé

Patricio is a Cuban-born powerhouse who has recently taken the London dance scene by storm. Trained at the National Ballet School of Cuba, he was a principal with the National Ballet of Cuba and later a Principal Artist with Queensland Ballet in Australia. After a series of highly successful guest appearances—most notably partnering Natalia Osipova in Romeo and Juliet in May 2025—it was officially announced in January 2026 that he will join The Royal Ballet as a full-time Principal dancer for the 2026/27 season. He is known for his explosive athleticism, height, and exceptional partnering skills. He is already a favorite among the Royal Opera House audiences and has been frequently paired with both Osipova and Núñez during his guest tenure.

Photos by Jack Devant © with kind permission of the Ballet Icons Gala, special thanks to Olga Bakaleets