Former Royal Ballet 'young choreographer' Charlotte Edmonds reflects on decade of career shifts across dance, film and advertising

Charlotte Edmonds became the Royal Ballet's first "young choreographer" at the age of 18, a role the company created specifically for her after critics, including the Observer, described her as "astonishing," according to The Guardian. The three-year residency at the Royal Opera House gave her broad access to training and resources at one of the world's largest dance institutions.

"It's mad to think that happened," Edmonds said, reflecting on the role a decade later, per the report.

Rather than following what might have been an expected trajectory—choreographing for major ballet companies or founding her own troupe—Edmonds has built an eclectic career spanning multiple disciplines, according to The Guardian. While she has created short works for several European ballet companies, she has more recently focused on making films, music videos and advertisements for brands including Budweiser and Nike.

Her work has also extended into advocacy and representation. Edmonds has spoken out on behalf of artists with dyslexia, the report noted. She additionally launched her own video interview series, Cameo, in which she speaks with female and non-binary choreographers, an effort she has framed as a response to a lack of representation in the field, according to The Guardian.

The Guardian's profile characterizes Edmonds' varied portfolio—which includes ballet, advertising, film and digital projects such as NFTs—as illustrative of broader shifts within the dance industry. The report frames her path as evidence of a field that has become both more precarious for artists and more expansive in the kinds of work available to choreographers.