Royal Ballet first artist Amelia Townsend steps into some percussive new shoes this month as the tap-dancing Mad Hatter in Christopher Wheeldon’s fantastical Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, performed by The Royal Ballet from June 13–28. While Townsend isn’t the first woman to dance the role of the Mad Hatter—that distinction goes to the National Ballet of Canada’s Chelsy Meiss—it is still typically considered a man’s role. “I think this is a prime example of a role that can be done by both sexes,” Townsend says. “It’s a nice moment for people to realize that roles don’t necessarily have to be gender-specific. It’s about your interpretation. I […]
