Principal

Erik was born in Brescia, Italy and trained at the Associazione Balletto Classico under the guidance of Marinel Stefanescu. He joined the company in 1997 and performed as a soloist, dancing in classic and neoclassic repertory. In 1999 he appeared with the Ballet de Victor Ullate in Madrid and joined Scottish Ballet in 2001. 

Since joining the Company, Erik has danced in Page’s Acrid Avid Jam, Cheating, Lying, Stealing, The Nutcracker (The Nutcracker Prince, Drosselmeyer), 32 Cryptograms, Soft Underbelly, Room Of Cooks, Nightswimming into day, The Pump Room, Walking In The Heat, Cinderella (The Prince), Fearful Symmetries, The Sleeping Beauty (The Prince), Pennies From Heaven and Alice (Charles Dodgson), Alston’s Dangerous Liaisons, Darrell's Five Rückert Songs and Othello (Othello), Loosmore’s Sirocco, Chasing Ghosts and Lull, Balanchine's The Four Temperaments (Third Variation - Phlegmatic), Rubies, Agon and the title role in Apollo, van Manen’s Two Pieces For Het, Forsythe’s Artifact Suite and Workwithinwork, Ashton’s Façade, Petronio’s MiddleSexGorge and Ride The Beast, Pastor’s Romeo and Juliet (Romeo and Benvolio), Ian Spink's Petrushka (Magician), Val Caniparoli's Still Life, Kenneth MacMillan's Song of the Earth (Lead Man), Jorma Elo's Kings 2 Ends, Meckler/Lopez Ochoa's A Streetcar Named Desire (Stanley) and Martin Lawrance’s Run For It.

Photos

 

 

 

Quotes

DOUBLE BILL AT SADLER'S WELLS - AUTUMN 2011

MacMillan's Song of the Earth

. Financial Times, 06 November 2011 - Sophie Martin trusts the steps with all her being, and is magnificent. No less true the manner of Erik Cavallari as the Man and Christopher Harrison as the Messenger: noble, selfless dancing.

. Cloud Dance Festival blog, 06 November 2011 - Sophie Martin, Erik Cavallari and Christopher Harrison [are] captivating in the lead roles.

. Independent Dance Reviews, 10 November 2011 – Also worthy of note were Erik Cavallari as the male lead, who made light work of MacMillan’s challenging vertiginous lifts, and Christopher Harrison as the Messenger of Death.

. Spectator, 12 November 2011 – Sophie Martin and Erik Cavallari gave a perfect rendition of roles that remain associated, in the memory of many with some of the greatest artists ever.

  

US TOUR 2011

EDINBURGH INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL 2011

MacMillan’s Song of the Earth

.The Herald, 27 August 2011 - The trio of dancers at the heart of the choreography – Adam Blyde, Erik Cavallari and Sophie Martin – connect us, with exquisitely nuanced detail, to the life cycle expressed in the songs. Blyde, the Messenger of Death, shadows the unfolding actions with a potent subtlety, while Cavallari offers a boundless vitality that Martin answers with a porcelain delicacy.

.Mail on Sunday. 04 September 2011 – “Sophie Martin and Erik Cavallari give impassioned and strongly defined interpretations of the Everyman and Everywoman whose tragedy is at the ballet’s heart.”

 

ALICE 2011

.Guardian, 14 april 2011 – Carroll is danced with touching melancholy by Erik Cavallari.

.Sunday Times, 17 April 2011 – Erik Cavallari is Charles, dancing in many scenes with vigour and dash. He also portrays his feelings for Alice with subtlety: a protective love, combined with yearning.  

.Edinburgh Spotlight, 21 April 2011 – Traditionalists will find themselves most drawn to the pas de deux between Martin and Cavallari: the former’s fluid grace representing the innocence of her character; and Cavallari’s tender strength also captivating to watch. 

.South Wales Echo, 06 May 2011 – Sophie Martin deserves particular praise as Alice, although the cast, including Quenby Hersh as the Cheshire Cat, Tomomi Sato as the White Rabbit, Erik Cavallari as Charles and Adam Blyde as the Caterpillar all became their characters.

.Theatre in Wales, 05 May 2011 – Sophie Martin as Alice is on stage for most of the ballet but she looks as delicious and lively in the very last scene as she does when we first meet her. Erik Cavallari is a warm and caring Dodgson. Dancing both together and separately, they move with a remarkable fluidity which is a joy to look at.

 

GEOMETRY AND GRACE 2010

Ashley Page's Fearful Symmetries

. The Daily Telegraph - Each of the principals and soloists – not least Erik Cavallari and Eve Mutso – takes the breath away as they alternate between the straight lines of geometry and a gorgeous shape-changing that seems almost physically impossible.

.The Stage - The choreography might be Olivier Award-winning, but it makes strong demands on its performers. Demands which, with Eric Cavallari in total control, Sophie Martin, Sato and Eve Mutso sensual and moving as his three loves, and the corps de ballet fully controlled by their preordained destinies, the company rise far above.

 

ROMEO AND JULIET 2010

.Sunday Herald, 25 April 2010 - The lovers themselves are danced with truly affecting anguish by Erik Cavallari (Romeo) and Sophie Martin (Juliet).

.Daily Telegraph, 23 April 2010 - Erik Cavallari (Romeo) and Sophie Martin (Juliet) give genuinely beautiful and touching lead to a deservedly revived Scottish Ballet success.

.The Herald, 20 April 2010 - Sophie Martin (Juliet) and Erik Cavallari (Romeo) bring a vivid sincerity to the hapless lovers.

.The Stage, 11 May 2010 – Cavallari and Martin stand out, their attraction immediate and complete. Their love duets are pure romance.

.Edinburgh Guide, 30 April 2010 – Erik Cavallari and Sophie Martin are simply delightful together, expressing real feelings of innocent teenage love.

 

THE NUTCRACKER 2009/10

.Daily Telegraph, 14 Dec 2009 – It presents the ballet’s final pas de deux (between the tale’s young lovers, danced exquisitely by Erik Cavallari and Claire Robertson) with a beautifully executed classicism.

.The Herald, 14 Dec 2009 – Claire Robertson’s spirited Marie is an expressive mix of vulnerability and determination - utterly deserving of Erik Cavallari’s noble Prince, their closing pas de deux a radiant outpouring of consummate partnering worth a galaxy of stars in itself.

.The Scotsman, 14 Dec 2009 – The grand pas de deux between principal dancers Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari is a spell-binding blend of romance and masterful technique.

.Dancing Times, February 2010 – Claire Robertson and her prince Erik Cavallari blossom with grace and classical technique to spare.

.The Stage, 7 January 2010 – Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari take to the lead roles with aplomb.

. Newcastle Evening Chronicle, 4 February 2010 – Erik Cavallari was excellent as the Nutcracker Prince, while Claire Robertson was his perfect partner as Marie, their Grand Pas getting the biggest applause of the evening.

 

SPRING 2009 

Page’s Cheating, Lying, Stealing

.The Scotsman, 17 April 2009 - one of the best performances the principals of this company have ever given 

.The Daily Telegraph, 17 April 2009 - …urgent steps prove a fabulous showcase for Erik Cavallari and Claire Robertson

.The Sunday Times, 26 April 2009 – The dancers’ performances are heroic – Erik Cavallari and Claire Robertson particularly.

.jenniemacfie.wordpress.com, 17^th May 2009 - The individual duets and trios provided many opportunities to admire the dancing skills of the company members, including Martin, now ably partnered by Adam Blyde, Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari, and the ever-watchable Paul Liburd.

 

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY 2008-2009

.The Herald, 9^th December 2008 –The nobly elegant Erik Cavallari

.The Skinny, January 2009 – The love scene between Princess Aurora (Claire Robertson) and the Prince (Erik Cavallari) is a stunning enactment of pure romance. It looks exactly like you want fairy tale love to look like.

.Edinburgh Evening News, 8 January 2009 – Whether it is tiny Tomomi Sato’s delicate footwork… or Cavallari’s grand sweeps of passion, this is a production which just oozes class while entertaining on all the requisite levels.

. Dance Expression, February 2009 – Highlights are definitely the delightfully snappy duet of Sophie Laplane’s Red Riding Hood and Paul Liburd’s Romanian Prince, and the playful falling in love pas de deux of Aurora and her Prince after the awakening kiss: truly a moment of showpiece choreography, danced with confidence and style by Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari.

 

ROMEO AND JULIET 2008

.The Guardian, 17^th May 2008 - Erik Cavallari offers an uncomplicated, brave Romeo.

.Edinburgh Guide.com, 14^th May 2008 - Erik Cavallari as Romeo, who vibrantly interprets the agonies associated with unbridled passion.

.The Times 19^th May 2008 - Erik Cavallari’s Romeo is a handsome footloose boy.

 

THE SLEEPING BEAUTY 2007-2008

.The Daily Telegraph, 13 December 2007 – …beautiful opening night performances from Soon Ja Lee, Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari in particular.

.Scotland on Sunday, 16 December 2007 – Some of the duets in the wedding scene, particularly the stylish, spiky pas de deux between Sophie Martin and her Prince and the pure romance of the ballet danced by principals Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari as Princess Aurora and the Prince, showcase Scottish Ballet’s talent at its best.

.Northern Echo, 22 February 2008 – Claire Roberson’s Aurora is charmingly fresh and youthful and Erik Cavallari as the Prince is the epitome of the romantic hero.

 

EIF 2007

Page’s Fearful Symmetries
.The Herald, 21 August 2007 – Erik Cavallari is the wonderfully self-possessed Alpha Male, with three stunning ballerinas – Eve Mutso, Claire Robertson and Sophie Martin – servicing the different facets of his technique.

.Criticaldance.net, 22 August 2007- Erik Cavallari, as the male soloist looked in his element. Not surprisingly then, this is one of the best performances I have seen from Cavallari, who sped through the swift steps with an unforced, slick power.

.The Sunday Times, 26 August 2007 – …the impressive Erik Cavallari

.Sunday Express, 26 August 2007 – It’s all about one man, the undaunted Erik Cavallari

 

SPRING 2007
Balanchine’s Agon

.Edinburgh Evening News, 19 April 2007 – the skill of Eve Mutso and Erik Cavallari shone through.

.Dancing Times, June 2007 - Eve Mutso and Erik Cavallari danced the pas de deux with firm strength and bold physicality - theirs was the best classical dancing of the evening.

 

CINDERELLA 2006/2007
.Sunday Herald, 17 Dec 2006 – Robertson and Cavallari makes a dreamy couple, near luminous in bright white… Their pas de deux at the ball has all the other-wordly beauty and purity of line you could hope for from a romantic duet.

.Ballet.co.uk, Jan 2007 – Erik Cavallari is most elegant with beautiful lines

.UKTheatrenetwork.com, 11 Dec 2007 – Erik Cavallari’s Prince was superbly realised in the ‘super-smooth’ mould

.South Wales Echo, 26 Jan 2007 – Cinderella is well partnered by her dark and handsome prince Erik Cavallari and even their most intimate pas de deux is danced with vibrance, verve and youthful enthusiasm.

.Criticaldance.net, 10 Dec 2006 – Erik Cavallari, as the Prince, added some wonderful touches of characterisation.

 

EIF 2006

Balanchine’s Agon
.ballet-dance.com, Aug 2006 – Eve Mutso’s pas de deux with Erik Cavallari was one of the finest moments audiences have yet seen from Scottish Ballet. This was cool, effortless dancing with knife-edge precision from both dancers… If the rest of the company can keep up with Mutso and Cavallari, audiences are in for a treat.

.The Herald, 21 Aug 2006 – The honours go to Erik Cavallari and Eve Mutso for a duet of intensity that’s ice-hot.

.The Times, 23 Aug 2006 – Balanchine’s formal eccentricities hit a peak at the central pas de deux, danced by Erik Cavallari and Eve Mutso

 

SPRING 2006
Forsythe’s Suite from Artifact
.The Herald, 31 March 2006 – Hines, who lasered through the whole programme with fierce finesse – and Lehmus, Mutso, Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari collected burnished honours in Forsythe’s Suite from Artifact, a tour de force that deserved the cheering ovation.

.Ballet.co.uk, March 2006 - .. and although there were individuals it would be impossible not to notice – Paul Liburd, Patricia Hines, Erik Cavallari, Eve Mutso and several others…

. Onlinereviewlondon.com – 12 April 2006- … a striking Erik Cavallari with the profile of a young Byzantine potentate. Cavallari is a muscular, accomplished dancer…

 

CINDERELLA 2005-2006

.Ballet.co.uk, March 2006 – Both (Erik Cavallari and Claire Robertson) are strong dancers and delivered their solos well.

.Financial Times, 16 March 2006 - …it was Erik Cavallari, in the usually blank role of Prince Charming, who gave the positive and dance-credible interpretation. He played as if he believed in what he was given to do – a noteworthy achievement.

 

AUTUMN 2005
 

Balanchine’s Apollo

. The Herald, 12 September 2005 – Erik Cavallari goes from strength to strength as Apollo, not simply dancing superbly but clearly motivating the stylised movement.

Page’s The Pump Room

. Ballet-Dance Magazine, October 2005 - Patricia Hines and Erik Cavallari (in jazz shoes), and Sophie Martin (on pointe) and Paul Liburd all gave an excellent showing of smooth virtuosic contemporary dance.

EIF 2005 

Balanchine’s Apollo
. Mail on Sunday, 28 August 2005 – Apollo here was Erik Cavallari, who presented an immensely dignified and composed figure. Graceful as a swan, he leapt across the stage with a, well, god-like sense of control that was entirely in keeping with Balanchine’s historic vision.

SPRING 2005
Ashton’s Facade
.The Independent, 19 April 2005- Erik Cavallari and Cristo Vivancos are sublimely deadpan in the Popular Song.

THE NUTCRACKER 2004-2005
.The Observer, 8 January 2005 - … The amiable Erik Cavallari…

AUTUMN 2004

Van Manen’s Two Pieces for HET

.The Herald, 16 September 2004 - … in Two Pieces for HET with the wonderfully poised, mischievous Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari turning up the heat with every glance… 

.The Times, 17 September 2004 – Erik Cavallari and Claire Robertson gave mature performances.

.Ballet.co.uk, 20 September 2004 – It is a rich concoction which was further enhanced by the elegant performances of Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari.

.The Sunday Times Culture, 26 September 2004 - … Claire Robertson and Erik Cavallari convoyed a potent electric charge in Two Pieces for HET.

 

SPRING 2004

Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments
.The Sunday Times, 11 April 2004 - Erik Cavallari proved a strong, subtle replacement in the marvellous Phlegmatic variation. 

 

MacMillan's Song of the Earth

.LA Times, 15 October 2011 - The exception was, again, Sophie Martin, a mesmerizing presence as a loner adrift in the world. Enter the equally expressive Erik Cavallari; their concluding love duet made the heart tingle.

.Blogdowntown, 18 October 2011 - Sophie Martin, Erik Cavallari and Christopher Harrison, who danced the principal roles, were superb.