DANCE
JAMES FORBAT

James Forbat is 21 years old, and although still a member of the corps de ballet, he has broken through the usual anonymity of that position. Since joining English National Ballet two years ago, he has caught the eye of two of Britain’s leading choreographers. He created roles in William Tuckett’s The Canterville Ghost (playing Mr Otis) and in Michael Corder’s The Snow Queen (an especially charismatic Wolf).

He was born in Redhill, Surrey, and trained at the Royal Ballet School. When he graduated in 2005 he had two job offers, one with Dutch National Ballet and one with ENB. He chose the latter, and is well aware of the responsibility that comes with being an English dancer working at home. “It’s important that the best dancers have the top jobs,” he says. “And if English dancers aren’t good enough – well, tough luck. But I would like to think that I’m good enough to be able to show something for England.
DEBRA CRAINE

OPERA
LUCY CROWE

Some sopranos get by on vocal riches alone, but others go farther, binding vocal security with dramatic commitment. And few young artists do that as well as Crowe, 29, for whom 2007 was a talismanic year.

The two biggest cheers went to Crowe for her appearances with English National Opera. The Times called her saucy Poppea in Handel’s Agrippina a revelation, praising not only her “luscious tone and classy phrasing”, but “the acting skills to turn history’s greatest tart into a rounded, funny, Meg Ryanish kookie”. Then she stole the limelight in the autumn at the Coliseum as an airheaded Drusilla in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea. And that’s not mentioning the charm of her Elisa in Mozart’s Il re pastore at Garsington Opera in the summer.

Opera in the 21st century is becoming a truly integrated musical, visual and dramatic experience. Crowe’s artistry epitomises that transformation.
NEIL FISHER

CORRECTION

In the article on the Arts Council’s theatre funding in Monday’s pages, we mistakenly suggested that the Theatre Royal Bury St Edmunds would be closing in February and March. In fact, it will be closing for one week only, from February 25, and has not been targeted for a funding cut by the Arts Council. Our apologies.

How to vote for your favourite nominee

To vote for the winner of the Times/South Bank Show Breakthrough Award, and to see profiles of all ten nominees, go to timesonline.co.uk/ breakthrough . Voters are registered and can vote only once. Voting closes at midnight on Wednesday, January 16. The South Bank Show Awards will be televised on ITV1 on Sunday, February 3.

Tomorrow

Actor Tom Hardy and pop singer Bishi