Rachel Hickey

Biography

Rachel was born in Manchester, England, and began her journey in the arts as an elite artistic gymnast. At the age of 13, she transitioned to ballet training, studying at Elmhurst Ballet School. During her second year, she earned a Bronze medal from Dame Monica Mason at the prestigious Genée International Ballet Competition. As a student, she performed the Juliet and Paris pas de deux (Romeo and Juliet, Kenneth MacMillan) in Virginia as part of an international ballet gala. In her graduate year, she toured with Birmingham Royal Ballet, further solidifying her foundation as a professional dancer.

Rachel launched her career with Moravské Divadlo Olomouc, where she matured as an artist and performed significant roles, including Myrtha in Giselle and Gamzatti in La Bayadère. In 2022, she embraced a new chapter by joining the Czech National Ballet, where her artistic journey continues to flourish.

Since joining the company, Rachel has performed in a diverse repertoire of classical and contemporary works. Her roles include Popelka (Jean-Christophe Maillot), Šeherezáda (Mauro Bigonzetti), Louskáček – Vánoční příběh (Solo Waltz, Spanish Dance, Youri Vámos), Onegin (John Cranko), Labutí jezero (Swan Lake, John Cranko), Romeo a Julie (John Cranko), BPM (Beyond Pure Motion), La Fille mal gardée (Frederick Ashton), Coppélia (Ronald Hynd), La Sylphide (Johan Kobborg), Tramvaj do stanice touha (A Streetcar Named Desire, John Neumeier), and Šípková Růženka (The Sleeping Beauty, Márcia Haydée).

In addition to her dance career, Rachel expanded her skills by becoming a certified Pilates instructor in 2023. Her dedication to health and movement complements her artistry, enabling her to bring precision and strength to her performances.