At English National Ballet School, we are committed to preparing our talented young dancers for successful professional ballet careers. This year we’re extremely proud to celebrate the achievements of our 2025 graduates, Lois Fraiz and Zai Calliste who will be joining English National Ballet as Company Artists. Both Lois and Zai joined the school in 2022 with dreams of one day joining our parent company. Their success is a testament to their hard work, patience and persistence.

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Lois Fraiz

Born in Kingston upon Thames, Lois began her ballet training with Rebecca Fraiz Classical Ballet and later studied at Ballettschule Theater Basel in Switzerland under Amanda Bennett. In 2022, she joined English National Ballet School to continue her professional development.

During her time at the School, Lois performed with English National Ballet in The Nutcracker and danced the role of Odette in My First Ballet: Swan Lake. She has especially appreciated the opportunity to work closely with Artistic Director Lynne Charles in her final year of training.

Reflecting on her journey, Lois shared, “I’m incredibly grateful to ENBS for preparing me to take this next step. The past three years have been full of growth, challenges and joy. It’s an honour to be joining English National Ballet, and I’m excited to keep learning and developing as an artist within the company.”

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Zai Calliste

Zai took his first steps into ballet at the age of seven and has been dancing ever since. In 2021 Zai began his full-time training in Cairns, Australia at the Annette Roselli Dance Academy. He joined English National Ballet School in 2022.

Throughout his training, Zai has competed in a number of international ballet competitions, including The Fonteyn, where he placed third and received the prestigious Fonteyn Audience Choice Medal. For Zai, ballet is a powerful way to connect with audiences and share the joy of movement.

He reflects on one of the most important lessons he’s learned at ENBS, “I think the biggest skill I’ve learned during my time at ENBS is patience, patience for the process, trusting the process, and patience with myself and how I’ve developed as a dancer. You know, I didn’t get everything on the first try.”

Zai has particularly enjoyed the diverse repertoire at the School and the direction Artistic Director Lynne Charles has brought, blending neoclassical and contemporary styles with classical ballet.

Looking ahead to his time in the Company, Zai said, “I’m looking forward to artistic freedom and becoming the artist I want to be, with the guidance of the company. Being able to explore where I want to take my career through the support of Aaron and ENB is something I’m really looking forward to.”

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We couldn’t be prouder of Lois and Zai. Their success is a reflection of their dedication, hard work, and passion for the art form. As they begin their professional careers with English National Ballet, we look forward to seeing them inspire audiences and continue to grow as artists.

To see the full list of new Company Artists and promotions at English National Ballet for the 2025–2026 season, visit:
English National Ballet’s full announcement

Congratulations to Lois, Zai, and all our ENBS graduates and alumni on their outstanding achievements!