Shale Wagman

Shale Wagman is a Canadian dancer with the Paris Opera Ballet. He began his classical ballet training at age 13 in Toronto and later at the Académie Princesse Grace in Monte Carlo. Wagman has garnered numerous prestigious awards, including first prize at the Prix de Lausanne, the Rudolf Nureyev Foundation award for artistry, the Youth Grand Prix at the Youth America Grand Prix, and the Premio Léonide Massine award in Positano. He made history as the youngest guest artist to perform a principal role (James in La Sylphide) at the Mariinsky Theatre.

Wagman’s professional career began with the English National Ballet, where he danced roles such as the Pas de Trois and Neapolitan Pas de Deux in Swan Lake, Beggar Chief in Manon, and soloist roles in Cinderella. As a First Soloist with the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, he originated principal roles in works by Alexei Ratmansky, David Dawson, and Marco Goecke. His repertoire there included Franz in Coppélia, Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, and the Principal Couple in Balanchine’s Rubies, among others.

After winning first place at the external recruitment competition, Wagman joined the Paris Opera Ballet in July 2024. He has since performed many notable roles, including Eros and the Faune in Manuel Legris’s Sylvia and Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty, which was screened in cinemas worldwide.