Ethnic heritage: Black British (Jamaican parents)

Year of birth: 1967

Training: Northern School of Contemporary Dance 1989-90, London Contemporary School 90-91

Ballet career: Richard Witter, a graduate of The Northern School of Contemporary Dance in Leeds, was invited by Arthur Mitchell to join the Dance Theatre of Harlem School in 1988 under the direction of Karel Shook. He joined the First Company in 1991 where he travelled to several countries, including South Africa with Adam James.

On his return from South Africa to the UK, Witter taught with the company for a year on the Royal Ballet’s Chance To Dance programme alongside Brenda Garratt-Glassman and Michael Moor. In 1993, Witter went back to Dance Theatre of Harlem for a year where he was made Principal dancer.

Dance career: Witter sought more fulfilment and diversity as an artist and subsequently joined the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in 1993, remaining there for seven years as Principal dancer. Here he met up with former Birmingham Royal Ballet dancer Evan Williams. He was a principal dancer with the company for seven years before leaving in 2000 to join The Lion King as an original cast member.