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Jiří Bubeníček

Photo Pavel Hejný
Choreographer
Artistic director of
Bubeníček Ballet Masterclasses
and Bubeníček International Ballet Gala
Les Ballets Bubeníček
Former Principal Dancer with Semperoper Ballet
and Hamburg Ballet
Master of Arts Dance Pedagogy Degree
at the Palucca University of Dance Dresden

EDUCATION
1986 - 1993 - Dance Conservatoire in Prague
2000 - 2023 - Master of Arts Dance Pedagogy Degree at the Paluccca University of Dance Dresden
CAREER
1993 - 2006 - member of Hamburg Ballet under John Neumeier
1997 - At the age of 22 promoted to Principal dancer
since 1999 - Choreographer
2006 - 2015 - Principal dancer at Semperoper Ballet in Dresden
2009 - Creater of Les Ballets Bubeníček
2023 - Creator of Bubeníček Ballet Masterclasses
since 2015 - Freelance Choreographer
Internationally sought-after choreographer Jiří Bubeníček enjoyed enormous acclaim over his almost 25-year career as one of the world’s top ballet dancers. Musicality, athleticism, suppleness, an unparalleled technique and his instinctive sense of character turned him into an international star. During his time with the Hamburg Ballet, John Neumeier created numerous roles for him, the most legendary being “Nijinsky”. Following his engagement from 1993-2006 (from 1997 as principal), Jiří Bubeníček went to Dresden to take up the position of principal with the Semperoper Ballet. There he performed countless choreographies by Petipa, Fokine, Balanchine, McMillan, Cranko, Kylián, Inger, Forsythe, Dawson, Celis and the Dresden ballet director Aaron S. Watkin until his departure in 2015. Guest appearances took him around the world. Particularly memorable were his engagements at the Ballet de l’Opéra de Paris where he partnered the leading ballerinas of the age in the “Lady of the Camellias”. In 2002 he was awarded the “Benois de la Danse” for his interpretation of Armand. His many other prizes include the “Espèces” of the Prix de Lausanne or the Mary Wigman Prize bestowed by the Semperoper.
Jiří Bubeníček created his first choreographies back in 1999 in the midst of his dancing career. From short scenes to abstract pieces to full-length narrative ballets, his current oeuvre of over 65 works is impressively large.
In particular, Jiří Bubeníček has established an outstanding reputation as a choreographic storyteller: his successful productions include “Anita Berber – Goddess of the Night” (2016), “Doctor Zhivago” (2016), “The Piano” (2018), “The Trial” (2019), “Cinderella” (2019) or "Romeo and Juliet" (2022). Amongst his many honours, the choreographer was awarded the “Europa in Danza” for his version of “Carmen” (2019) or “Boris Papandopulo” award for „Romeo and Juliet“ for the best ballet performance in the 2021/22 season. His last creation was narrative full length ballet „Spartacus“, premiered January 27, 2023 for the Croatian National Ballet in Zagreb. And, of course, Jiří Bubeníček is a familiar face in the international media through TV and DVD productions of his choreographies as well as those featuring him as a dancer. In addition to founding a touring company “Les Ballets Bubeníček” to perform own choreographies, Jiří Bubeníček is also socially engaged, striving to build bridges between diverse cultures. For these efforts, he was awarded the “Silver Medal of the City of Prague” in 2017, a very special accolade from his home city.
He has choreographer for ballet companies such as:
San Francisco Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, Teatro di Roma, Royal New Zealand Ballet, Tokyo City Ballet, New York City Ballet, State Vienna Ballet, Hamburg Ballet, Semperoper Ballet in Dresden, Mariinsky Ballet Theater, National Ballet of China, North Carolina Dance Theatre in Charlotte in USA, for dancers from Opéra national de Paris, Zurich Ballet, Croatian National Ballet in Zagreb, for dancers from National Theatre in Prague, Croatian National Ballet Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka, Nuovo Balletto di Toscana in Florence, Badisches State Theater in Karlsruhe, Dortmund Ballet, State Ballet Nürnberg, Slovenia National Theatre Opera and Ballet in Ljubljana, Gauthier Dance, Košice State Theatre, Musiktheater im Revier Gelsenkirchen Ballet Company, Laterna Magika in Prague, Thüringer State Ballet in Gera, Copenhagen International Ballet, Palucca Dance High School, Hamburg ballet School, New York Choreographic Institute, Royal New Zealand School, he was a choreographer for The Vienna Philharmonic New Year's Concert 2016 and many other companies around the globe.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Jiří is currently in his final semester at Palucca Dance University in Dresden, pursuing a Master of Art degree in Dance Pedagogy. He has also conducted numerous workshops at various schools, including:
2021 - Palucca University of Dance Dresden
2021 - Prague Dance Conservatory
2017 - Architanz, Tokyo, Japan
Summer Ballet Schools:
2023 - Bubeníček Ballet Masterclasses
2023 - Valencia Endanza
2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017 - Prague Ballet Intensive - Jiří Jelínek
2017 - Art Of Innovative Ballet Master Class & Art, Madrid, Spain
2009 - Balletsummer SchoolLeipzig
And Zoom Online Classe:
2020 - 2021 - Danzoom, Online platform for Ballet and Dance Education
2021 - OnDance - Roberto Bolle
2021 - Oklahoma Summer Intensive
2021 - DeCruz summer course
Former teacher and founder of DANZOOM, Online platform for Ballet and Dance Education
Florence Clerc

ÉTOILE
OPERA NATIONAL DE PARIS
International Ballet Master
Former Ballet Master at the Ballet de l’Opéra de Paris

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EDUCATION
A former Danseuse Étoile of the Paris Opera Ballet, received her education at the Ballet School of the Paris Opera. In 1967, at the age of 16, she became a member of the Corps de ballet of the Paris Opera Ballet
CAREER
Soon, she was appointed Quadrille, Coryphée, Sujet and Première Danseuse.
After her interpretation of the title role in "Giselle" in 1977 she was promoted to Danseuse Étoile.
ROLES
Until her stage farewell in 1992 she danced a large repertoire, among them several main roles such as Rudolf Nureyev’s La Bayadère, Don Quixote, Raymonda, The Nutcracker, Cendrillon, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet and Manfred. Furthermore, she appeared in works by Alicia Alonso, George Balanchine, Maurice Béjart, Nils Christe, John Cranko, Juri Grigorowitsch, Serge Lifar, John Neumeier, Roland Petit, Jerome Robbins and Paul Taylor. She also danced on international stages and was guesting, among others, at the invitation of Mikhail Baryschnikov in the role of Clara in his The Nutcracker at the American Ballet Theatre in 1976.
PRIZES
Her awards comprise the Officier des Arts et lettresandOfficier de la Légion d’honneur.
BALLET MASTER
After her career as a Étoile dancer Florence Clerc worked at the invitation of Brigitte Lefèvre from 1996 as a ballet master at the Ballet de l’Opéra de Paris. From 2002 to 2003 she led the ballet of Florence. Until today, she is an international ballet master and responsible for re-staging Nureyev’s ballets such as at the Boston Ballet La Bayadère (2010) as well as at the Scala di Milano Don Quixote (2018), Sleeping Beauty (2019) and La Bayadère (2021), also there Vladimir Bourmeister’s Swan Lake (2004) and Yvette Chauviré’s Giselle (2005). At the Vienna State Opera Florence Clerc was guesting in 1985 twice in the title role of Nureyev’s Raymonda. With Nureyev’s Don Quixote she re-staged at the Vienna State Ballet in the 2022/23 season.
INTERNATIONAL BALLET TEACHER
Former Principal Dancer
International Ballet Teacher
Former Principal Dancer with Ballet of Bonn, the Royal Ballet of Flanders, the Rome Opera Ballet and the Deutsche Oper Berlin.

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EDUCATION
Yannick received his dance education at the Paris Opera Ballet School and the National Conservatoire of Paris.
CARRER
Former Principal dancer with Ballet of Bonn, the Royal Ballet of Flanders, the Rome Opera Ballet and the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
In 2011, he choreographed for the Istanbul State Ballet a two act ballet, "The Sufferings of Young Werther" (Goethe), music by Frederic Chopin , which was premiered later in May 2014 by The Greek National Ballet.
He has also choreographed for the Junior Ballet of Antwerp "Concerto con brio" music by Shostakovich and in 2021, and "Shostakovich pas de deux" for the National Ballet Company of Portugal.
AWARDS
2021 - Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres
1995 - Positano and Leonide Massine Award
1987 - Gold Medal at the International Competition in Paris
1981 - 1st Prize of the Conservatoire of Paris
INTERNATIONAL GUEST BALLET TEACHER
working currently with the following
Ballet Companies:
Semperoper Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, Paris Opéra, Houston Ballet, Béjart Ballet Lausanne, Les Ballets de Monte-Carlo, Finnish National Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, National Ballet of Portugal, Canadian National Ballet, Bayerische Staatsoper, Czech National Ballet in Prague, Slovenian National Ballet, Polish National Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet.
Schools and Academies:
Summer course Centre Ecole Superieure de Danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower, Houston Ballet Academy, Royal Swedish Ballet School, Mosa Ballet School.
and many others.
Rebecca Bianchi

ETOILE DANCER
Teatro Dell'Opera di Roma

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EDUCATION
Studied at the Teatro alla Scala in Milan, under Anna Maria Prima's leadership till 2006, and later under Frederic Olivieri's till July 2009. On June 2009, she graduates and immediately she starts her dancing career with the Corps de Ballet of Teatro dell'Opera in Rome.
CAREER
2015 appointed as Prima Ballerina of Teatro dell'Opera in Rome.
ROLES:
Pink Floyd Ballett by R. Petit; The River by A. Ailey; Carmina Burana by M. van Hoecke; Il Lago deiCigni by P. Bart; Coppélia by R. Petit; La Sylphide by M. Gielgud; Aria Tango by M. van Hoecke; Lo schiaccianoci by S. Muchamedov; Diversion of Angels by M. Graham; La Bayadère by R. Avnikjan; Gâité Parisienne by M. Béjart; Walpurgisnacht by G. Balanchine; Il Lago dei Cigni by G. Samsova; Moïse et Pharaon di S. Wei; Sylvia by F. Ashton; Romeo e Giulietta by L. Gay and C. Fracci; Don Chisciotte by T. Fayziev; Mefistofele by G. Whittingham; Giselle by C. Fracci; Papavero Rosso by N. Androsov; Tannhäuser by G. Whittingham,
Lo Sciaccianoci of G. Peparini; to Giselle of P. Ruanne; Romeo e Giulietta of K. MacMillan; Variation of Dulcinea from Don Chisciotte of M. Petipa; Raymonda of M. Petipa; Symphony in D of J. Kylián; Ipnos creation by D. Bombana; Serenade by G. Balanchine; Ouverture by F. Olivieri; Normale by F. Ventriglia; Minuetto Diabolico by F. Olivieri. She performs as a ocaj; Ballodeicadetti by D. Lichine; Napoli by A. Bournonville; Class Ballet by M. Messerer; Futuro al Futurismo a performance in which she dances with Roberto Bolle, for the opening of the Olympic Games in Turin, Carmen by Jiří Bubeníček.
GUESTING WITH:
Bordeaux Opera Theatre, Roberto Bolle and Friends and many more.
AWARDS:
In 2009, the Mayor of Milan, Ms Letizia Moratti awards her with the prestigious "Milano Donna 2009". She is the face of Freddy for the 2008/09 collection. In 2015, she is the winner of "Tersicore award" for the interpretation of Giselle by P. Ruanne.
2016 she dance on the Gala Les Etoiles with renowned international dancers and she won the award of the ballet magazine Danza&Danza for emerging dancer of the year.
Javier Rojas

Artist
Birmingham Royal Ballet

Photo © Birmingham Royal Ballet
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EDUCATION
Born: Vedado, Cuba
Trained: National Ballet of Cuba School
CARRER
2021 Birmingham Royal Ballet
Royal Swedish Ballet
Acosta Danza
AWARDS
Winner of Amici 2019
REPERTORY AT THE BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET
Carlos Acosta: Don Quixote (Gypsy Couple), Miguel Altunaga: City of a Thousand Trades, Jeorge Crecis: 24, Pontus Lidberg (Raúl Reinoso, Cassi Abranches): Black Sabbath - The Ballet, Juliano Nunes: Interlinked, Morgann Runacre-Temple: Hotel, Peter Wright: The Nutcracker (Spanish Dance), Swan Lake (Neapolitan Dance)
With Acosta Danza: A Buenos Aires, Majisimo, Belles Lettres, Twelve, Imponderable, Paysage, soudain, la nuit, Rooster, End of Time and Thousand Years After.
With Royal Swedish Ballet: "Processen" Josef K., choreography by Jiří Bubenířek.
With Teatro dell'Opera di Roma Don José in "Carmen" choreography by Jiří Bubeníček.
Nikos Kalivas

Contemporary Choreographer and Teacher

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EDUCATION
Nikos Kalivas was born in 1988, studied Mathematics at the University of Patras and Dance at the professional dance school Aktina.
CARREE
As a dancer, he has worked with choreographers such as Annie Vigier, Frank Apertet, Antigoni Gira, Betty Dramisioti, Xaris Mandafounis, Giannis Antoniou, Patritsia Apergi, Konstantinos Rigos, Leyya Mona Taiwil, Xaris Kousios and more.
WORKS
As a choreographer he created «TripTap», «Psychord», and «RoomsToLet». In 2018 he was selected by Aggeliki Stelatou as an upcoming choreographer and worked at Munich Biennale Platform in collaboration with Onassis Culture Center. In 2019 he co-founded RopisCo and choreographed «Dépaysement» at Onassis Culture Center at the Festival of Young Choreographers.
WORKSHOPS
Since 2015 he has been teaching contemporary dance and improvisation at the professional dance school Aktina and other schools.