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Jiří Bubeníček

Choreographer

Artistic director of

Bubeníček Ballet Masterclasses
and 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

Agnès Letestu

ÉTOILE

OPERA NATIONAL DE PARIS

Guest Ballet Teacher
Costume Designer

EDUCATION
Inspired by her first exposure to ballet while watching Swan Lake on television, she made the decision to embark on her own ballet journey. Seizing the chance to pursue ballet as a hobby, she found herself under the guidance of Mr. Bertin, her dedicated teacher. Encouraged by his belief in her potential, she took a leap of faith and auditioned for the prestigious Opéra Ballet School at the age of 10.

CAREER
1987 entered old the Paris Opera Ballet company in 1987, led by Rudolf Nureyev.
1988 at the age of 16, became Coryphée
1989 promoted to Sujet
1993 promoted to Première Danseuse
1997 named Étoile after a performance of Swan Lake in October 1997.

ROLES
Giselle, Juliette, La Bayadère, Raymonda, Aurore, Kitri, Paquita, Cinderella and many others. She excels in the works of Balanchine, Carlson, Ek, Forsythe, Kylian, Lacotte, Li, Lifar, McGregor, Nureyev or Robbins. 

PRIZES
1989 she won the Eurovision Grand Prize for Young Dancers
1990 she went on winning the Gold Medal at the Varna Competition and received the Arop Public Prize
1991 she won Carpeaux Prize in 1991
Agnès Letestu is Commander of Arts and Letters, Knight of the Legion of Honor and Officer of the National Order of Merit of France.

FILMS
Agnès Letestu is the principal performer for the Paris Opera official films of Paquita, Swan Lake, The Prodigal Son, Cinderella, Diamonds of Jewels and The Lady with Camellias, which are broadcast on television and on DVD. She is the subject of a 52-minute film “Regards sur une Etoile” and a 90-minute film by Marlène Ionesco “Agnès Letestu, a shinning Star “, and a 26-minute film by Jean -Marie David produced by the Mezzo channel “Agnès Letestu, a star with the sensibility of an actress”.

As of 2009, Agnès Letestu was nearly at the end of her ballerina career (she was then 38) but she hopes to continue to live her passion for ballet through teaching to the youngest. In October 10, 2013, she appeared in 'La Dame aux Camelias' at The Paris Opera Ballet in her farewell performance for the company, portraying Marguerite Gautier to great acclaim.

 

COSTUME DESIGNER
Alongside her dance career, Agnès Letestu designed costumes for José Martinez’s creations: Scaramouche, Mi Favorita, The Children of Paradise, Delibes suite, Parenthèse1 and Sonatas (for the Paris Opera and the National Dance Company of Madrid ).
She also signed the costumes for Patrick De Bana’s creations at the Vienna State Opera notably Marie Antoinette and Windspiele, as well as Echoes of Eternity for the Shanghai Ballet.  And designed costumes for Heinz Spoerli Goldberg’s Variations at the Opéra National du Rhin, the Celebration of Pierre Lacotte  for the Paris Opera as well as those of Rigoletto for Outdoor Operas.

Vladimir Malakhov

INTERNATIONAL BALLET STAR

FORMER ARTISTIC DIRECTOR OF STATE BALLET BERLIN

Former Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre,  Wiener Staatsballett and Artistic Director of Staatsballett Berlin
Professor at Beijing Dance Academy

EDUCATION
Born in Kryvyi Rih (Ukraine), began his dance training at the age of four at a ballet school in that region. Continued his training at the school of the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow (class of Peter Pestov) and upon graduation in 1986 joined the Moscow Classical Ballet as that company's youngest principal dancer.

CARRER
Critically acclaimed globally for his artistic lyricism, he has won prestigious awards in his field from competitions in Varna, Moscow and Paris.

In 1992, Malakhov joined the Vienna State Opera Ballet as a principal artist, in 1994 — the National Ballet of Canada, in 1995 he had his debut with the American Ballet Theatre at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City. Since that time, he has remained a principal dancer with ABT and has continued to dance principal roles in Vienna as well as the renowned Stuttgart Ballet. Malakhov also appeared quite often as a guest in Berlin. His repertory encompasses a wide range of styles from classical ballets to the works of today's contemporary choreographers.

In 1999 Malakhov staged is first ballet La Bayadère Ludwig Minkus in Vienna State Opera. On the same stage in 2001 he set his first individual production A Masked Ball to the music by Giuseppe Verdi.

Along with performing at the world’s major dance venues, Cinderella in 2004 and The Sleeping Beauty in 2005 for Staatsballett Berlin. In 2010, he choreographed La Péri for Staatsballett Berlin.

In 2002 he became an artistic director of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden Ballet and since 2004 he was appointed to the position of the Berlin State Ballet.

ROLES
Adam in Creation of the World, Basil and Gamache in Don Quixote, a leading role in Natalie, Romeo and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, Prince Siegfried, von Rothbart (at the ABT), Benno, and the Venetian Dance in Swan Lake, Albrecht in Giselle, Lensky in Eugene Onegin, Suite en Blanc, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Prince Désiré in The Sleeping Beauty, both the Prince and the Snow King in The Nutcracker, La fille mal gardée, Des Grieux in Manon, Solor in La Bayadère, Fokine's Les Sylphides, Balanchine's Theme and Variations, Kasyan Goleizovsky's Narcissus, Armand in Neumeier's Lady of the Camellias, the title role in Bigonzetti's Caravaggio and assorted classical pas de deux.

AWARDS
1986: Varna International Ballet Competition (Grand Prize, junior level)
1989: Moscow International Ballet Competition (Gold Medal and Serge Lifar Prize)
1990: USA International Ballet Competition (Bronze Medal, senior level)
1996: Premia Positano di Danza, Italy
1992–94: Named "Best Male Dancer in the World" for three consecutive years by Japan's Dance Magazine
1998: Prix Benois de la Danse
2002: Vaclav Nijinsky Prize, Monaco, Monaco dance Forum

 

Martina Arduino

Principal Dancer

Teatro alla Scala

EDUCATION
2006 entered school of the Accademia del Teatro alla Scala

CARRER
2015 became Corps de ballet at the Teatro alla Scala
2018 promoted as Principal Dancer at the Teatro alla Scala

AWARDS
"Danza & Danza" award as an emerging interpreter for the 2016 season
2019 won "Kineo Award" as guest star and participates in the Red carpet of the 76th International Film Art Exhibition.

ROLES
"Juliet" in "Romeo and Juliet" by Kenneth Mc Millan, "Olga" and "Tatiana" in "Onegin" John Cranko's (film), "Prudence" in "La Dame aux Camelias" by John Neumaier,  "Kitri" in "Don Quixote", "Aurora" in "Sleeping Beauty", "Nikiya" in “La Bayadère, Clara in “The Nutcracker” and "Odette" and "Odile" in "Swan Lake" by Rudolf Nureyev, "Gulnare" and "Medora" in "Le Corsaire" and "Sylvia" in "Sylvia" by Manuel Legris.

She works with Carla Fracci to prepare her debut in January 2021 in the role of "Giselle" in "Giselle".
At the first anniversary of Carla Fracci's death the “Gala Fracci”, she danced for the first time in “La Péri” by Jean Coralli.

"Le Jeune homme et la Mort" and "Debussy pour sept danseurs" by Roland Petit, "Fairy of Lilacs" and the "Diamond" in "Sleeping Beauty" and “Pas des trois in "Swan Lake" by Alexei Ratmansky, role of the "Fairy Godmother" in "Cinderella" and "Progetto Händel" a new creation by Mauro Bigonzetti, "Colombina" in film "The Nutcracker" by Nacho Duato, role of the "Street Dancer" and the soloist of the "Fandango" in "Don Quixote" by Rudolf Nureyev, role of "Drop of Dew" and "Sugar Plum" in Nutcracker. She danced main couple of the first and forth movement movement in "Symphony in C", “Emeralds”, “Diamonds” and “Jewels” by George Balanchine. Creation "The Garden of Lovers" by Massimigliano Volpini, "Golberg Variationen" by Heinz Spoerli, "Petit Mort" by Jiří Kylián, and "Bolero" by Maurice Béjart.
She took a part in the creation of Wayne McGregor "Woolf works", danced in "The Vertiginous thrill of exactitude”  and "Blake Works" by William Forsythe and 2023 she danced in “Anima Animus” by David Dawson.

GUESTING
Zurich Ballet - "Odette" and "Odile" in Ratmansky's "Swan Lake", 2018.
Georgian National Ballet directed by Nina Ananiashvili - "Medora" in "Corsaire".
Moscow Kremlin - "Nikija" in "La Bayadere", 2019.
"Miami Dance Festival", USA, 2019.

Marco Agostino

PRINCIPAL DANCER

Teatro alla Scala

EDUCATION
2008 Graduated at Teatro alla Scala Ballet Academy

CAREER
2008 joined Teatro alla Scala
2014 promoted to Soloist after his last performance as "Des Grieux" in MacMillan’s "Manon".
2021 promoted to Principal Dancer

ROLES
"Albrecht" in "Giselle" by Chauvireé, "Romeo" in "Romeo and Juliet" by MacMillan and Nureyev versions, "Emerald" and "Diamond" in "Jewels" by Balanchine, "Espada" and "Basilio" in "Don Quixote",  "Rothbart" and "Benno" in "Swan Lake" by Nureyev and Ratmansky version, danced in second and fourth movements in "Symphony in C" by Balanchine, "Desiree" in "Sleeping Beauty" by Ratmansky, the role of "Prince" in "The Nutcracker" by Duato, "Phoebus" in "Notre Dame de Paris" by Petit, "Lensky" and "Onegin" in "Onegin" by Cranko, "Il Principe" in "Cinderella" by Bigonzetti, "Solor" in "La Bayadere" by Nureyev, "Proust" by Petit, "Concerto DSCH" by Ratmansky, "The Barre Project" and "Vertiginous thrill of exactitude" by Forsythe, "Aminta" in Legris’s "Sylvia" and "Lankedem" in Legris and A.M. Holmes version, "Knight of Titania" in "A Midsummer Night’s Dream" by Balanchine, "Firebird" by Béjart and "Pink Floyd Ballet" by Petit.

ALFREDO MIGLIONICO

Pianist

Semperoper Ballet in Dresden

EDUCATION
Accademia Teatro alla Scala
Teatro Comunale
I.A.L.S. Rom
Teatro Sperimentale Belli 

CAREER
Semperoper Ballett (since 2016)
Theater Ulm
Theater Münster

Alfredo Miglionico, an accomplished Italian pianist, earned his Bachelor of Music in piano performance in Potenza, Italy. In 2006, he actively participated as a pianist in a ballet workshop held in Bolzano. In 2010, he successfully completed his post-graduate studies at the "Accademia Teatro alla Scala," specializing as a maestro collaboratore for Opera and Ballet.

His initial foray into the German ballet scene commenced in Munster in 2011, followed by a tenure at Theater Ulm from 2011 to 2016. Since 2016, Alfredo has been an integral part of the Semperoper Ballet in Dresden.