In the history of Czech ballet, the ballet company of the National Theatre in Prague has played the role of the largest and finest Czech ensemble. Upon its establishment in 1883, a tradition of continuous development of Czech professional dance originated. The first ballet master was Václav Reisinger (1882–1884). At the National Theatre he cooperated with the Opera and also staged a new ballet production, Hashish (1884).

At the very beginning, the ensemble had more than 20 members (including three female soloists and the dancer Augustin Berger). Following Reisinger's departure, the post was assumed by Augustin Berger, who headed the ensemble from 1884 to 1900, and again between 1912 and 1923. He extended the ensemble, managed a ballet school within the theatre, a chorus of figurants (auxiliary dancers) and gave the company solid professional foundations. The National Theatre Ballet experienced a great artistic blossom during the post-war era of Sa?a Machov (1946–1951). A conceptual dramaturge, sensitive choreographer and adroit stage director, he implemented his ideas in a highly specific manner. Within a short time, he managed to transform the National Theatre Ballet into a powerful and ambitious ensemble with a number of outstanding soloists (Z. ?emberová, M. K?ra, V. Jílek, A. Landa, O. Stodola, J. Bla?ek).

At the beginning of the 2002-2003 season the dancer and choreographer Petr Zuska became the new Artistic Director of the National Theatre Ballet in Prague. Under his leadership, the ensemble has proceeded in several directions. It has staged current works of the classical repertoire (Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Raymonda, Giselle, La Sylphide/Napoli), neoclassical ballets (John Cranko's The Taming of the Shrew and Onegin, Youri Vamos's Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker – A Christmas Carol, Othello, George Balanchine's Tchaikovsky, Pas de deux), as well as modern Czech and foreign works (choreographies by Ji?í Kylián, Itzik Galili, Conny Janssen, Mats Ek, Petr Zuska, Nacho Duato, Jan Kodet, Stijn Celis, etc.).

Currently the National Theatre Ballet is artistically one of the most interesting ensembles in the Czech Republic, comprising 65 dancers, mainly from the Czech Republic but also from Russia, Slovakia, Australia, Great Britain, Japan and Italy.

Go to Forum >>0 Comments