Dance's chance to shine

The annual Prague Ballet Gala, which showcases outstanding dancers from various countries, has become a highly anticipated New Year's tradition for Czech audiences.

Each January for the past five years, the world's elite ballet dancers come to Prague's State Opera, and this year is no different. Once again, the event presents a stellar international cast from the most prestigious theaters and companies worldwide.

The Prague Ballet Gala is organized by Prague International Ballet, a nonprofit organization dedicated to improving professional dance education, preserving ballet heritage and introducing the best ballet artists to Czech audiences. The organization was founded in 2005 under the leadership of Jana Kůrová, previously a soloist at the National Theater who danced leading roles in major ballets and won many international prizes.

Since concluding her career as a professional dancer, Kůrová has been active as a master teacher, choreographer and judge in dance competitions worldwide. Her 30 years of experience and many international connections have helped her to bring some of the world's best ballet dancers to Prague.

"It's not that hard to convince the dancers to accept my invitation to the gala," Kůrová says. "I know most of them personally. More difficult is to find enough space in their schedules, as they are often booked several years ahead."

For the 2011 gala, Kůrová managed to invite members of such respected companies as the Paris Opera Ballet and the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow. By popular demand, Kůrová decided this year to invite some dancers who have previously performed at the Prague Ballet Gala, including Nina Kaptsova and Artem Ovcharenko from the Bolshoi Theater Ballet, Tamás Nagy from the Dutch National Ballet, Aki Saito and Wim Vanlessen from the Royal Ballet of Flanders and Isabelle Ciaravola and Yann Saiz from the Paris Opera Ballet.

The performance is composed of excerpts from various works that show off the best of the world of classical ballet. Spectators may look forward to Bach's famous Adagio, choreographed by Maurice Béjart; Pas de deux, which was inspired by a romantic poem by Lord Byron; Le Corsaire, choreographed by Marius Petipa; and Jacques Brel's Les Bourgeois, choreographed by Ben Van Cauwenbergh. Highlights of Ballet Gala 2011 will also include the famous Adagietto, choreographed by Oscar Araiz and set to music from Mahler's 4th Symphony.

"All the dancers I have invited are at the top of the international scale. I can't say who will be the most interesting for Czech audiences," Kůrová says. "I am looking forward to seeing Jurgita Dronina and Davit Galstyan, for example, who are currently in two different engagements - Dronina in the Dutch National Ballet in Amsterdam and Galstyan in the Ballet du Capitole in Toulouse. I am quite curious about their dance interplay. Other dancers to keep an eye on include the young star of the Bolshoi Theater Ballet, Artem Ovcharenko and a great couple from the Royal Ballet of Flanders, Aki Saito and Wim Vanlessen."

The aim of the gala is to allow Czech audiences to see all the ballet world has to offer and watch dancers of the highest quality rarely seen in the Golden City. As such, Prague Ballet Gala 2011 should be a great opportunity for local ballet lovers to catch some first-rate performances from an international cast of dancers without having to venture any farther than the State Opera.

Johana Mücková can be reached at
features@praguepost.com