The Czech National Ballet in Prague occupies a solid position in the Central European context. Its founding in 1883 gave rise to the continuous evolutionary tradition of Czech professional dance. Truly cosmopolitan, made up of dancers of 18 nationalities, the Czech National Ballet is the largest dance company in the Czech Republic. This diversity affords it a colourful scale of means of expression, representing a variety of ethnicities and their differing natures and temperaments. The result is a blending together of numerous dance schools and styles, mutual enrichment and inspiration.
The Czech National Ballet’s dialogue with global dance theatre has been cultivated for over two decades. Its current Artistic Director is Filip Barankiewicz. The company’s worldwide acclaim is demonstrated by its regularly collaborating with foreign choreographers, restagers and designers. The experience with diverse movement phraseologies serves to spice up the artistic work, helping the company to find its Central European identity.
The international character of the Czech National Ballet in Prague reflects its national identity and enhances its prestige. We offer the traditional classical repertoire and modern contemporary theatre alike, yet with a special artistic spirit.
Attesting to the company’s singularity is its variegated repertoire, which includes famous narrative ballets retelling mesmerising stories (The Sleeping Beauty, La Fille mal gardée, Swan Lake, Onegin and The Nutcracker – A Christmas Carol), fascinating mixed bills (FORSYTHE/CLUG/MCGREGOR, by William Forsythe, Edward Clug and Wayne McGregor; Phoenix, by Alejandro Cerrudo, Douglas Lee and Cayetano Soto; and Kylián – Bridges of Time, by Jiří Kylián) and contemporary ballets (Leonce & Lena, by Christian Spuck; Kafka: The Trial, by Mauro Bigonzetti.
