Czech National Theatre Ballet

The National Theatre is the prime stage of the Czech Republic. It is also one of the symbols of national identity and a part of the European cultural space, with a tradition spanning more than 130 years. It is the bearer of the national cultural heritage, as well as a space for free artistic creation.

Today, the National Theatre is made up of four artistic companies – the Opera, Drama, Ballet and Laterna magika. It artistically manages four stages – the three historical buildings: the National Theatre (1883), the State Opera (1888), and the Estates Theatre (1783), and the more recently opened New Stage (1983). The Opera, Drama and Ballet companies perform not only titles from the ample classical legacy, in addition to Czech works, they also focus on contemporary international creation.

Born in Kishinev, Moldova, Alina Nanu studied at the Moldavian State Dance Conservatory and subsequently at the Prague Dance Conservatory, graduating in 2010. As a member of the conservatory ensemble, she made a number of tours, including of Spain, Germany and the USA. While still a student, she participated in numerous competitions, with the most noteworthy accolades including second prize at the International Ballet Competition in Brno (2009) and first prize at the International Ballet Competition in Romania (2009).

She launched her professional career in the 2010/11 season as a member of the ballet company of the State Opera Prague, where she was named a soloist in the 2011/2012 season. Audiences have seen her performing the roles of Odette/Odile in Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake, Kitri in Don Quixote, Myrtha in Giselle, etc. She has been a soloist of the Czech National Ballet since the 2012/13 season and became the first soloist in 2015.

Born in Italy, Giovanni Rotolo started his professional ballet training at the age of 14 in Florence at the Accademia Internazionale Coreutica, under the direction of Elisabetta Hertel, from which he graduated in 2011. From August to September 2010, he was on a secondment with the West Australian Ballet (Perth, Australia) under the guidance of Ivan Cavallari for the production of The Sleeping Beauty by Marcia Haydéè.

He participated in and won a number of competitions in Italy and abroad: the Rieti Danza Festival 2008 (third place, Junior Classical category), Settimana Internazionale della Danza Spoleto 2011 (third place, Senior Contemporary category), and the World Ballet Competition in Orlando, USA (Bronze Medal, Senior category).
He joined the Czech National Ballet in Prague in August 2011 as a corps de ballet dancer, and was named a demi-soloist in 2013, soloist in 2015 and the first soloist in 2016.