Nina POLÁKOVÁ

First Soloist, Vienna State Ballet

Ms Poláková made her first ballet steps in her native city of Trnava at a ballet studio she joined aged seven. When she turned ten, she was admitted to The Eva Jaczová Dance Conservatory in Bratislava. Before graduating she was invited to dance at the Slovak National Theatre Ballet as soloist. She featured in lead roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, La Bayadère, Spartacus and Le Corsaire.

She has been with the Vienna State Ballet since 2005. As the first soloist she works under the internationally acclaimed Manuel Legris to dance lead roles in classical and modern ballets by such choreographers as Rudolf Nureyev, Vladimir Malakhov, Jiří Kylián, Boris Eifmann, Manuel Legris, John Cranko, William Forsythe, David Dawson, Edward Clug, Liam Scarlett.

As guest performer she won audiences across the world.

Her portfolio includes lead roles in the most popular ballets, including:

  • Odette and Odile (Swan Lake);
  • Raymonda (Raymonda);
  • Giselle (Giselle);
  • Manon (Manon);
  • Nikia (La Bayadère);
  • Mary Vetsera (Mayerling);
  • Princess Maria (The Nutcracker);
  • La Sylphide (La Sylphide);
  • Juliet (Romeo and Juliet);
  • Carmen (Carmen);
  • Kitri (Don Quixote);
  • Tatiana (Onegin);
  • Marguerite (Marguerite and Armand);
  • Princess Aurora (Sleeping Beauty);
  • Snow Queen (Snow Queen);
  • Medora (Le corsaire);
  • Olga Spesivtseva / Giselle (Red Giselle).

Ms Poláková is laureate of a range of awards, including the Slovak Literary Fund Prize, The City of Bratislava Award, The Ballet Club of Vienna State Opera Prize, the Phillip Morris Flower Award for best dancer in Slovakia, as well as the 1st prize and Grand Prix at the international ballet competition in Brno, the Prize of the President of Trnava Self-Governing Region and the Goodwill Envoy award by the Slovak Minister of Culture.

She regularly features at the opening of the Vienna Opera Ball and televised broadcasts of the New Year’s concert by the Vienna Philharmonic Orchestra.

At the Vienna State Ballet Ms Poláková currently features in the productions

  • Jewels as choreographed by George Balanchine, where she dances with a native of Bratislava, the first soloist Roman Lazík,
  • Peer Gynt (choreographed by Edward Clug),
  • Onegin (choreographed by John Cranko).

Photo of Nina Poláková: Paul Szimak

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