somos arte
2025
PROGRAM
Part 1
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Composer: Juan Fernández Gálvez (Juan Parrilla)
Dancers: Christian Lozano and Mariano Bernal
Choreography: Damiano Artale
Composer: Ennio Morricone
Dancers: Martina Arduino and Marco Agostino
Choreography: Aída Gómez
Composer: Luigi Boccherini
Dancers: Aída Gómez Spanish Ballet
Choreography: George Balanchine
© The George Balanchine Trust
Composer: Igor Stravinsky
Dancers: Maia Makhateli and Lucas Erni
Choreography: Alejandro Cerrudo
Composer: Dean Martin
Dancer: Daniil Simkin
Choreography: Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot
Composer: Adolphe Adam
Dancers: Riho Sakamoto and Martin ten Kortenaar
We would like to thank the The George Balanchine Trust, Boosey & Hawkes, and the choreographers William Forsythe, Aída Gómez, Alejandro Cerrudo, Damiano Artale, and José Carlos Blanco for their generosity in allowing certain excerpts of their works to be performed as part of this gala.
Part 2
Choreography: Aída Gómez
Composer: Juan Fernández Gálvez (Juan Parrilla)
Dancers: Christian Lozano and Mariano Bernal
Choreography: Jose Carlos Blanco
Composer: Jacques Brel
Dancers: Shani Peretz and Mario Galindo
Musicians: David Villa (oboe), Olatz Ruiz de Gordejuela (concertmaster), Kana Onashi (violin), Jorge Llamas (viola), Salvador Bolón (cello), and Kei Hikichi (harpsichord)
Choreography: Lev Ivanov
Composer: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Dancers: Martina Arduino and Marco Agostino
Choreography: Aída Gómez
Composers: Georges Bizet and José Antonio Rodríguez
Dancers: Aída Gómez Spanish Ballet
Choreography: William Forsythe
Composer: Thom Willems in collaboration with Lesley Stuck
Dancers: Riho Sakamoto and Martin ten Kortenaar
Choreography: Marius Petipa, based on the original by Joseph Mazilier
Composers: Riccardo Drigo and Ludwig Minkus
Dancers: Leroy Mokgatle and Daniil Simkin
The piece Rubies is a ® Balanchine Ballet, presented by permission of The George Balanchine Trust and produced in accordance with the ® Balanchine Style and ® Balanchine Technique, following the standards supervised by the Trust.
Dancers
LEROY MOKGATLE
Born in South Africa, Leroy Mokgatle trained at the Pretoria Ballet School, Arts of Motion, and the European Ballet School. During her training, she received several awards, including the bronze medal at the Youth America Grand Prix, the gold medal and audience award at the Genée International Ballet Competition, and the audience award at the Prix de Lausanne.
She made her professional debut with the Béjart Ballet Lausanne, later joining the Zürich Ballet and the Staatsballett Berlin, where she is currently performing as a demi-soloist.
Her repertoire includes works by Maurice Béjart, Marcia Haydée, William Forsythe, Nacho Duato, Gil Roman, Crystal Pite, Christian Spuck, and Marcos Morau.
LEROY MOKGATLE
Dancer
DANIIL SIMKIN
Son of dancers Dmitrij Simkin and Olga Aleksandrova, Daniil Simkin was born in Novosibirsk (Russia) and raised in Wiesbaden (Germany), where he was trained by his mother. In 2006, he made his debut with the Wiener Staatsballett as a demi-soloist. In 2008, he joined the American Ballet Theatre as a soloist and was promoted to principal dancer in 2012.
He has combined his career in both companies with extensive appearances as a guest artist in major theaters around the world. In addition, Simkin has created and produced, among other projects, the choreography Intensio (2015), a multidisciplinary dance production at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York (2017), and the dance film Diorama (2020). A year later, he founded the production company Studio Simkin to explore and develop ballet in relation to the new digital environment.
DANIIL SIMKIN
Dancer
MARTINA ARDUINO
Born in Moncalieri (Italy), Martina Arduino began her dance training in Turin and, in 2007, joined the Scuola di Ballo dell’Accademia Teatro alla Scala, where she graduated in 2015. That same year, she made her professional debut with the Corpo di Ballo of Teatro alla Scala, being promoted to principal dancer in 2018.
Her extensive repertoire includes principal roles in classical productions staged by Rudolf Nureyev, neoclassical works by George Balanchine, narrative ballets by John Cranko, Kenneth MacMillan, and John Neumeier, as well as numerous pieces by contemporary choreographers such as William Forsythe, Alexei Ratmansky, Mauro Bigonzetti, and Wayne McGregor, among others.
Her awards include the Danza & Danza Award as “Emerging Artist” of the 2016 season, the Positano “Léonide Massine” Award, and the Premio Nazionale Sfera d’Oro per la Danza.
MARTINA ARDUINO
Dancer
MAIA MAKHATELI
Nacida en Tbilisi (Georgia), Maia Makhateli estudió en el Instituto Coreográfico de Vakhtang Chabukiani y finalizó su formación en Colorado (EE.UU.). Durante su etapa de estudiante obtuvo diferentes galardones en varias competiciones y se unió al Colorado Ballet, donde rápidamente fue ascendida a bailarina principal. En 2005 se unió al Birmingham Royal Ballet y en 2006 al Het Nationale Ballet de Ámsterdam, donde es bailarina principal. Dentro de su palmarés destacan los premios Nina Ananiashvili y Gilbert Albert, el Alexandra Radius y la nominación de la crítica como bailarina sobresaliente de los Países Bajos. Nominada al Benois de la Danse en 2019, Makhateli fue distinguida como mejor intérprete femenina por la revista británica Dance Europe ese mismo año. En 2020 fue reconocida como la ‘Bailarina del Año’ por la misma publicación.
MAIA MAKHATELI
Dancer
LUCAS ERNI
Born in Santa Fe (Argentina), Lucas Erni trained at the Instituto Superior de Arte of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires and at the San Francisco Ballet School. In 2013, he was a finalist at the Prix de Lausanne. The following year, Helgi Tomasson invited him to join the San Francisco Ballet, where he performed numerous soloist roles until 2023.
He has also been a soloist with the Ballet Nacional Sodre of Uruguay under the direction of Julio Bocca, and a principal dancer with the Sarasota Ballet. In the 2023/24 season, he moved to Germany, joining the Badisches Staatsballett in Karlsruhe, and in the 2024/25 season he became a member of the Ballett am Rhein in Düsseldorf, where he currently holds the rank of principal dancer.
A regular guest artist at international galas, Erni is also co-producer of the gala Repatriados in Buenos Aires.
LUCAS ERNI
Dancer
MARCO AGOSTINO
Born in Turin (Italy), Marco Agostino graduated from the Scuola di Ballo of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in 2008. That same year, he made his professional debut with the Corpo di Ballo of Teatro alla Scala, being promoted to soloist in 2014 and to principal dancer in 2021.
His repertoire includes leading roles in romantic ballets staged by Yvette Chauviré and Pierre Lacotte, classical productions by Rudolf Nureyev, Manuel Legris, and Alexei Ratmansky, neoclassical works by George Balanchine, narrative ballets by John Cranko and Kenneth MacMillan, and pieces by other major choreographers such as Roland Petit, Maurice Béjart, Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Nacho Duato, Mauro Bigonzetti, and Edward Clug.
In 2024, he received the Positano “Léonide Massine” Award.
MARCO AGOSTINO
Dancer
RIHO SAKAMOTO
Born in Nara (Japan), Riho Sakamoto trained at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., and was awarded the prestigious President’s Award upon her graduation in 2014. She was a member of Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam (2014–2024) and, after a season with the Staatsballett Berlin, has returned to the Dutch company this year.
Her repertoire includes leading roles in some of the most iconic classical ballets, such as Alexei Ratmansky’s Don Quixote, Eagling & Van Schayk’s The Nutcracker, Sir Peter Wright’s The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Ted Brandsen’s Mata Hari. She has also performed works by George Balanchine, Hans van Manen, Christopher Wheeldon, and David Dawson.
With a career defined by versatility, musicality, and strong stage presence, Riho Sakamoto has established herself as a prominent figure in the international ballet scene.
RIHO SAKAMOTO
Dancer
MARTIN TEN KORTENAAR
Born in Toronto (Canada), Martin ten Kortenaar graduated from Canada’s National Ballet School, also completing an intensive summer course at the Dutch National Ballet Academy. He made his professional debut with The National Ballet of Canada as an apprentice. He quickly stood out and, early in his career, received several awards.
In 2014, he joined the junior company of Het Nationale Ballet in Amsterdam, and one year later, he entered the main company. After a period with the Staatsballett Berlin as a principal dancer, he returned to the Dutch company, where he continues his career as a principal dancer.
His repertoire includes leading roles in classical ballets as well as works by choreographers such as George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Hans van Manen, David Dawson, Alexei Ratmansky, and Crystal Pite.
MARTIN TEN KORTENAAR
Dancer
MARIO GALINDO
Born in Madrid, Mario Galindo graduated from the Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza “Mariemma” in his hometown. After participating in the Prix de Lausanne, he completed his training at the San Francisco Ballet School, where he took part in productions such as Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella and Helgi Tomasson’s The Nutcracker.
Under the direction of Joaquín de Luz, he joined the Compañía Nacional de Danza in 2021 and was promoted to soloist one year later. His repertoire with the CND includes leading roles in classical works and pieces by George Balanchine, Roland Petit, Jiří Kylián, Nacho Duato, Christopher Wheeldon, Johan Inger, Justin Peck, and Alexei Ratmansky.
He was awarded the Positano “Léonide Massine” Prize as “Best Dancer of the Year” in 2023.
MARIO GALINDO
Dancer
BÁRBARA VERDASCO
Born in Madrid and raised in Jaca (Huesca), Bárbara Verdasco received her first ballet lessons from María José Ara. She graduated from the Real Conservatorio Profesional de Danza “Mariemma” in Madrid and began her career in several youth companies.
She performed in The Nutcracker and in works by Filipe Portugal, Christopher Bruce, and Marguerite Donlon with Ballet Ireland; in Christopher Wheeldon’s Cinderella with the English National Ballet; and in works by Kenneth MacMillan, Ashley Page, Liam Scarlett, Arielle Smith, and Christopher Marney with the London City Ballet.
Under the direction of Muriel Romero, she joined the corps de ballet of the Compañía Nacional de Danza in 2024. Her repertoire with the CND includes ballets such as Joaquín De Luz’s Giselle, Alexei Ratmansky’s Concerto DSCH, and Justin Peck’s Heatscape.
BÁRBARA VERDASCO
Dancer
THOMAS GIUGOVAZ
Born in Trieste (Italy), Thomas Giugovaz graduated from the Scuola di Ballo of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in 2015. After graduating, he settled in the United States, where he worked with The Washington Ballet and the Sarasota Ballet. He has also been a member of the Hong Kong Ballet and of the SNG Opera in balet Ljubljana (Slovenia), where he performed the role of Lankendem in José Carlos Martínez’s Le Corsaire, as well as Opus 73 and Alles Walzer by Renato Zanella, among others.
He joined the Compañía Nacional de Danza as a soloist in 2022 under the direction of Joaquín De Luz. His repertoire with the CND includes leading roles in productions such as José Carlos Martínez’s Don Quixote, George Balanchine’s Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, August Bournonville’s La Sylphide, and Nacho Duato’s Remansos, among others. He has also participated in the successful gala Bolle & Friends.
THOMAS GIUGOVAZ
Dancer
SHANI PERETZ
Born in Tel Aviv (Israel), Shani Peretz began her training at the Thelma Yellin High School of the Arts in her hometown. In 2010, she joined The Israel Ballet under the direction of Berta Yampolsky, Ido Tadmor, and Mate Moray.
In 2015, she became a member of the Compañía Nacional de Danza under the direction of José Carlos Martínez. She was promoted to soloist in 2019 under Joaquín De Luz. Throughout her career, she has worked on and performed works by internationally renowned choreographers such as Nacho Duato, Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Hans van Manen, Ohad Naharin, Itzik Galili, Johan Inger, Sol León & Paul Lightfoot, José Carlos Martínez, and Joaquín De Luz, among others.
She currently continues her career as a soloist with the CND under the direction of Muriel Romero.
SHANI PERETZ
Dancer
Aída Gómez Spanish Ballet
Founded in 1997, the Ballet Español Aída Gómez has been active on stage for nearly thirty years, with a four-season interruption during which Aída Gómez directed the Ballet Nacional de España (BNE).
The company premiered with the show Solos en compañía (1997), featuring choreography by Aída Gómez, José Antonio, and Javier Latorre. After Gómez’s period at the helm of the BNE (1998–2001), the company resumed its activity with Salomé (2001), with stage direction by Carlos Saura, choreography by José Antonio, music by Roque Baños and Tomatito, and lighting design by Nicolas Fischtel.
It later premiered Sueños (2003) at La Scala in Milan, followed by productions such as Carmen (2006), Permíteme bailarte (2008), and Adalí (2012), among others. The company has also produced dance galas and taken part in major cultural events such as the inauguration of the Museum of Human Evolution and the Spain Pavilion at the Shanghai Expo.
It is currently a resident company in Torrejón de Ardoz.
Soloists
MARIANO BERNAL
Born in El Trobal, a district of Seville, Mariano Bernal is a dancer and choreographer with extensive experience as a leading figure in some of the most important flamenco and Spanish dance companies.
A graduate of the Professional Dance Conservatory of Seville, he made his debut with María Pagés and the Ballet Ciudad de Sevilla at the age of 14. His career was marked by his time with the Ballet Nacional de España, where he reached the rank of principal dancer at a very young age.
As a principal dancer, he has collaborated with Antonio Canales, Aída Gómez, Pilar Távora, Estrella Morente, and has performed with companies such as Metros–Ramón Oller, Eva Yerbabuena, Úrsula López, and the Ballet Flamenco de Andalucía under the direction of Cristina Hoyos.
During this stage, he also began his work as a teacher and choreographer, receiving the “Young Artist of the Year” Award in 2010. He currently combines teaching with his own stage productions.
MARIANO BERNAL
Soloist
CHRISTIAN LOZANO
Born in Barcelona, Christian Lozano graduated from the Institut del Teatre in his hometown. He made his professional debut with Nuevo Ballet Español and later joined the Ballet Nacional de España under the direction of Aída Gómez, where he remained for seven seasons.
As a principal dancer with the BNE, he performed leading male roles in works such as José Granero’s Medea, Antonio Gades’ Fuenteovejuna, and Javier Latorre’s El Loco, among others.
In 2007, he joined the Ballet Español Aída Gómez as principal dancer for Carmen, and a year later performed Asturias in the production Permíteme bailarte. In 2012, he co-choreographed and danced alongside Aída Gómez in Adalí, premiered at the Teatros del Canal in Madrid.
He currently combines performing with teaching, including at the Fundación Conservatorio Flamenco “Casa Patas” in Madrid.
CHRISTIAN LOZANO
Soloist
Corps de ballet
Eva de Benito
Paula García
Gloria de la Iglesia
Silvia García
Lucía Organdoña
Claudia Rijomán
Elena Ros
Nina Soler
Cristina García
Alvaro Brito
Daniel Morillo
Angel Navarro
Antonio Rosales
Christian Sandoval
Ethan Soriano
Jose Maria Tomás
Composers
THOM WILLEMS
Born in Arnhem (the Netherlands), Thom Willems has composed around 70 scores for ballets by choreographer William Forsythe. He studied at the Royal Conservatory of The Hague, where he was taught composition by Louis Andriessen and electronic music by Jan Boerman and Dick Raaijmakers.
In 1984, he began his collaboration with the then newly appointed director of the Frankfurt Ballet. Rudolf Nureyev commissioned Forsythe to create a work for the Paris Opera Ballet, In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated (1987), whose music brought Willems international recognition.
He also composed the scores for Forsythe’s works for New York companies, including The Second Detail (1991), Limb’s Theorem (1990), and Herman Schmerman (1992), among others. His music is characterized by subtle soundscapes, insistent rhythms, and urban sonorities, becoming an integral part of the architecture of the ballets.
THOM WILLEMS
Composer
Choreographers
DAMIANO ARTALE
Born in Syracuse (Italy), Damiano Artale graduated from the Scuola di Ballo of the Accademia Teatro alla Scala in Milan. In 2007, he made his professional debut with the Ballet de l’Opéra National du Rhin and one year later received the Danza & Danza Award as “Best Italian Talent.”
He was a dancer with the Ballet du Grand Théâtre de Genève (2008–2013) and a soloist with Aterballetto (2013–2020). As a choreographer, he created the works Miglori (2015) and Emme (2015) for the Italian company. His pas de deux Abiectio was selected for the 33rd International Choreographic Competition in Hanover.
He has choreographed works for principal dancers of Teatro alla Scala in Milan, Virna Toppi and Nicola Del Freo, as well as for Balletto di Siena, the White Carrara Downtown Festival, and the production La leyenda de Morricone by the Ensemble Symphony Orchestra, among others.
He is also a guest teacher at schools such as the John Cranko Schule and serves as artistic director of the Castle Summer Intensive.
DAMIANO ARTALE
Choreographer
GEORGE BALANCHINE
Born in Saint Petersburg (Russia) and the son of the Georgian composer Meliton Balanchivadze, George Balanchine (1904–1983) trained in ballet, music theory, and piano. Engaged by Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes, a severe knee injury forced him to leave the stage, after which he turned to choreography.
In 1933, he settled in the United States, where he founded the School of American Ballet and the New York City Ballet together with Lincoln Kirstein. He is regarded as the father of neoclassical ballet and created more than 425 ballets over a 60-year career, many of them masterpieces such as Serenade (1934). He died in New York at the age of 79.
GEORGE BALANCHINE
Choreographer
JOSE CARLOS BLANCO
Born in Madrid, Jose Carlos Blanco trained at the Víctor Ullate School of Dance and graduated with honors from the Conservatory of The Hague. He made his professional debut at the age of sixteen with the Víctor Ullate Ballet, becoming principal dancer at twenty.
In 2021, he joined the Compañía Nacional de Danza under the direction of Nacho Duato, where he worked as a principal dancer with choreographers of the stature of William Forsythe, Jiří Kylián, Mats Ek, and Nacho Duato, among others.
In 2010, he was appointed répétiteur of CND2 under the direction of Hervé Palito, a position he continued under the direction of José Carlos Martínez. In 2013, he was named artistic coordinator of the Valencia gala Somos Arte.
Since 2015, he has developed an extensive freelance teaching career in workshops by Nacho Duato, Tony Fabre, and Alejandro Cerrudo, among others. He has worked as assistant to Nacho Duato and Juanjo Arqués, and has collaborated as répétiteur for William Forsythe since 2022.
JOSE CARLOS BLANCO
Choreographer
ALEJANDRO CERRUDO
Born in Madrid, Alejandro Cerrudo trained at the city’s Professional Dance Conservatory. He made his professional debut in 1998 with the Víctor Ullate Ballet and, during his performing career, was a member of the Stuttgart Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater 2, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago (HSDC), the company with which he became the first dancer appointed resident choreographer, a position he held from 2008 to 2018.
He was appointed resident choreographer of Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2020 and, two years later, artistic director of Charlotte Ballet. Cerrudo’s choreographies are part of the repertoire of more than twenty professional companies worldwide.
With numerous awards in the United States, Cerrudo was invited by Wendy Whelan to create a duet for the New York City Ballet, and he has also created works for companies such as Ballet Theater Basel and for dancer Daniil Simkin.
ALEJANDRO CERRUDO
Choreographer
JEAN CORALLI
Born in Paris (France), though of Italian origin, Jean Coralli (1779–1854) trained at the Paris Opera Ballet School under the master Pierre Gardel and made his debut at the Paris Opera at the age of 23.
He created his first choreography in Vienna in 1800 and combined the roles of dancer and choreographer in London, Milan, and Vienna between 1815 and 1825, when he returned to Paris. The following year, he was appointed ballet master of the Théâtre de la Porte Saint-Martin in Paris and later of the Théâtre de l’Académie Royale, where some of his works were subsequently revived.
He created the choreography for La Tempête, Le Diable Boiteux, La Tarentule, Giselle (in collaboration with Jules Perrot), and La Péri.
JEAN CORALLI
Choreographer
WILLIAM FORSYTHE
Born in New York (USA), William Forsythe has worked in the field of choreography for more than 50 years. His work is widely recognized for its research into classical ballet technique pushed to its limits of execution, moving it away from traditional repertoire and transforming classical language into a form of 21st-century art.
As a dancer, he made his debut with the Joffrey Ballet and later joined the Stuttgart Ballet, where he was appointed resident choreographer in 1976. He served as director of the Frankfurt Ballet (1984–2004) — a period during which he created the masterpiece In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated (1987) for the Paris Opera Ballet — and later of The Forsythe Company (2005–2015).
In addition to stage works, he has produced a wide range of projects including installations, films, and web-based knowledge creation. Among his many awards are the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale, the German FAUST Theatre Award, and the Kyoto Prize.
WILLIAM FORSYTHE
Choreographer
AÍDA GÓMEZ
Born in Madrid, Aída Gómez obtained her diploma in Spanish dance at the age of twelve and shortly afterwards joined the group Los Goyescos and the School of the Ballet Nacional Clásico.
In 1982, at the age of fourteen, she joined the Ballet Nacional de España under the direction of Antonio Ruiz Soler, and in 1985 she was appointed principal dancer by María de Ávila. From that point on, she performed leading female roles in works such as Don Juan, Zarabanda, and El fandango del candil.
After a season as a guest artist with Joaquín Cortés’ company, she founded the Ballet Español Aída Gómez in 1997. In 1998, she became the youngest woman ever appointed director of the Ballet Nacional de España, a position she held until 2001, when she resumed activity with her own company.
Her numerous awards include the National Dance Award, the Culture Award of the Community of Madrid, and the Gold Medal for Merit in Labour.
AÍDA GÓMEZ
Choreographer
LEV IVANOV
Born in Moscow (Russia), Lev Ivanovich Ivanov (1834–1901) entered the Imperial Ballet School at the age of ten, studying under Jean-Antoine Petipa and even dancing with Fanny Elssler while still a student. At seventeen, he joined the Imperial Ballet under the direction of Jules Perrot and graduated from the school in 1852.
His choreographic debut took place in 1857 with The Death of Portici. A year later, he began teaching at the Imperial Ballet School and was appointed chief répétiteur in 1882, eventually becoming Marius Petipa’s assistant choreographer.
Always working under Petipa’s supervision, his choreography is considered closer to the Romantic tradition than the Classical canon. He is the author of The Nutcracker (1892), The Magic Flute (1893), and Acts II and IV of Swan Lake (1895), among others.
LEV IVANOV
Choreographer
JOSEPH MAZILIER
Born in Marseille (France), Joseph Mazilier (1801–1868) was a 19th-century dancer, choreographer, and ballet master. As a performer, he created the role of James in La Sylphide (1832), a work that brought Marie Taglioni to prominence.
Better known for his choreographic contributions, Mazilier created the ballets Paquita (1844) and Le Corsaire (1856). He served as ballet master at the Paris Opera, the Saint Petersburg Ballet, the Lyon Opera Ballet, and the Théâtre Royal de la Monnaie in Brussels. He also held directorial positions at both the Paris Opera and the Brussels theatre. He died in Paris at the age of 67.
JOSEPH MAZILIER
Choreographer
JULES PERROT
Born in Lyon (France), Jules-Joseph Perrot (1810–1892) was a French dancer and choreographer who trained under Auguste Vestris. He made his professional debut in Paris in 1830 and performed as Marie Taglioni’s partner until 1835, touring across Europe.
He choreographed several ballets for Carlotta Grisi, including Giselle, a work he co-authored with Jean Coralli. As both dancer and ballet master, he worked in London (1842–1848) and Saint Petersburg (1848–1858).
He was the creator of the famous Pas de Quatre, considered the first ballet gala of stars, staged at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London in 1845, bringing together the Romantic-era divas Marie Taglioni, Fanny Cerrito, Lucile Grahn, and his wife Carlotta Grisi. He spent the rest of his life teaching at the Paris Opera Ballet School.
JULES PERROT
Choreographer
MARIUS PETIPA
Born in Marseille (France) into a family devoted to theatre and dance, Marius Petipa (1818–1910) was a dancer at the Opéra de Nantes, the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, and the Circo Theatre in Madrid, before moving to Tsarist Russia, where he worked as both a dancer and, above all, a choreographer for the Imperial Ballet.
He created his first choreographies during his time in Nantes, but it was in Russia that his style fully developed, becoming the bridge between Romantic ballet and Classical ballet, of which he laid the foundations.
He created major classics of the repertoire such as Don Quixote (1869), La Bayadère (1877), The Sleeping Beauty (1890), the libretto of The Nutcracker (1892), and Acts I and III of Swan Lake (1895). He died in Gurzuf (Crimea) at the age of 92.
MARIUS PETIPA
Choreographer
Musicians
SALVADOR BOLÓN
Principal cello of the Orquestra de la Comunitat Valenciana since 2015, and cello no. 4 in the trial process of the London Symphony Orchestra since 2022, he trained with maestros Ivan Monighetti, Sol Gabetta, and Asier Polo at Musikene, the Reina Sofía School of Music, and the Hochschule für Musik in Basel.
He is a prizewinner in cello and chamber music competitions such as Juventudes Musicales de España and the Primer Palau in Barcelona. He has been a guest performer with the Euskadiko Orkestra and the Netherlands Philharmonic Orchestra.
He is artistic director of the Festival de Música de Cambra de la Calderona and a founding member of the Kairós Project Ensemble. Since 2015, he has played a Benjamin Banks cello from 1790.
SALVADOR BOLÓN
Musician
KEI HIKICHI | CLAVE
Born in Tokyo (Japan), Kei Hikichi studied piano at the Toho Gakuen School of Music in the Japanese capital. She furthered her studies in piano and chamber music at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome with professors Sergio Perticaroli and Félix Ayo.
Over the past twenty years, she has specialized in chamber music, developing a wide repertoire for both string and wind instruments. She worked as a rehearsal pianist at the Hochschule für Musik und Theater “Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy” in Leipzig and has collaborated with the International Summer Academy (ISA) in Vienna.
Since 2005, she has been a piano professor at the José Iturbi Municipal Conservatory of Music in Valencia.
KEI HIKICHI | CLAVE
Musician
JORGE LLAMAS | VIOLA
He maintains an intense chamber and orchestral career at both national and international level, performing with ensembles such as Geneva Camerata, Kölner Akademie, the National Orchestra of Spain, the Bauhaus Quartet, Katharsis Ensemble, and Festival Strings Aschau, among others. He combines this activity with teaching as a professor at the Arturo Soria Professional Conservatory of Music in Madrid.
JORGE LLAMAS | VIOLA
Musician
KANA ONASHI | CONCERTINO ADJUNTO
Born in Scotland and raised in Australia, Kana Anashi studied in England on an ABRSM scholarship. A prizewinner in major competitions in Australia, she has performed as a soloist with orchestras such as the Queensland Symphony Orchestra, Orchestra Victoria, and the Hellenic Radio Orchestra ERT.
Since 2018, she has been a member of the Gewandhaus Orchestra in Leipzig, where she serves as associate concertmaster and regularly appears as a soloist and chamber musician across Europe. She is also concertmaster of the Manchester Cosmos Strings and actively participates in charitable projects such as Handshake Leipzig.
KANA ONASHI | CONCERTINO ADJUNTO
Musician
OLATZ RUIZ DE GORDEJUELA | CONCERTINO
Born in Mendaro (Gipuzkoa, Spain), Olatz Ruiz de Gordejuela studied at the violin chair of Zakhar Bron and Yuri Volguin at the Reina Sofía School of Music, where she was a member of the Iberia Quartet under the guidance of Heime Müller. She had previously trained with Professor Keiko Wataya.
She completed her studies at the Universität Mozarteum Salzburg with Professor Klara Flieder, graduating with top honors. During the 2019/20 season, she joined the Concertgebouw Orchestra Academy in Amsterdam, where she was mentored by Tabea Zimmermann and took part in numerous tours with Camerata RCO.
She has been a member of the Leipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra. Since 2024, she has been a member of the London Symphony Orchestra, and this year she has been appointed concertmaster of the Galicia Symphony Orchestra.
OLATZ RUIZ DE GORDEJUELA | CONCERTINO
Musician
DAVID VILLA | OBOE
Born in Barcelona, David Villa is an oboist who trained in Barcelona, San Sebastián, and Berlin with Ferrán Torrens, Juan Manuel G. Lumbreras, and Dominik Wollenweber.
As a soloist, he has premiered several contemporary works by composers such as David del Puerto and Wladimir Rosinskij in various European venues, as well as with the Galicia Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Giovanni Antonini. He has been a guest performer with youth orchestras such as the National Youth Orchestra of Spain and the Gustav Mahler Jugendorchester.
He has also collaborated with the Orquesta de Cadaqués at national level, and with the Simón Bolívar Symphony Orchestra and the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra of Amsterdam internationally. A founding member of the chamber ensemble Zoar, David Villa has been principal oboist of the Galicia Symphony Orchestra since 2009.
DAVID VILLA | OBOE
Musician
