The Slovak National Opera and Ballet theatre is the scene of some stirring dancing in February.photo: Spectator Archives
The Slovak National Theatre (SND) and its ballet productions begin the second part of the 1999/2000 season with nearly 15 performances featuring some of the best Slovak ballet dancers. To mark the occasion, the SND held a gala on January 21 to present their annual awards for the best classical and neo-classical ballet dancers.
The award for best ballet artist went to Ingrid Kačiaková. She can be seen at the SND in various ballets this season, including Worthless Caution, Líza, Snow White and the Seven Racers, Queen, Spartacus, Egina, Don Quixote, Ouiterie, Scherezade, Zobeida, Swan Lake, Odilia and Requiem Life.
In addition, the most talented dancer award was presented to Lucia Holečková, a member of the SND ballet. She can be seen at the national theatre in performances of Swan Lake, Titanic Kids, The Nutcracker, Classical Symphony, Giselle, Don Quixote and Moines of the Spring. Both dancers are graduates of Eva Jaczová's Dance Conservatory in Bratislava.
The awards ceremony was held under the auspices of Culture Minister Milan Knažko and his wife Eugénia, herself a former ballet dancer. The gala-ceremony was followed in the evening by three choreographed performances of the ballet triptych by Jozef Dolinský, Ondrej Tóth and Ján Ďurovčík.
February's ballet menu features The Evening of Slovak Choreography on February 1, Giselle on February 4 and 22, The Nutcracker on February 7 and 23, Don Quixote on February 10, Carmina Burana and Requiem on February 15, Swan Lake on February 19, and Spartacus on February 29. All performances start at 19:00.
