Staatsballett Berlin

The consolidated top ballet company in Berlin brings together the history and inspiration of all three traditional ensembles.

Staatsballett Berlin: Caravaggio – © Enrico Nawrath

Staatsballett Berlin: Schwanensee – © Enrico Nawrath

Staatsballett Berlin: The Open Square – © Bettina Stöß

Staatsballett Berlin: Onegin – © Enrico Nawrath

Staatsballett Berlin: Tschaikowsky – © Bettina Stöß

Together with the three major Berlin opera houses, the capital’s ballet companies also developed from numerous different artistic movements. In 2004, the three in-house ensembles were consolidated into the Staatsballett Berlin and are now performing on stages in all three houses. Directed by the world-renowned Russian ballet star and choreographer Vladimir Malakhov, the ensemble with its 88 members is the largest classically trained ballet company in all of Germany.

The influences go back to the history of the respective ensembles. Founded in 1742 under Frederick II, the ballet company of the Staatsoper Unter den Linden, still called Hofoper at the time, is the company with the longest tradition in the city. The ballet company of the Deutsche Oper Berlin was created in the 1920s and, aside from classical ballet, also proved to be open to influences of contemporary dance, especially under the artistic direction of Tatjana Gsovsky in the 1950s. At the Komische Oper, the successful choreographer Tom Schilling brought his dance theatre with its modern style to international renown during the almost thirty years of his directorship since 1966, when it was established.

Today, the programme of the Staatsballett Berlin features a classical repertoire that is supplemented by contemporary impulses and modern interpretations of dances. Among these are also world premieres such as the “Symphony of Sorrowful Songs”, directed by Tomaz Pandur and choreographed by Ronald Savkovic, as well as co-productions. The International Dance Summit Berlin, a week of ballet launched in 2006, is held every two years together with a guest ensemble.

Youth work is another important point in the programme. The series “Shut up and dance!”, for example, gives young ensemble members the opportunity to try out their choreography skills while former dancers of the National Ballet provide insight into the work at the Ballet in various workshops and projects organized by the association “Tanz ist Klasse” (dancing is great). Ballet performances especially for children are also part of the programme.