“Romeo and Juliet” is undoubtedly one of the most famous and enduring tragic love stories of all time. Inspired by William Shakespeare’s immortal play, Sergei Prokofiev’s ballet tells the story of two young lovers who dream of a life filled with unrestrained passion and fiery devotion in a bold and brutal era, where matters of life and death are often decided irrationally and in an atmosphere heated by conflict.

Valentina Turcu’s artistic approach reflects the iconography of Renaissance paintings and architecture, while also embracing the modern relevance of humanity’s eternal longing for love. The “hunger” for life and new experiences sensuality, cruelty, and passion forms the core of the unsolvable dramatic conflict that leads to the tragic end of the two young idealists. The choreography is firmly grounded in classical vocabulary, yet used with flexibility and inventiveness to enhance the characterization. A protégé of the legendary Maurice Béjart, Valentina Turcu is an exceptional dancer and choreographer. Her body of work includes over 130 ballet, theatre, and opera productions, performed worldwide. Critics describe her works as sensational emotional experiences, visionary concepts, and unique sensory poetry with a strong theatrical sensibility. Turcu is a recipient of the Slovenian State Award for her outstanding achievement as director and choreographer for the 2012 production of “Romeo and Juliet” at the Slovenian National Theatre in Maribor, later staged with great success in Riga (2014) and Vilnius (2015).

With its sumptuous, captivating music and intricate choreography, “Romeo and Juliet” remains a beloved part of the classical ballet repertoire. Prokofiev captures the intensity of the lovers’ emotions from the joy of their first encounter to the tragedy of their untimely deaths. Almost everyone instantly recognizes iconic numbers such as the Dance of the Knights, Juliet the Young Girl, The Morning Serenade, the Minuet, and many other striking moments from the score. The ballet adaptation of “Romeo and Juliet” has been performed countless times across the globe, enchanting audiences with its timeless tale of unfulfilled love and ultimate tragedy.

Cast:

Anelia Dimitrova – Juliet
Tamás Darai – Romeo
Amedeo Giunta – Tybalt
Elena Kuchkova – Lady Capulet
Diyan Raychev – Lord Capulet
Miguel Jimenez Garcia – Mercutio
Sebastian Harper – Mercutio
Arisa Namba – Columbina

Creative Team:

Abzal Mukhitdinov – Conductor
Valentina Turcu – Choreographer
Marko Japelja – Set Designer
Leo Kulaš – Costume Designer
Tomaš Premzl – Lighting Designer