A lot has happened since its founding in 2004: the ensemble has performed around 2000 shows for more than 2 million spectators, with 95 premiere evenings, many of which were multi-part productions, brought to the stage. Over the past two decades, the ensemble has presented an extensive and diverse repertoire ranging from romantically classical to radically modern on the stages of Berlin's three opera houses and other venues. All of this was worth celebrating – but above all, the art of ballet and the people who are touched by it.
In popular gala pieces like George Balanchine's Tschaikowsky Pas de Deux, danced by Iana Salenko and Murilo de Oliveira, and also William Forsythe's In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, performed for the first time by Polina Semionova and Martin ten Kortenaar, the soloists showcased their skills. Elisa Carrillo Cabrera and Giovanni Princic danced an excerpt from the audience favourite Caravaggio by Mauro Bigonzetti.
Skew-Whiff, a rapid piece by Sol León and Paul Lightfoot that humorously experiments with different types of movement, was performed for the first time. Also new to the Staatsballett was Aria, a mysteriously intricate pas de deux by Briton Douglas Lee, danced by Ksenia Ovsyanick and David Soares. In the piece COME BACK by Samantha Lynch, who has been discovered as a choreographer in recent years, five dancers explored a movable wooden box. Additionally, Artistic Director Christian Spuck created a miniature for six dancers to the music of Ludwig van Beethoven.
In large group scenes from the repertoire, the entire ensemble appeared. Additionally, two well-known companions honoured the evening: Dinu Tamazlacaru and Marian Walter, both former principal dancers who shaped the company for over 20 years, showcased their skills for this festive occasion. Furthermore, Elisa Carrillo Cabrera, long-time principal dancer of the Staatsballett Berlin, bid farewell to the ensemble and the audience on this evening.
The gala was hosted by Petra Gute and Christian Spuck, with Maria Seletskaja, once a soloist in the Staatsballett Berlin ensemble and now a sought-after conductor, took on the musical direction of the orchestra of the Deutsche Oper Berlin.
