Fifteen years ago, on 29 April 2009, the International Dance Day, the Polish National Ballet came into existence to continue the long-standing ballet traditions of our theatre. The new artistic body was established at my request by the then Minister of Culture and National Heritage of Poland Bogdan Zdrojewski, who gave the ballet company formal autonomy within the larger organisational structure of the Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera. The change came soon after I had entrusted the role of the company’s director to a cherished Polish, Amsterdam-based choreographer, Krzysztof Pastor, whom I managed to convince to return to his home country following more than twenty years of a successful career abroad. In addition, I asked Paweł Chynowski to support him with his experience as the manager for programming and organisation.
The past years have amply demonstrated that the decisions we made at the time were by all means right and proved very fruitful. Given the chance to enjoy its artistic independence and operate on its initiative in a way that befits a modern, diverse, neoclassical ensemble, the Polish National Ballet has elevated its prowess and built its repertoire, becoming one of Europe’s best ballet companies.
Never before have we staged so many classical gems from the priceless treasure trove of international ballet over such a short time. Never before has our stage seen such a rich array of works by iconic 20th-century choreographers, including Balanchine, Jooss, Nijinska, Ashton, Béjart, Cranko, MacMillan, Neumeier, van Manen, van Schayk, Kylián, or Polish Conrad Drzewiecki, and such present-day artists as Forsythe, McGregor, or Scarlett. Never before have we presented so many pieces by Polish choreographers: Krzysztof Pastor, Emil Wesołowski, Jacek Przybyłowicz, Robert Bondara, Izadora Weiss, and Anna Hop. Their ranks are continually growing, with more and more of our dancers taking their first steps in choreography and other theatre professions as part of our annual choreographic workshops that prepare them for the future after they retire from the stage. Never before have we commissioned so many ballets set to music by Polish composers: Chopin, Moniuszko, Karłowicz, Szymanowski, Morawski, Tansman, Bacewicz, Weinberg, Górecki, Kilar, Szymański, and Syrewicz. Last but not least, never before have our artists been showered with so many awards and accolades, which is both proof and a pinnacle of their outstanding achievements. We truly have a lot to be proud of!
Under the leadership of Krzysztof Pastor, the company has not lost its creative impetus for a moment. The latest instance of this is the establishment of PNB Junior, which helps chosen graduates of Polish ballet schools fine-tune their skills before they embark on their professional careers. And, of course, just as it has for the past fifteen years, the company has a range of thrilling new productions in store for the coming seasons.
To all the Artists of the Polish National Ballet, please accept my heartfelt congratulations on this jubilee and allow me to wish you more successes ahead—successes that we will enthusiastically await, admire, and applaud every single performance night.
Waldemar Dąbrowski
General Director, Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera
In the photo: Polish National Ballet performs Krzysztof Pastor's choreography to Ravel's Bolero pictured by Ewa Krasucka
