They are the first Italian dancers to become part of the PNB in years, although we have a rich tradition in that respect. The first royal ballet established by king Stanisław August 250 years ago featured Italian ballerinas only, namely Gattai, Binetti, Casacci, Steffani, along with Italian male dancers Cambi, Godardi, and Guglielmi, and more. In the 19th century our theatre saw guest appearances of a range of ballet stars of Italian origin: Maria Taglioni, Grisi, Giuri, Cucchi, Zucchi, Legnani, Cerri, not to mention balletmasters: Taglioni, Calori, Borri, Grassi, and Cecchetti, who led the ballet of Teatr Wielki. What followed was a long break in Polish-Italian ballet collaborations.
Lorenzo Alberti (top) studied at the National Dance Academy in Rome and Academia Teatro alla Scala in Milan. He went on to develop his dance skills at the school of John Neumeier's Hamburg Ballet, from which he has just graduated. He danced in Neumeier's productions, completed traineeships in Italy, England, Monaco, and Canada. In Warsaw he has already appeared in The Taming of the Shrew. In December we'll see him in The Nutcracker.
Rinaldo Venuti (bottom) also studied in Italy, then graduated from the Ballet Academy at the Vienna State Opera and the American Ballet Theatre Studio Company in New York. He danced in student shows at the Vienna Opera and until recently with the American Ballet Theatre and its young company. Currently, he is preparing the perform as Fritz and one of the Mechanics in PNB's The Nutcracker.
We are very happy to welcome both dancers to the Polish National Ballet, hoping that their work at Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera brings them great satisfaction. (pch)
Photos: Lorenzo Alberti and Rinaldo Venuti; provided by the dancers
