RG Live is excited to announce the much-anticipated return of the celebrated Varna International Ballet and Orchestra to the UK, following their breathtaking debut tour in 2023. In 2025, the esteemed company will grace 20 venues across the country, showcasing beloved classics including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Romeo and Juliet. Founded in 1947, Varna International Ballet is renowned for its award-winning soloists and magnificent corps de ballet, captivating audiences in Bulgaria and beyond with performances of the highest quality.
Under the leadership of Artistic Director Daniela Dimova and Music Director and Chief Conductor Peter Tuleshkov, Varna International Ballet promises to enchant both newcomers to ballet and devoted ballet aficionados. The tour kicks off in Manchester on 2 January 2025, with subsequent performances in Buxton, Bristol, Liverpool, Blackpool, Edinburgh, Basingstoke, Ipswich, Southend, Brighton, Nottingham, Reading, Oxford, Darlington, Wimbledon, Norwich, Hull, Sheffield, Leicester, and Northampton, concluding on 5 March.
Artistic Director Daniela Dimova expressed her excitement about the upcoming tour, stating, “We are thrilled to be bringing our highly talented company of dancers and musicians back to the UK. We can’t wait to perform for British audiences again and to bring these magical ballets to life on stage.”
The timeless magic of The Nutcracker begins on Christmas Eve, whisking audiences away to a fairy-tale realm where toy dolls come to life, the Mouse King battles the Nutcracker Prince, and a journey through the Land of Snow unveils an enchanted experience. Accompanied by Tchaikovsky’s memorable score and stunning choreography by Vasily Vainonen, revised by Sergey Bobrov, this spellbinding ballet is sure to delight.
Often hailed as the greatest romantic ballet of all time, Swan Lake is elevated by Tchaikovsky’s haunting music and choreography from notable masters Marius Petipa, Lev Ivanov, Sergey Bobrov, and Natalia Matus-Marchuk. With its striking contrasts—from the opulence of the palace ballroom to the serene beauty of a moon-lit lake—this tale of tragic love captivates at every turn.
In bringing Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet to life, the company interprets Prokofiev’s soaring score through emotionally-charged choreography by Sergey Bobrov and Bakhytzhan Smagulov. The production captures the grandeur of the masked ball and the intimacy of the lovers’ balcony, delving deep into a narrative filled with duels, bitter family feuds, and an undying love that knows no bounds. This is a performance that simply cannot be missed.