Prima ballerina Bolsjoj ballet transferred to National Ballet in Amsterdam

The 31-year-old ballerina had wanted to make the switch to Amsterdam for some time. “It has only accelerated due to circumstances,” she writes.

There had not yet been any talks about a switch to the Dutch National Ballet, but when the request was submitted, it was arranged within a very short time, says a spokesperson. “Smirnova is a top ballerina who we really wanted to have anyway. With a normal application she would probably have been hired immediately. She is really a very big star.”

“Olga Smirnova is an exceptional dancer who I have followed and admired for years,” says Ted Brandsen, director of the Dutch National Ballet. “It is special that she comes to dance with us in the Netherlands. The background to the arrival of Olga Smirnova to HNB is of course sad. On the other hand, as a company we are very pleased that such an inspiring dancer is joining us.”

Smirnova arrived in Amsterdam on Monday and was introduced to the ballet company today. Her first role she will dance in some of the performances of the ballet classic Raymondawhich premieres on April 3.

‘Difficult decision’

In addition to Smirnova, a dancer from the Mariinsky Ballet in Saint Petersburg is also coming to Amsterdam. The 22-year-old Brazilian dancer Victor Caixeta was second soloist in Saint Petersburg.

“Due to circumstances, I made the difficult decision to leave Russia, the place I have called home for almost five years, and the theater that gave me a great start in my professional career,” he says of his departure to Amsterdam.

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