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Classical Ballet and Dance return to The Grange Festival this summer with the first ever visit to the UK by Národní divadlo Brno Balet, The National Ballet of Brno, celebrating its illustrious centenary this season.

Artistic Director, Mario Radačovský, has curated ‘Oktetto’ especially for this unique performance at The Grange on Thursday 6 June. A wide range of ballet forms will be danced, from jewels from the treasury of the classical ballet heritage, through the neoclassical choreographies of the artistic director, to contemporary ballet created by Nacho Duato.

NdB’s first creative period under the legendary Vania Psota included the first staged productions of Martinu’s ‘Who is the Most Powerful in the World’ (1925), ‘Rebellion’ (1928), Janáček’s ‘Lachian Dances’ (1925), culminating in the world première of Prokofiev’s ‘Romeo and Juliet’ (1938), one of the most successful dance dramas of the 20th century.

The company now enjoys widespread international acclaim and enjoys its place as one of the jewels of the cultural life of the Czech Republic.

‘Oktetto’ ranges from classical pas de deux including ‘Swan Lake’ and ‘Don Quixote’, choreographed by Marius Petipa, to original choreography by Mario Radačovský, with music by Schubert, Rossini, (overture to ‘La Cenerentola’) and a new commission by The Grange Festival to ‘The Hidden Face’ by John Tavener, featuring recorded performances by Nicholas Daniel (oboe), Michael Chance (counter-tenor) and Fretwork (viol consort). A significant part of the programme will be Nacho Duato's captivating ballet ‘Gnawa’, set to music incorporating Spanish and North African sounds, combining spirituality with the organic rhythms of the Mediterranean.

The Grange Festival welcomes this new international collaboration, bringing dance and classical ballet back to our theatre, and continuing the rich seam of both original opera productions and complementary artistic performances which have put this young festival on the international cultural map.