THE COMPANY
Based in Piacenza, Italy, Étoile Ballet Theatre opened its doors in September 2020 with dancers from all around the world. The Company provides a superior experience for both the audience and dancers bringing to the stage the greatest classical ballets, as well as innovative neo-classical and contemporary choreographies. Étoile Ballet Theatre performs in Italy and internationally, learn about the 2022/2023 season on the performances page.
THE TRAINEE PROGRAM
The Étoile Ballet Theatre Trainee Program is designed in a very unique way. Dancers are selected by their talent and their potential and take classes, rehearse and perform in every production with the Company. The daily ballet classes are intensive, designed to polish technique and build strength and are followed by rehearsals. The goal of our Trainee Program is to develop the next generation of artists and ensure that our talented young dancers are ready for the next step in their careers. Most of the Étoile Ballet Theatre Company Members come from the Trainee Program.
OUR DANCERS
The dancers are the heart of the Company. Every year thousands of artists from all over the world audition to get in the roster of Étoile Ballet Theatre. Our dancers are from many different countries including Italy, United States, Canada, Japan, China, Spain, Scotland, United Kingdom, Portugal, France, Mexico, Cuba, Germany, Denmark and Finland. To audition for Étoile Ballet Theatre visit the audition page.
OUR TEAM
INES ALBERTINI
Artistic Director
Ines Albertini studied at Ballettschule Theater Basel and graduated from Tanz Akademie Zuerich, Switzerland. She has danced, as a Soloist and Principal Dancer, all around the world. She had the privilege of performing a wide repertoire from iconic choreographers including Marius Petipa, Frederick Ashton, August Bournonville, Vasili Vainonen, Yury Grigorovich, George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Rudolf Nureyev and Leonid Lavrovsky. Her favorites roles include "Giselle" from the ballet of the same name, "Titania" from "The Dream", "Sugar Plum Fairy" from "The Nutcracker", "Ambrosia" from "Vampires". Ines Albertini, along with her husband Walter Angelini, was the Artistic Director and Principal Dancer of US International Ballet from 2017 to 2020. They brought to this position a gift for choreographing and for teaching, a dynamic vision, and the pursuit of excellence. Ines Albertini and Walter Angelini mesmerized audiences of all ages and backgrounds with their original ballet productions including "Vampires", "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz". In September 2020 Ines Albertini and Walter Angelini founded Étoile Ballet Theatre in Piacenza, Italy.
FABIO MOLFESI
Ballet Guest Teacher
Fabio Molfesi even before finishing his studies, was awarded the 1st prize in the 1982 "International Nati per la Danza" promoted by Rai 3. The following year, once he had finished his diploma at Lyceum directed by Mara Fusco, he was taken on by Rai for the show Fantastico 4 in the role of primo ballerino alongside Heather Parisi. With the same Parisi he participated in other television productions like Serata d’Onore, Serata da Campioni, and Fantastico 9, with the choreographer Franco Miseria. Requested by Franco Brusati, celebrated cinema director, he would be in the cast of ”Il buon Soldato” in the supporting role alongside Mariangela Melato. Returning to Rai, he took up his task of primo ballerino again, this time as Beppe Grillo’s right hand man, in “Te lo do io il Brasile”. His natural talent for dance shows, would later bring him to collaborate with affirmed companies such as Ater Balletto, Ballet National de Zaragoza, Deutsche Oper am Rhein, for Swan Lake, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Raymonda, Napoli, Paquita, La Bayadere and for modern productions by great choreographers including: G. Tetley, W. Forsythe, A. Amodio, A. Ailey and P. Bortoluzzi.
Invited by the Ballet Français de Nancy, he was the acclaimed performer of choreographed pieces by S. Lifar, A. De Mille, M. Petipa, J. Cranko, B. Cullberg, G. Balanchine, M. Bejart, J. Neumeier, J. Kyliàn. His continued rise as protagonist, was followed with interest internationally and in fact, requested by the Palladium Theatre, London, he performed alongside Rudolph Nureyev for “Canto di un compagno errante” with choreographer M. Bejart, later replicated in Europe, Japan, the United States, and Canada. In 1988, he starred in the ballet "Four Schumann Pieces”, with choreography by H. Van Manen, in the Theatre des Champs-Elysées, Paris.
But the rhythm of his already many commitments moved up a pace with invitations as “guest artist" first by Washington Ballet directed by Mrs. Mary Day and later by the Boston Ballet in productions of the classic and modern repertoire by Twyla Tharp and Ulysse Dove. As soon as he returned to his country, he was invited again, this time by the Connecticut Ballet Theatre, as Permanent Guest Artist to appear in acclaimed choreographical compositions linked to the name of G. Balanchine and, after, of B. Raphael. His long association with the American complex, lasting about 15 years, was occasionally interrupted for commitments that saw Fabio Molfesi connected to the productions of the Arena of Verona and the Teatro Nuovo of Turin for which, in 1991, he was at the side of Carla Fracci in Romeo and Juliet while in the 1995 season he was with the BdN in titles such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Il Candelaio and Pierino and the wolf of by Ricardo Nunez. His commitments with the Balletto del Sud directed by Fredy Franzutti for Romeo and Juliet, and later with the Cyprus National Ballet for which he played the lead role in the composition Renaissance by L. Lambrou, prepared him well for the career of teacher that he developed over the following years parallel to being a choreographer. Nominated artistic director by Pomigliano Dance school from 2004 to October 2011, he continued his collaborations with the Connecticut Ballet Theatre, playing Les Silphides, choreographed by M. Baryshnikov. He couldn’t miss a spell at the now affirmed Milan Ballet and in fact invitated by Carlo Pesta in 2007 he would be Choreographer and Maitre de ballet of the group, guest of the Teatro Coccia, Novara. His later commitments belong to recent history, and have seen him Artistic Director of the Choreographic Centre of National Art "DI DANZA" Casalnuovo di Napoli and later teacher and guest choreographer of Centro Studi Coreografici Teatro Carcano Milan. Among his recognitions there are the Premio Positano 1986, Danseur de l’année 1989 (Francia), Dance Magazine Prize 2000 (USA), R. Nureyev Prize 2002 (USA), Cultura Albatros Special prize 2009 (Italia), and later three special career prizes received from Unicef Campania, Teatro Nuovo, Turin, and Villaggio della Danza at Teatro Mediterraneo, Naples in 2012.
WALTER ANGELINI
Artistic Director
Walter Angelini studied at Accademia Del Teatro Alla Scala Di Milano where he also gained performing experience with the ballet company of the same name. He was awarded a full scholarship for the JKO at American Ballet Theatre of New York City where he graduated. He has danced, as a Soloist and Principal Dancer, all around the world. He had the privilege of performing a wide repertoire from iconic choreographers including Marius Petipa, Frederick Ashton, August Bournonville, Vasili Vainonen, Yury Grigorovich, George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Rudolf Nureyev and Leonid Lavrovsky. His favorites roles include "Albrecht" from the ballet "Giselle", "Oberon" from "The Dream", "The Cavalier" from "The Nutcracker", "Dorion" from "Vampires". Walter Angelini, along with his wife Ines Albertini, was the Artistic Director and Principal Dancer of US International Ballet from 2017 to 2020. They brought to this position a gift for choreographing and for teaching, a dynamic vision, and the pursuit of excellence. Walter Angelini and Ines Albertini mesmerized audiences of all ages and backgrounds with their original ballet productions including "Vampires", "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz". In September 2020 Ines Albertini and Walter Angelini founded Étoile Ballet Theatre in Piacenza, Italy.
FRANCESCO CAPUANO
Jazz/Lyrical Guest Teacher
Francesco Capuano, dancer and choreographer, he was born and formed in Naples in the dance academy of the master Enzo Paolo Turchi, perfecting himself on the Modern Jazz dance technique Matt Mattox and Luigi. After his studies, he began his career as assistant choreographer and teacher. The in-depth study of contemporary, ballet and modern Jazz dance continues in Italy and England, where he has lived and studied for several years. Some of the masters with whom he perfected were: Alessandra Matarrelli, Francesco Nappa, Antony Heinl, Roland Price, Tory Jestyn, Roberto Salaorni, Fabrizio Mainini, Kay Smith, Tamas Geza Moricz, Jiry Pokorny. He participates as well as several television programs show as a dancer and starts working with several dance companies in Italy and abroad, including Evolution Dance Theater, Körper Company, Belinda King Production London, playing different roles as a dancer, choreographer, choreography assistant, manager of company and head ballet, having the opportunity to work alongside great professionals in the dance scene. In December 2016 wins with the choreography of "Glitch Project" the award "The Electronic Choreographer", international dance video competition and later in 2018 winner of "XL Danza Urbane" national call for young people emerging choreographers with tours in the best Italian dance festivals. For the choreographic center "Korper" of Naples he creates the choreography for "Dance Nations", an event produced on the occasion of the 2010 World Cup at the “Mostra d’Oltremare” in Naples and "Concerto" for the singer Valentina Stella directed by Massimo Andrei staged at the Bellini theater in Naples. Currently returned to Italy teaches Modern Jazz and collaborating for new choreographic projects and continuing to deepen his studies and his research on the territory.
NADER HAMED
Teacher and Ballet Master
Nader Hamed was Russian-trained in Leningrad. He was a principal dancer with Berlin Opera, La Scala di Milan, and Colon Theatre in Buenos Aires. He was Artistic Manager and Ballet Master at Cairo Opera House. Nader worked with Rudolph Nureyev for four years in Europe.
ENRICO ANGELINI
Company Manager
LOCATION
Étoile Ballet Theatre is based in Piacenza, Italy. The Company is resident at the "Piacenza Art Ballet". Each detail of the studios has been meticulously taken care of to ensure the best experience for dancers and teachers: the sprung floor and the linoleum are fundamental elements for each studio, the flooring is created with an elastic structure to guarantee the health of the dancers and a correct study of dance. Bars and mirrors have been built and installed meticulously following all the safety standards. The mirrors have been designed to reflect an accurate image and the "double bars" are suitable for students of every age and height. Cutting-edge lights and air conditioning have been tailor-made for the two studios. The lighting system does not disturb the eyes during the intense hours of work and the air conditioning system ensures an ideal temperature and filtered air. Three spacious changing rooms are equipped with showers and bathrooms. Last but not least, the acoustics of the dance room have been designed for an optimal result and to ensure isolation from the adjoining activities.
The building offers a space of over 400 square meters dedicated exclusively to dance. On the ground floor, there are two spacious studios of 100 square meters each, changing rooms, bathrooms with showers, and relaxation area. On the second and third floors, a luxurious and comfortable B&B offers ideal accommodation for dancers.
