Alen Bottaini
Born in Viareggio, Italia; Alen Bottaini started ballet at the age of 12 in Italy. At 15
he continues his studies in London, at The Royal Ballet Upper School for a year,
and from there he goes to S. Petersburg, to the Vaganova Academy where after two
years he graduates with honours. Later that year he completes his studies with an
advanced course at the National Ballet School of Canada, in Toronto including the
study of contemporary dance. During all this period, he also has the chance to study
under the guidance of Madame Marika Besobrasova, at the prestigious Academie de
Danse Princesse Grace in Monaco.
During his studies in Russia, Alen guests in Osaka where he dances: Solor in La
Bayadere, the Joker in Swan Lake, Albrecht in II Act Giselle and Carnavale a
Venezia. Alen dances, in several occasions, at the Kirov : Grand Pas Classique from
Balanchine, the prince in Nutcracker from Agrippina Vaganova and the pas-de-deux
from Le Corsaire and from Sleeping Beauty. After a tour to Greece and Japan, Alen is
invited to dance at the Kirov and the Bolshoi at the galas in honour of Madame
Natalja Dudinskaja.
In September 1993 he joins the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, Germany;
where only one year later he debuts as principal dancer as Colas in La Fille Mal
Guardée from Sir Frederick Ashton and as Puck in John Neumeier’s Midsummer
Nights Dream having the chance to prove his value in important ballet roles at an
early age. Alen is formally promoted to soloist and principal dancer in 1997 and
1999 respectively.
International Prizes:
• In 1996, at the Varna International Competition, he was the first and only Italian to
win the “Gold Medal (Senior)” and the special prize for the “Best Artistic
Interpretation”.
• In September 1996, receives the Positano prize for „Best New Rising Star“.
• In December 1996, he conquers Paris at the closing gala of the VII Paris
International Dance Competiton in the Théatre des Champs-Elysées with
his „charme“ and „la haute virtuosité de la prestation“.
• Also in December, he is the prince Dèsiré at the Carlo Felice Teatro in Genova, in
the co-production Genova-Varsavia of Sleeping Beauty from Yuri Grigorovich,
next to Elena Pankova from the Marijnsky and was acclaimed by the press as
the „revelation“ of the season.
• In 1996/97 receives the prize Danza & Danza, “Best Italian Dancer in Europe”.
• In 1998 he received the distinction of “Star of the Week” by the Abendzeitung,
Munich.
• In 2006 was awarded the title of “Best Performer of the Year” by the leading
Italian Ballet Journal Danza & Danza.
• More recently he was awarded the Giuliana Pensi “Grand Prix” as well as the
“Career Award”.
• In 2008 Alen is awarded the honorary title of Kammertänzer, one of the highest
recognitions by the Bavarian Minister of State for Science, Research and Art.
Alen Bottaini’s international guest appearances include:
The Queensland Ballet, Lyric Theatre of Brisbane, Sydney, Ballet de Santiago in
Chile, Bolshoi Ballet, Kirov Ballet, Osaka and Nagoya in Japan, Royal Danish Ballet,
National Ballet of Portugal, Prague, Théatre du Casino in Montecarlo, Kiev, Teatro La
Fenice in Venice, Maggio Musicale Fiorentino, Slovenian National Ballet and also in
other gala performances throughout Europe.
His partners include Larissa Lezhnina, Diana Vishneva, Elena Pankova, Maria
Eichwald, Ambra Vallo, Monica Perego, Simona Noja, Maria Gimenez, Lucia Lacarra,
Lisa-Maree Cullum, Margaret Hillman, Kathryn Heely, Ana Lacerda, Beatrice
Carbone, Nina Kaptsova and Katherina Markowskaja.
Alen Bottaini’s repertoire includes:
Armand in Lady of the Camellias (J.Neumeier), Mercutio and Romeo in Romeo and
Juliet (J.Cranko), Solor and Golden Idol in La Bayadere (P.Bart), the prince in
Nutcracker (J.Neumeier), Albrecht in Giselle (Sir P.Wright), Siegfried in Swan Lake
(R.Barra), the prince in Cinderella (J.Neumeier), Basil in D.Quixote (R.Barra)
(Vassiliev), Des Grieux and Lescaut in Manon (Sir K.MacMillan), Petruccio in Taming
of the Shrew (J.Cranko), Jean de Bienne, Abderakman in Raymonda (R.Barra),
Lensky in Onegin (J.Cranko), Puck in Midsummer Nights Dream (J.Neumeier),
Dèsirée and Blue Bird in Sleeping Beauty (I.Liska after Petipa), Conrad, Ali and
Birbanto in Le Corsaire (I.Liska after Petipa), Franz in Coppelia
Les Bourgeois (B.Van Cauwenbergh), Zakousky (P.Martins), 5 Tangos, Trio and
Grosse Fugue (H.Van Manen), A Sort Of and Apartment (Mats Ek), Who Cares,
Symphony in C, Tarantella and Brahms-Schönberg (Balanchine), Limb’s
Theorem and Artifact (W.Forsythe), Zugvögel, Swadebka and Bella Figura
(J.Kylian), Les Biches (Nijinska), Das Lied von der Erde (Sir K.MacMillan) ,
Festival in Genzano (Bournonville) The Storm (Jörg Manner).
And additional works by: Robert La Fosse, Lucinda Childs, Twyla Tharp, Peter
Markus, Martin Schläpfer, Itzik Galili, Davide Bombana, Graeme Murphy, Jose
Limon, Terence Kohler. To name a few.
Alen Bottaini’s Teaching Experience:
Alen began a career as guest teacher for companies such as the State Ballet of the
Ljubjana Opera in Slovenia amongst others; and at the ballet schools La Danza in
Munich, Dance Station in Munich, Lorna Wilkinson Ballet School in Italy, Keiko
Yasuda Ballet School in Japan and many more.
In 2001 took over the organization and financial management of the performances of
the Lorna Wilkinson Ballet School at the Guglielmo Teatro, in Italy. The performances
included: Coppelia, Giselle, Paquita and the Nutcracker.
In December 2010 he was invited to choreograph for the gala “Chopin on Pointe”, in
the China Century Theatre in Beijing, where he also performed, to commemorate the
200th Anniversary of Chopin.
More recently, in 2010/2011, he worked as Assistant Director, Choreographer and
Ballet Master with the Greek National Ballet Company, collaborating with Ray Barra
in the restaging of his “Snow Queen” and with Vassiliev in his D.Quixote where he
also danced the principal role.
In September 2011 he was called to guest in J.Crankos Romeo and Juliet with the
CNB (National Ballet of Portugal) where he had the opportunity to work under the
influence of the former Stuttgart principal dancer Sylviane Bayard Phillips.
In March 2012 he returned to guest with the CNB (National Ballet of Portugal) as
prince Dèsirée in Sleeping Beauty choreographed by Ted Brandsen.
Alen Bottaini has been invited to teach at the annual RAD Summer School in
Trentino, the biggest RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) meeting in Italy; as well as at
the annual ISTD Italian Summer School (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) in
Italy. He has been invited to return in the next years.
In September 2012 Alen danced at the Arena di Verona in the gala “Angeli Sulle
Punte”.
Danced also at the Gala in Livorno, Italy, in honour of Marika Besobrasova.
In 2012/2013 he was invited to dance with David Campos Ballet the Campos’
versions of “Giselle” “Sleeping Beauty”, performing in Spain and Italy.
He was also invited to dance with the Dessau Ballet, “Nibelungen” from Tomasz
Kajdanski.
In March 2013, he was guest teaching with the Scottish Ballet.
In the summer he returned to Italy to teach Advanced Classes with the RAD and
ISTD Summer Schools gaining an invitation for future RAD Summer School in
Canada.
Invited to give Master Classes at the International Summer School in Verona.
Since December 2013 he is the final year boys class teacher of the prestigious
ENBS (English National Ballet School) in London.
Since January 2014, Alen Bottaini has his own school in Munich, Germany; The
Bottaini Merlo International Center of Arts (BMICA).
It has been a long life dream of his to give back, in experience, knowledge and
passion the affection of his faithful public and fans and share his eternal
appreciation of the Art.
He continues to travel the globe, not only performing, but guest teaching, creating
new choreographies, teaching master classes and workshops.