Watch: International stars bring mesmerising ballet show to Abu Dhabi stage

Khaleej Times

24-04-2025

Abu Dhabi will witness a rare blend of classical tradition and contemporary expression as the All-Star Ballet Gala takes the stage at New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD).
Organised by the Abu Dhabi Festival, the performance brings together principal dancers from the world's top companies in a curated programme that traces ballet's evolution from the 19th century to today.
The gala's artistic director, Tomas Jaksic-Begdorf, said the performance aims to showcase the depth and breadth of ballet's history while making it resonate with modern audiences. This was the first gala they have organised for the Abu Dhabi Festival, following previous concerts they had put together.
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'The programme represents different styles and traditions in ballet - from iconic classical works like Swan Lake and Giselle, to contemporary pieces by choreographers like Christopher Wheeldon and Marco Goecke,' said Jaksic-Begdorf, who is also managing director of London-based TYB Arts.
While Jaksic-Begdorf has previously brought classical music performances to the Middle East, this marks his first dance production in the region. He described Abu Dhabi as an ideal location to host such a cultural exchange as it hosts a diverse audience, hoping to eventually collaborate with dancers from the region for future performances.
Meet the stars
Among the headlining performers on Tuesday night is Paris Opera Ballet étoile Leonore Baulac, who will perform extracts from 'Giselle' and Balanchine's 'Who Cares?' alongside her partner Mathieu Ganio. 'For me, ballet is part of French identity,' she said.
'It's deeply rooted in our history — King Louis XIV founded the first ballet academy, and our opera house, Palais Garnier, is a cultural monument.' Baulac, who has danced professionally for 16 years, said performing in Abu Dhabi is a new experience: 'We usually perform in countries where ballet is already very well established. Here, we're speaking to new audiences and that's exciting.'
She expects the performance to transport viewers into another world; 'like when you read a really good book. I want them to be absorbed by the story, especially in Giselle, which is such a beautiful and emotional ballet.'
Spanish dancer Martí Paixá, a principal with Stuttgart Ballet, is also part of the gala. He will perform three works, including 'Onegin' – a ballet he says holds special meaning for him. 'It was created by John Cranko, the founder of of Stuttgart Ballet, and it was created in the studios we work at. So for us, it's always very special to dance it somewhere else in the world because we feel we bring the history of our theatre abroad.'
Watch part of their performance, below:
He described it as 'a precious ballet' because it's very well understood despite not containing any words. 'It's very well understood everywhere in the world,' he added. 'It challenges you technically but also artistically every time you perform it because it's very dramatic. And I love to perform ballets that have a historical background.
Paixá, 30, began dancing since he was a child, eventually training professionally in Germany. He said he fell in love with movement through music and was accepted into the Hamburg Ballet School as a teenager, setting him on the path to an international career.
'I started when I was four as a hobby, I went to see a performance and I really liked it, so I asked my parents if I could do it, and they were always very supportive,' he explained. 'At ten I decided to do it more professionally. I started going to a professional school and after that I joined the John Cranko School in Stuttgart through a scholarship from a competition. I graduated in 2014 there and they offered me right away a contract in Stuttgart.'
Baulac also began dancing at a young age, drawn to ballet not only for its physical discipline but also for its emotional depth and quickly advanced through France's prestigious national conservatories. 'I started ballet classes when I was four mostly because my mom signed me up and I don't really know if I expressed the will to dance at that age,' recalled the 34-year-old. 'I just know that I was full of energy which had to be expressed somehow. But I do remember putting on some classical music in my living room when I was around seven or eight and dancing to it; I think I was attracted to classical music and to expressing to that music.'
Challenges and aspirations
Jaksic-Begdorf noted the complexities of coordinating such a global lineup. 'You're working with top dancers from Paris, London, Stuttgart, Munich —all very busy, all performing weekly,' he said. 'Injuries, scheduling — it's a challenge. But when it all comes together on stage, it's magic.' Despite the logistical hurdles, he said the dancers are thrilled to be in Abu Dhabi. 'The welcome has been incredible. The weather, the theatre, the hospitality — it's all perfect. Everyone's excited to perform. As for what audiences can expect, he said: 'You'll feel joy, sorrow, excitement. And you'll see the world's finest techniques — French, Russian, British — all on one stage.'