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Biography

Robert Bondara is a Polish dancer, choreographer, director, teacher and was for many years a dancer with the Polish National Ballet. In 2018, Robert was appointed Ballet Director of the Poznan Opera Ballet in Poland.

Robert is a graduate of the Feliks Parnell State Ballet School in Lodz, the Warsaw School of Economics and the Fryderyk Chopin University of Music in Warsaw, where  he worked as a teacher (2007-2018). He began his career performing with the Music Theatre in Lodz and later moved to the Poznan Opera Ballet. In 2005 he joined the Polish National Ballet where he performed in works by Jiří Kylián, John Cranko, Krzysztof Pastor, Emanuel Gat, William Forsythe, John Neumeier, Alexei Ratmansky, Frederick Ashton to mention a few.

He received the 2nd prize (no 1st prize was awarded) and the special prize of the Witold Lutoslawski Society at the Bronislava Nijinska National Choreography Competition in Warsaw (2008) and Jan Kiepura Award in the category “The Best Choreographer in 2011” in Poland. He also participated in the International Competition for Choreographers in Hannover in 2013 and 2015. More recently, he won “Le Prix de Biarritz award” in Emergent Choreographers Contest in Bordeaux  in 2018. That same year, he received the Jan Kiepura Award in three categories: “The Best Choreographer” for Świtezianka with Polish National Ballet and “The Best Director” and ‘The Best Performance in Poland’ for his first opera The Baltic Legend with Poznan Opera House. He has also been awarded The Brown Medal for ‘Merit to Culture – Gloria Artis’.

Robert began to choreograph for the Polish National Ballet’s Choreographic Workshops,  many of which went on to be presented in the chamber repertoire of the company. As a guest choreographer he has staged works in Poland an abroad, including Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Vilnius, Czech National Ballet, Chemnitz Ballet (Germany), Company E  in Washington (USA), Moscow Stanislavsky Ballet Theatre (Russia), Kielce Dance Theater (Poland), Opera Nova Ballet in Bydgoszcz (Poland),  Wroclaw Opera Ballet (Poland), Poznan Opera Ballet (Poland), Silesian Opera House in Bytom (Poland), Moving Arts in Kansas City (USA) and for Polish National Ballet.

His choreography has been presented around the globe, including  the 43rd International Dance Festival in Kuopio, Finland, the Polish Dance Competition in Gdansk, Didura Festival in Sanok, at Moscow’s Bolshoi Theatre, Dance Salad Festival in Houston, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, Dancing Poznan - XIII International Dance Theatres Festival, Roberto Bolle and Friends Galas throughout Italy, the Xinjiang International Dance Festival in China, STS Festival in Warsaw, in the programmes of the II – VI Days of Dance Festival in the Polish National Opera, and at galas and festivals in Poland, Latvia, Slovakia, Hungary, Norway, China, Czech Republic, and Japan.

works

Rush

premiere 27.10.2022

Choreography: Robert Bondara Music: Jungle Fire, Jungle By Night Costume and Light Design: Robert Bondara  Premiere: 24.06.2022 [Hungarian Dance University, Erkel Theatre, Budapest, Hungary]   

Alice in Wonderland

premiere 04.06.2022

Staging, Choreography and Direction: Robert Bondara Music: Przemysław Zych Conductor: Jagoda Brajewska Set Design and Costume Design: Martyna Kander Set and Costume Designer Assistant: Maksymilian Mac Projections: Karolina Adam Keller Light Design: Maciej Igielski Stunt Effects: Andrzej ...

The Rite of Spring

premiere 24.09.2021

Choreography: Robert Bondara  Music: Igor Strawiński Set and Costume Design: Hans WinklerLight Design: Simon Singer Premiere:24.09.2021 [Chemnitz Ballett, Germany]  

Take Me With You

premiere 19.02.2021

Choreography: Robert Bondara Music: Radiohead Costume Design: Robert Bondara Light Design: Maciej Igielski  Premiere: 19.02.2021 – online premiere [Poznan Opera Ballet, Poland] 5.10.2021 - live audience premiere [Poznan Opera Ballet, Aula Artis, Poland] 

Faust

premiere 25.12.2020

Choreography and Direction: Robert Bondara Music: F. Chopin, W. A. Mozart, A. Pärt Conductor: Modestas Barkauskas Set Design and Costume Design: Martyna Kander Projections: Jagoda Chałcińska Light Design: Karolina Gębska  Premiere: 25.12.2020 – Lithuanian television LRT Plus premiere ...

Don Juan

premiere 21.02.2020

Choreography and Direction: Robert Bondara Music: Ch. W. Gluck, J. S. Bach, A. Marcello, A. Schnittke Conductor: Katarzyna Tomala-Jedynak Set Design and Costume Design: Julia Skrzynecka Projections: Karolina fender Noińska / jajkoFilm Light Design: Maciej Igielski  Premiere: 21.02.2020 ...

Winterreise

premiere 06.09.2019

Choreography and staging: Robert Bondara Set, Costume and Projections: Hans Winkler Light Design: Holger Reinke Baritone: Andreas Beinhauer, Till von Orlowsky Piano: Anna Beinhauer, Pavel Kuznetsov  Premiere:  6.09.2019 [Chemnitz Ballett, Germany] 

In the Quarters

premiere 18.05.2019

Choreography and Staging: Robert Bondara Music: Stanisław Moniuszko Conductor: Jerzy Wołosiuk Set and Costume Design: Julia Skrzynecka, Martyna Kander Projections: Artur Sienicki Light Design: Maciej Igielski  Premiere: 18.05.2019 [Castle Opera in Szczecin, Poland]   

Verses

premiere 02.06.2018

Choreography, lights & costume: Robert BondaraMusic: Ólafur Arnalds  Premiere: 2 June 2018 [Creations 10, Teatr Wielki - National Opera in Warsaw, Polish National Ballet] Something here does not beginat its usual time.Something does not happen quiteas it shouldHere someone was and was,then suddenly ...

Scheherezade

premiere 19.05.2018

Choreography and Direction: Robert Bondara Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov  Conductor: Maciej Tomasiewicz  Set Design and Costume Design: Martyna Kander Projections: Ewa Krasucka Light Design: Maciej Igielski Premiere:19.05.2018 [Silesian Opera Ballet, Bytom, Poland]

Medea

premiere 19.05.2018

Choreography and Direction: Robert Bondara  Music: Samuel Barber  Conductor: Maciej Tomasiewicz  Set Design and Costume Design: Martyna Kander  Projections: Ewa Krasucka  Light Design: Maciej Igielski  Premiere: 19.05.2018 [Silesian Opera Ballet, Bytom, Poland] 

The Baltic Legend

premiere 08.12.2017

Opera in 3 acts  Direction, Choreography and Staging: Robert Bondara Music: Feliks Nowowiejski Conductor: Tadeusz Kozłowski Set Design: Julia Skrzynecka  Costume Design: Martyna Kander Light Design: Maciej Igielski   Premiere: 8 December 2017 [Poznan Opera House, Poland]  

Switezianka

premiere 10.11.2017

Choreography: Robert Bondara Music: Eugeniusz Morawski Conductor: Łukasz BorowiczSet and Costume Design: Julia Skrzynecka Light Design: Maciej Igielski  Premiere: 10 November 2017 [Polish National Ballet, Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera in Warsaw]  Also presented:11 August 2019 [excerpts / ...

Revolving Doors

premiere 16.03.2017

Choreography: Robert Bondara Music: Radiohead Dancer: Dawid Trzęsimiech  Premiere: 16 March 2017 ['Roberto Bolle and Friends' gala, Teatro Europa, Bologna, Italy]   

Equilibrium

premiere 14.03.2017

Choreography: Robert Bondara  Muzyka: Ólafur Arnalds, Nils Frahm, Svarte Greiner Light Design:  Merethe Roulund  World Premiere:  14 March 2017 [Stavanger University, Sandnes Kulturhus, Norway]

Harnasie

premiere 22.10.2016

Choreography, Direction and Staging: Robert Bondara Music: Karol Szymanowski Conductor: Maciej Figas Set and Costume Design: Julia Skrzynecka Light Design: Maciej Igielski  Premiere:  22 October 2016 [Opera Nova Ballet, Bydgoszcz, Poland]       

Stabat Mater

premiere 22.10.2016

Choreography and Staging: Robert Bondara Music: Karol Szymanowski Conductor: Maciej Figas Set and Costume Design: Julia Skrzynecka Light Design: Maciej Igielski  Premiere:  22 October 2016 [Opera Nova Ballet, Bydgoszcz, Poland]     

Take Me With You (duet)

premiere 03.06.2016

Choreography, lights & costume: Robert BondaraMusic: Radiohead Premiere:3 June 2016 [Creations 8, Teatr Wielki - National Opera in Warsaw, Polish National Ballet] Also presented:7, 8 July 2017 [Bolle Tour 2017 | Gala Roberto Bolle and Friends, Opera di Firenze, Florence, Italy]11, 12, 13 July 2017 [Bolle Tour 2017 | Gala ...

LK 10:29 (who is my neighbor?)

premiere 16.04.2016

Choreography: Robert Bondara   Music: Ex Confusion, Antonio Sanchez  Costume Design: Agata Roguska  Light Design: Robert Bondara World Premiere:16 April 2016 [Kielce Dance Theater, Kielce, Poland] Also presented:25 August 2016 [Dancing Poznan 2016 - XIII International Dance Theater Festival, Poznan, Poland]2 ...

Stream

premiere 31.03.2016

Choreography: Robert Bondara  Music: Wolfgang Mitterer, Richard Skelton  Light Design:  Merethe Roulund  World Premiere: 31 March 2016 [Raw Tails, Stavanger University, Sandnes Kulturhus, Norway]

Didi and Gogo

premiere 16.03.2016

Choreography and costumes: Robert Bondara   Music: Paweł Szymański   Light design: Ari Korb   World Premiere: 16 March 2016 [The Kennedy Center, Company E, Washington, USA]   More info: Company E | Generations: Poland  

Hiccup

premiere 20.03.2015

Choreography: Robert Bondara  Music: Michał Jacaszek, Jack Nitzsche  Sound effects: Robert Bondara  Costume & Light Design: Robert Bondara   World Premiere:  20 March 2015 [Kreacje 7, Polish National Ballet, Warsaw, Poland]  Also presented: 12 October 2015 [STS Festival, Studio ...

Nevermore...?

premiere 15.11.2014

Concept and choreography: Robert Bondara  Music: Prasqual, Steve Reich, Paweł Szymański  Instrumental solo (drum kit): Katarzyna Bojaryn, Jan Smoczyński  Set design: Borys Kudlička  Costume design: Julia Skrzynecka  Light Design: Maciej Igielski   World ...

The Miraculous Mandarin

premiere 11.09.2014

Staging and choreography: Robert BondaraMusic: Béla BartókSet and Costume Design: Julia SkrzyneckaLight Design: Łukasz RóżewiczProjections:  Ewa Krasucka Premiere:11 September 2014 [Opera House in Wrocław, Poland] 

The Firebird

premiere 11.09.2014

Staging and choreography: Robert BondaraMusic: Igor StravinskySet and Costume Design: Julia SkrzyneckaLight Design: Łukasz RóżewiczProjections:  Ewa Krasucka Premiere:11 September 2014 [Opera House in Wrocław, Poland] 

Transfer Coefficient

premiere 05.04.2014

Choreography: Robert Bondara Music: Michał JacaszekCostume Design: Robert Bondara, Marta FiedlerLight Design: Robert Bondara  World Premiere: 5 April 2014 [Kreacje 6, Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera, Polish National Ballet, Warsaw, Poland]    Also presented: 28 June 2015 [29th International ...

Čiurlionis

premiere 23.05.2013

Ballet in 2 acts Choreography and Direction: Robert Bondara Music: Giedrius KuprevičiusConductor: Robertas ŠervenikasSet Design and Costume Design: Diana Marszałek, Julia SkrzyneckaProjections: Ewa KrasuckaLight Design: Maciej Igielski  World Premiere:23 May 2013 [The Lithuanian National Opera And Ballet ...

8m68

premiere 11.05.2012

Concept, Choreography and Direction: Robert BondaraMusic: Amon TobinCostume Design: Anna Lorenc, Robert BondaraSet Design and Light Design: Robert Bondara World Premiere:11 May 2012 [Creations 4, Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera, Polish National Ballet, Warsaw] Also presented:12 October 2015 [STS Festival, ...

Persona

premiere 18.09.2011

Ballet in 2 acts Concept, Choreography and Direction: Robert BondaraMusic: Arvo Pärt, Paweł Szymański, Aldona NawrockaSet Design and Costume Design: Diana Marszałek, Julia SkrzyneckaProjections: Ewa KrasuckaLight Design: Maciej Igielski Program Download. World Premiere (during the 3rd Days of Dance): 18 September 2011 ...

Larghetto

premiere 11.09.2011

Choreography: Robert BondaraMusic: George Frideric HändelCostume Design: Robert Bondara World Premiere:2 April 2011 [17th Polish Dance Competition in Gdańsk] Also presented:11 September 2011 [4th Warsaw Choreographic Evening]  

The Captive Mind

premiere 19.03.2011

Ballet in 2 acts Concept, Choreography and Direction: Robert BondaraMusic: Philip Glass, Wojciech KilarSet Design: Diana MarszałekCostume Design: Mariusz NapierałaProjections: Krystian DrywaLight Design: Maciej Igielski World Premiere: 19 March 2011, [Opera Nova, Bydgoszcz, Poland] Also presented:7 November 2012 [4th Days ...

The Garden’s Gates

premiere 19.03.2010

Choreography: Robert BondaraMusic: Szábolcs EsztényiSet Design, Costume Design and Light Design: Robert Bondara World Premiere:19 March 2010 [Creations 2, Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera, Polish National Ballet, Warsaw]     Bondara’s choreography The Garden’s Gates was very ...

When You End and I Begin…

premiere 24.06.2009

Choreography: Robert Bondara Music: Paweł Szymański  Costume Design and Light Design: Robert Bondara World Premiere:  24 June 2009 [Creations, Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera, Polish National Ballet, Warsaw] Revivals:  23 April 2010 [Alfa i inne (Alpha and Others) Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera, ...

Duet for Shadow and Persona

premiere 04.04.2009

Choreography: Robert BondaraMusic: Johann Sebastian BachCostume Design: Robert Bondara World Premiere: 4 April 2009 [16th Polish Dance Competition in Gdańsk]  

Butterflies in the stomach

premiere 04.04.2009

Choreography: Robert BondaraMusic: Johann PachelbelCostume Design and Light Design: Robert Bondara World Premiere: 4 April 2009 [16th Polish Dance Competition in Gdańsk, Poland] Also presented:24 June 2009 [Creations, Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera, Polish National Ballet, Warsaw]6 December 2010 [3rd Warsaw ...

Dance Preludes

premiere 18.06.2008

Choreography: Robert BondaraMusic: Witold LutosławskiCostume Design and Light Design: Robert Bondara World premiere: 18 June 2008 ["The Chain" Witold Lutosławski Music Festival - Warsaw]  

Andante Con Moto

premiere 23.02.2008

Choreography: Robert BondaraMusic: Wojciech KilarCostume Design: Anna LorencLight Design: Robert Bondara World premiere:23 February 2008 [1st Bronislava Nijinska National Choreography Competition, Teatr Wielki - Polish National Opera, Warsaw (2nd Prize - no first prize was awarded) Also presented: 1 October 2008 [Season ...

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