Daria Klimentová Announces Retirement After ROMEO & JULIET

Daria Klimentová, English National Ballet Lead Principal and one of the most respected and accomplished stars of classical ballet, has announced she will retire after dancing the role of Juliet at the Royal Albert Hall in June. Vadim Muntagirov, with whom she has formed one of the most admired ballet partnerships of modern times, will return to the Company to play Romeo in Derek Deane's spectacular production of Romeo & Juliet in-the-round.

"Daria brings her own special magic to everything she does. I wish Daria success and happiness in her future and I will miss her as a wonderful artist," said Tamara Rojo, English National Ballet's Artistic Director who will also be dancing Juliet. As Daria and Vadim bring to a close their illustrious partnership, Tamara Rojo is reunited with the former Royal Ballet partner Carlos Acosta and London audiences will have the first chance to see Alina Cojocaru dance with Friedemann Vogel of Stuttgart Ballet. (Full Romeo & Juliet casting below)

Daria's last performances with English National Ballet and with Vadim Muntagirov in Romeo & Juliet can be seen on 14, 19 and 22 June 2014, at The Royal Albert Hall. Performed by a huge company of 120 dancers, actors and swordfighters, it is an epic staging of Shakespeare's timeless tragedy. This acclaimed production brings to life all the emotions of the world's greatest love story, from the majestic sweep of the masked ball to the passion and intimacy of the lovers' balcony scene.

Daria Klimentová said: "It's a very sad moment for me but at the same time very exciting. I have worked with some incredible people, who I will always remember. I have given my ballet life to English National Ballet, with all the ups and downs. I will especially miss dancing with Vadim, I was waiting for him for 20 years but it was worth it, as he took me to a different world. I am now ready to move on and help all the talented dancers, just like I've been helped through my long career."

Daria has danced professionally for 25 years and with English National Ballet for 18 of those (since 1996) and has performed many of the greatest roles in classical ballet to critical acclaim. She is warmly received wherever she performs, the drama of her dancing making her performances electrifying.

'The Company's most classical ballerina, linear perfection and heartless glitter to dazzle any man.' The Sunday Times

Daria Klimentová Biography:

Born in Prague, Czech Republic, Daria trained at the School of Music and Dance (Prague State Conservatory). She danced with the National Theatre Ballet Company, Prague (joined 1989, Soloist, Principal); the Cape Ballet Company, South Africa (joined 1992, Principal) Scottish Ballet (joined 1993, Principal) and before joining English National Ballet as a Principal in 1996.

Daria has the won Paris Dance Foundation Prize at Prix de Lausanne, first place Tokyo (1989), International Ballet Competition, Pretoria (1991), and received The Patron's Award from Dame Beryl Grey (2011). Daria won the 2011 Critics' Circle National Dance Awards for Outstanding Female Dancer.

Daria's own career highlights include creating roles such as the role of Clara in Wayne Eagling's Nutcracker, stage and film versions of Camille, and the lead roles in Double Concerto and The Snow Queen

She counts her favourite roles as the title in Sphinx, Odile in Swan Lake, Marguérite in Lady of the Camellias, Manon with Friedemann Vogel and Juliet with Vadim Muntagirov

Daria has a daughter, Sabina, and says her favourite place is wherever her daughter is. Daria's autobiography Agony and Ecstasy: My Life in Dance was published in March 2013.

Daria Klimentová is currently ending the UK tour of Le Corsaire, with English National Ballet, performing in the last shows at the Palace Theatre Manchester on 11 and 15 February with Vadim Muntagirov before he joins The Royal Ballet.

Press Quotes:

Romeo & Juliet

"...a truly stunning portrayal of Juliet [...] A pure classicist but with a virtuoso technical range [...] Klimentová's definitive, sincere and deeply-moving interpretation of one of the world's greatest heroines." Sunday Express

A Tribute to Rudolf Nureyev

"Daria Klimentová is both grand and mercurial in the ballerina role, switching from imperious to flirty in a dazzle of footwork." The Independent

Nutcracker

"Klimentová excels as the older Clara, delivering Eagling's lovingly created steps with regal grace and an amused romanticism." Daily Express

Snow Queen

"Daria Klimentová, the company's most classical ballerina, was ideal as the Snow Queen, a kind of polar Mata Hari, with the linear perfection and heartless glitter to dazzle any man." The Sunday Times

Romeo & Juliet

Raymond Gubbay and the Royal Albert Hall present English National Ballet at the Royal Albert Hall in June 2014, with Derek Deane's breath-taking production of Romeo and Juliet - the world's greatest love story.

Wednesday 11 June - Sunday 22 June 2014

Tickets: £19.50 - £70

Box Office: 020 7838 3100 / www.royalalberthall.com

PRINCIPAL CASTING:

Performances	Juliet	Romeo
11.6.2014 Wednesday Eve	Rojo	C Acosta
12.6.2014 Thursday Eve	Cojocaru	Vogel
13.6.2014 Friday Eve	Rojo	C Acosta
14.6.2014 Saturday Mat	Klimentová	Muntagirov
14.6.2014 Saturday Eve	Cojocaru	Vogel
15.6.2014 Sunday Mat	Rojo	C Acosta
17.6.2014 Tuesday Eve	Rojo	C Acosta
18.6.2014 Wednesday Eve	Oliveira	Konvalina
19.6.2014 Thursday Mat	Glurdjidze	Vargas
19.6.2014 Thursday Eve	Klimentová	Muntagirov
20.6.2014 Friday Eve	Cao	Souza
21.6.2014 Saturday Mat	Takahashi	Vargas
21.6.2014 Saturday Eve	Oliveira	Konvalina
22. 6.2014 Sunday Mat	Klimentová	Muntagirov

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