Dresden, 17 November 2024. Last night, the American dancer Zarina Stahnke was awarded the Deutscher Theaterpreis DER FAUST 2024 in the category Dance Performers at the Theater Altenburg Gera. The jury acclaimed the Second Soloist of the Semperoper Ballett for her brilliant performance in Johan Inger’s A Swan Lake.
The German Theater Award DER FAUST has been awarded since 2006 by the German Bühnenverein in collaboration with the German Academy of Performing Arts and the Culture Foundation of the States in various categories. At this year's award ceremony in Gera, the jury emphasized in its justification for awarding the prize to Zarina Stahnke how the dancer "knows how to fully exploit her expressive potential at the highest level," and particularly highlighted the pas de deux in the first part of Inger’s Swan Lake, where Stahnke powerfully demonstrates how a classical work can be interpreted in a contemporary way: A role model!"
"An artists life is a continual creative journey of risks, vulnerability and achievements and to be recognized by your peers is such an accomplishment. Our company’s congratulations to Zarina Stahnke on her receiving the Deutscher Theaterpreis DER FAUST 2024 in the category Dance Performers and for her our company enriching captivating artistry,“ so Kinsun Chan, Artistic Manager Semperoper Ballett.
In his narrative ballet, Johan Inger completely reimagines the world-famous dance classic. Based on the folk tale The Stolen Veil by Johann Karl August Musäus and with a new arrangement of Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky’s score, the Swedish choreographer transforms the fantastical story into a choreographic masterpiece, featuring a stunning interpretation by Zarina Stahnke, who has performed the role of Queen Zoe since the acclaimed world premiere in Dresden in March 2023.
Zarina Stahnke was trained at the Ballet Nova Centre and the School of American Ballet. In 2011, she joined the apprentice programme at the Palucca University of Dance (Dresden) before becoming a company member at Semperoper Ballett in 2012. Six years later she was named Second Soloist. Her repertoire encompasses roles in classical ballets by the company’s former director Aaron S. Watkin as well as solo parts in works by David Dawson, William Forsythe, Justin Peck and George Balanchine. At the Semperoper she has also performed choreographies by Justin Peck, Joseph Hernandez, Mats Ek, Stijn Celis, David Dawson and Nicholas Palmquist, and has created roles in works by Hofesh Shechter and Alexander Ekman. In spring 2025, Zarina Stahnke is scheduled to return to Dresden as Queen Zoe in Johan Inger’s A Swan Lake. Arte will also present the ballet in its impressing film production Schwanensee aus der Semperoper Dresden on New Year’s Eve, 31 December 2024, at 10:45 pm
A Swan Lake by Johan Inger (choreography and staging)
Music by Pyotr I. Tchaikovsky
Production returns to the Semperoper Dresden on Saturday, 8 March 2025, 7 pm
Additional performances in March, April and May 2025
Featuring the dancers of Semperoper Ballett. The Staatskapelle Dresden will be conducted by Robert Houssart (March/April 2025) and Thomas Herzog (April/May 2025).
Generously supported by the Semperoper Foundation
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