An exceptional gala featuring 12 international ballet stars from the world’s most prestigious stages, including Paris Opera Ballet, The Royal Ballet (London), Teatro alla Scala (Milan) and more
Friday, 8 May 2026 — Salle Métropole, Lausanne — 19h30
One extraordinary night. The world’s greatest dancers.
One stage in Lausanne.
Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet, London
One of the most acclaimed ballerinas of her generation.
Born in Osaka, Japan, Fumi Kaneko joined The Royal Ballet in 2011 and was promoted to Principal
Dancer in 2021.
A dancer of pristine technique and extraordinary dramatic depth, equally at home
in the great classical roles and contemporary creations.
Awards & Titles:
• Gold Medal — Varna International Ballet Competition (2008)
• Silver Medal — Moscow International Ballet Competition (2009)
• Silver Medal — USA International Ballet Competition (2010)
• Critics' Circle National Dance Award — Best Female Dancer (2023)
• Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet, London (since 2021)
Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet, London
Widely regarded as one of the finest male dancers in the world today.
Born in Chelyabinsk, Russia, Vadim Muntagirov trained at the Perm Ballet School and
The Royal Ballet Upper
School.
He joined The Royal Ballet as Principal Dancer in 2014.
Awards & Titles:
• Prix Benois de la Danse (2013 & 2018) — the highest international ballet prize
• Critics' Circle National Dance Award — Best Male Dancer (2015 & 2018)
• Dance Europe — Outstanding Dancer of the Year (2021)
• Prix de Lausanne — Scholarship Prize (2006)
• Gold Medal — Youth America Grand Prix (2008)
Étoile, Teatro alla Scala, Milan
One of the most distinguished Italian ballerinas of her generation.
Born in Galatina, Italy, Nicoletta Manni trained at the Accademia
Teatro alla Scala and danced with Staatsballett Berlin before returning to La Scala,
where she rose to become Prima Ballerina and was named Étoile in 2023.
Admired for her refined classical line, elegance, and powerful stage presence,
she has established herself as a leading figure of Italian ballet
on the international stage.
Awards & Titles:
• Étoile, Teatro alla Scala
• Premio Danza&Danza
• Prix Benois de la Danse nominee
• Dancer of the Year 2014, Giornale della Danza
• Positano Premia la Danza Léonide Massine, Dancer of the Year
on the International Scene
Principal Dancer, Teatro alla Scala, Milan
One of the leading male ballet artists of his generation.
Born in Riga, Timofej Andrijashenko trained at the Riga Choreography School
and later continued his studies at the Russian Ballet College in Genoa.
He joined Teatro alla Scala in 2014 and was promoted to Principal Dancer in 2018.
Admired for his refined technique, noble line, and strong dramatic presence,
he has built an outstanding career across both classical and contemporary repertoire.
Awards & Titles:
• Principal Dancer, Teatro alla Scala
• Gold Medal, XII Moscow International Ballet Competition
• Danza&Danza Award, Performer of the Year
• Grand Prix, International Dance Competition Città di Spoleto
• MAB Prize
• TanzOlymp Silver Medal, Berlin
Principal Dancer, Dutch National Ballet, Amsterdam
One of the most exciting rising stars of his generation.
Born in Tbilisi, Georgia, Giorgi Potskhishvili began his training in Georgian
folk dance before discovering his passion for classical ballet at the Vakhtang
Chabukiani Tbilisi Ballet Art State School, where he trained under the legendary Nina
Ananiashvili. In 2017 he moved to Amsterdam, joined Dutch National Ballet
in 2020, and rose to Principal Dancer in December 2023 — a remarkable
ascent through the ranks of one of Europe’s most prestigious companies.
Equally at home in the great classical roles and major contemporary creations,
he has collaborated with choreographers including Alexei Ratmansky, Hans van Manen,
Christopher Wheeldon, David Dawson, and William Forsythe.
Awards & Titles:
• Principal Dancer, Dutch National Ballet, Amsterdam (since 2023)
• Zwaan Award — Most Impressive Dance Achievement (2023)
• Alexandra Radius Prize (2023)
• Nominated — Dancer of the Year, Dance Europe Critics' Choice (2023)
• Honourable Mention — Outstanding Performance by a Male Dancer, Dance Europe (2022)
Principal Dancer, Dutch National Ballet, Amsterdam
One of the most captivating dancers of her generation.
Born in Nara, Japan, Riho Sakamoto discovered ballet in her hometown before earning
a scholarship to the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington DC, where she trained under
Russian masters from the age of ten. In 2014, she joined the Junior Company of Dutch
National Ballet in Amsterdam, rising through every rank to become Principal Dancer in 2021.
During the 2024/2025 season she broadened her artistic horizons at Staatsballett Berlin
before returning to Amsterdam in August 2025.
Her repertoire spans Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Raymonda, and major
contemporary works by William Forsythe, George Balanchine, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher
Wheeldon and Hans van Manen.
Awards & Titles:
• Principal Dancer, Dutch National Ballet, Amsterdam (since 2021)
• Dancer of the Year Award — Dance Europe (2024)
• Gold Medal — Youth America Grand Prix (2010)
• Outstanding Female Performance — Critics' Choice Dance Europe (2023 & 2021)
Fumi Kaneko
WORLD BALLET STARS — 10 YEARS OF EXTRAORDINARY GALAS
A decade of bringing the world’s greatest dancers to Swiss audiences
SWAN LAKE
Black Swan Pas de deux
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
ROMEO AND JULIET
Choreography: Kenneth MacMillan
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
DON QUIXOTE
Pas de deux
Choreography: Marius Petipa
Music: Ludwig Minkus
THE DYING SWAN
Choreography: Michel Fokine
Music: Camille Saint-Saëns
GRAND PAS CLASSIQUE
Choreography: Victor Gsovsky
Music: Daniel Auber
WALK THE DEMON
Choreography: Marco Goecke
DIAMONDS
from Jewels
Choreography: George Balanchine
Music: Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
CONTEMPORARY CREATIONS
Works and choreographers to be announced
Programme may be subject to change.
This is not just a show.
It is a statement.
Switzerland deserves world-level ballet,
and we are delivering it.
Seats are limited. This event will sell out.
Private entrance, the best seats in the house, a backstage visit, and a personal photo with the Stars. Places are strictly limited.
Ballet Globe Festival
Founded by Yerlan Andagulov
Ballet Globe Festival is dedicated to bringing the world’s greatest ballet artists
to exceptional stages across Europe — curating evenings that unite classical mastery
with the most compelling voices in contemporary dance.
World Ballet Stars
Founded by Vladimir Ippolitov
World Ballet Stars Gala is now in its 10th edition — a landmark series that has introduced
Swiss audiences to the most extraordinary principal dancers from the world’s leading
companies since 2015. What began as a passion project has become one of Switzerland’s most
anticipated cultural events of the year.
Rue de Genève 12, 1003 Lausanne