XXVI Lodz Ballet Festival

 

 

The Jubilee - the XXV Lodz Ballet Meetings - took place three years ago - in 2019. The next one - XXVI - according to the over 50-year tradition - should have happened last year. Unfortunately, due to the global pandemic situation, it turned out differently... It is in the present - 2022 - that we will be able to invite you to the autumn edition of the XXVI Lodz Ballet Meetings.

 

With these words, Janina Jarzynówna-Sobczak - the legendary choreographer and reformer of Polish ballet of the twentieth century - as if unintentionally outlined the main artistic idea of the festival, a biennial proving its validity for the next half-century. Already, in the second edition, it became obvious that with the visit of the famous 20th-century Ballet of Maurice Béjart, the Meetings would become the only forum in Europe for the confrontation of ballet tradition with a new perspective on choreography, dance techniques, and ballet performance in general. And so it has been until today. The ballet companies that have been guests at the festival not only represented a wide range of repertoire but also, perhaps above all, gave us the opportunity to participate in something extremely important and valuable: in a review of what was not only fashionable and innovative in world choreography at that particular moment but also set trends and directions for the future. In these past 25 editions of the festival, probably all the most important ballet companies from around the world have performed, including Polish ones, which on the stage of the Grand Theatre in Łódź presented everything that was most beautiful, valuable, and fascinating in choreography, ballet, and dance theater for ballet lovers.

 

Now, each company, looking at the list of those who have performed in Łódź (and it is exceptionally long and includes the most outstanding companies, legendary choreographers, and stars of the world of ballet) - considers it an honor to be able to confront their work with the Polish audience precisely at the Lodz Ballet Meetings. We are very proud of this, as well as the fact that for over 50 years you have been with us, and Łódź has earned the prestigious title of the world capital of dance, where crowds of admirers of this art from all over Poland and beyond gather.

 

Our task is to do everything to not only ambitiously continue this tradition but also to develop it in the widest possible artistic range. This is only possible with your help - the next generation of ballet art lovers!