Alen Bottaini

Born in Viareggio, Italy, Alen Bottaini started ballet at the age of 12 in Italy at the family school. At 13 he continued his studies in England at the Bush Davies college, brilliantly passing all the ISTD (both classical and modern) and RAD professional exams in just a year and a half.

He entered the Royal Ballet Upper School in London and the following year, on the advice of the great Galina Ulanova, he goes to Russia to the famous Vaganova Academy (Kirov Theatre School) in St. Petersburg where two years later he graduated with honors. During his studies in Russia, Alen is invited to dance at the Kirov and the Bolshoi at the galas in honour of Madame Natalja Dudinskaja.

Later that year he completes his studies with an advanced course at the National Ballet School of Canada, in Toronto including the study of contemporary dance. During all this period, he also has the chance to study under the guidance of Madame Marika Besobrasova, at the prestigious Academie de Danse Princesse Grace in Monaco.

In September 1993 he joins the Bayerisches Staatsballett in Munich, Germany; where only one year later he debuts as principal dancer as Colas in La Fille Mal Guardée from Sir Frederick Ashton and as Puck in John Neumeier’s Midsummer Nights Dream having the chance to prove his value in important ballet roles at an early age. Alen is formally promoted to soloist and principal dancer in 1997 and 1999 respectively. In the 18 years with the company he covered all the main roles of the classical repertoire and interpreted several contemporary roles working with choreographers of great international fame such as Jiri Kilian, John Neumeier, Mats Ek, Hans Von Manen, Josè Limon and W. Forsythe.

In 1996 he won the gold medal of the prestigious international prize of Varna, the first Italian ever, a prize won at the time by great dancers such as Mikhail Barishnikov, Vladimir Derevyanko and Vladimir Vasiliev; in the same year he was invited to dance on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.

In his long, brilliant career he received numerous awards including: Premio Positano alla carriera, the Premio Danza e Danza and the Giuliana Penzi award; in 2008, in Germany, he received the title 'Kämmertänzer' (Knight of Dance) from the Bavarian Minister of Culture.

For 5 years senior teacher at the English National Ballet School (ENBS) in London; Founder and Director of the Bavaria Ballet Academy (BBA) in Munich.

He created a professional program for the Bavaria Ballet Academy - ABA Academic Ballet Program - also used by the affiliated schools.

Today Alen expands his career by creating new choreographies, holding 'workshops' and 'Masterclasses' at Dance Schools, Academies and Theaters.

International Prizes:

• In 1996, at the Varna International Competition, he was the first and only Italian to win the “Gold Medal (Senior)” and the special prize for the “Best Artistic Interpretation”.

• In September 1996, receives the Positano prize for „Best New Rising Star“.

• In December 1996, he conquers Paris at the closing gala of the VII Paris International Dance Competiton in the Théatre des Champs-Elysées with his „charme“ and „la haute virtuosité de la prestation“.

• Also in December, he is the prince Dèsiré at the Carlo Felice Teatro in Genova, in the co-production Genova-Varsavia of Sleeping Beauty from Yuri Grigorovich, next to Elena Pankova from the Marijnsky and was acclaimed by the press as the „revelation“ of the season.

• In 1996/97 receives the prize Danza & Danza, “Best Italian Dancer in Europe”.

• In 1998 he received the distinction of “Star of the Week” by the Abendzeitung, Munich.

• In 2006 was awarded the title of “Best Performer of the Year” by the leading Italian Ballet Journal Danza & Danza.

• More recently he was awarded the Giuliana Pensi “Grand Prix” as well as the “Career Award”.

• In 2008 Alen is awarded the honorary title of Kammertänzer, one of the highest recognitions by the Bavarian Minister of State for Science, Research and Art.

Alen Bottaini’s repertoire as dancer included:

Armand in Lady of the Camellias (J.Neumeier), Mercutio and Romeo in Romeo and Juliet (J.Cranko), Solor and Golden Idol in La Bayadere (P.Bart), the prince in Nutcracker (J.Neumeier), Albrecht in Giselle (Sir P.Wright), Siegfried in Swan Lake (R.Barra), the prince in Cinderella (J.Neumeier), Basil in D.Quixote (R.Barra) (Vassiliev), Des Grieux and Lescaut in Manon (Sir K.MacMillan), Petruccio in Taming of the Shrew (J.Cranko), Jean de Bienne, Abderakman in Raymonda(R.Barra), Lensky in Onegin (J.Cranko), Puck in Midsummer Nights Dream (J.Neumeier), Dèsirée and Blue Bird in Sleeping Beauty (I.Liska after Petipa), Conrad, Ali and Birbanto in Le Corsaire (I.Liska after Petipa), Franz in Coppelia

Les Bourgeois (B. Van Cauwenbergh), Zakousky (P.Martins), 5 Tangos, Trio and Grosse Fugue (H.Van Manen), A Sort Of and Apartment (Mats Ek), Who Cares, Symphony in C, Tarantella and Brahms-Schönberg (Balanchine), Limb’s Theorem and Artifact (W.Forsythe), Zugvögel, Swadebka and Bella Figura (J.Kylian), Les Biches (Nijinska), Das Lied von der Erde (Sir K.MacMillan), Festival in Genzano (Bournonville) The Storm (Jörg Manner).

And additional works by: Robert La Fosse, Lucinda Childs, Twyla Tharp, Peter Markus, Martin Schläpfer, Itzik Galili, Davide Bombana, Graeme Murphy, Jose Limon, Terence Kohler. To name a few.

Alen Bottaini’s Teaching Experience:

Alen began a career as guest teacher for companies such as the State Ballet of the Ljubjana Opera in Slovenia amongst others; and at the ballet schools La Danza in Munich, Dance Station in Munich, Lorna Wilkinson Ballet School in Italy, Keiko Yasuda Ballet School in Japan and many more.

In 2001 he took over the organization and financial management of the performances of the Lorna Wilkinson Ballet School at the Guglielmo Teatro, in Italy. The performances included: Coppelia, Giselle, Paquita and the Nutcracker.

In December 2010 he was invited to choreograph for the gala “Chopin on Pointe”, in the China Century Theatre in Beijing, where he also performed, to commemorate the 200^th Anniversary of Chopin.

More recently, in 2010/2011, he worked as Assistant Director, Choreographer and Ballet Master with the Greek National Ballet Company, collaborating with Ray Barra in the restaging of his “Snow Queen” and with Vassiliev in his D.Quixote where he also danced the principal role.

In September 2011 he was called to guest in J.Crankos Romeo and Juliet with the CNB (National Ballet of Portugal) where he had the opportunity to work under the influence of the former Stuttgart principal dancer Sylviane Bayard Phillips.

In March 2012 he returned to guest with the CNB (National Ballet of Portugal) as prince Dèsirée in Sleeping Beauty choreographed by Ted Brandsen.

Alen Bottaini has been invited to teach at the annual RAD Summer School in Trentino, the biggest RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) meeting in Italy; as well as at the annual ISTD Italian Summer School (Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing) in Italy. He has been invited to return in the next years.

In September 2012 Alen danced at the Arena di Verona in the gala “Angeli Sulle Punte”.

Danced also at the Gala in Livorno, Italy, in honour of Marika Besobrasova.

In 2012/2013 he was invited to dance with David Campos Ballet the Campos’ versions of “Giselle” and “Sleeping Beauty” performing in Spain and Italy.

He was also invited to dance with the Dessau Ballet, “Nibelungen” from Tomasz Kajdanski.

In the same year he was guest teaching with the Scottish Ballet.

In the summer he returned to Italy to teach Advanced Classes with the RAD and ISTD Summer Schools gaining an invitation for future RAD Summer School in Canada.

Invited to give Master Classes at the International Summer School in Verona.

From December 2013 till 2018 he was the boys graduating year teacher at the prestigious ENBS (English National Ballet School) in London.

Maestro Alen Bottaini is the Founder and Artistic Director of one of the most prestigious Academies in Europe, the BBA (Bavaria Ballet Academy) in Munich as well as Founder of the ABA Alen Bottaini Academic Ballet Program, a program for professional students adopted by the Bavaria Ballet Academy (Munich) and schools associated with the program.

Since September 2024, he relocated the professional program of BBA to the new studios of the Alen Bottaini Academy in Torino - Italy where he continues to be the Artistic Director.

It has been a long life dream of his to give back, in experience, knowledge and passion the affection of his faithful public and fans and share his eternal appreciation of the Art.

He continues to travel the globe guest teaching, creating new choreographies, teaching master classes and workshops.