ACCLAIMED company Varna International Ballet and Orchestra will be at Manchester’s Bridgewater Hall next week as part of its first tour of the UK.

It will be bringing one of the most popular ballets of them all - The Nutcracker - to the stage

Varna’s artistic director Daniela Ivanova-Dimova and soloists Claire Gillard and Vittorio Scolè spoke about their upcoming shows

“We are delighted to be performing in the UK,” said Daniela, “especially as we’re celebrating 75 years of Varna State Opera.”

Claire added: “I’m really, really excited. I think it’s going to be so fun and challenging for us: it’s a big tour, but we’re ready for it. I was born in London, and I have family in England – it’ll be so great to see them, and they’ll be able to watch me dance.”

The Bolton News: Claire Gillard

“This will be my first time in England,” said Vittorio, “and I’ll be dancing, at Christmas time. I just know it’ll be amazing. Also, my family are flying in from Italy to see my debut when we’re in Manchester. So that makes it even better.”

Varna, Bulgaria’s second city on the Black Sea coast hosted the world’s first international ballet competition in 1964 which has subsequently attracted many famous ballet stars including Mikhail Baryshnikov and Sylvie Guillem

Now the ballet company is home to many young international ballet artists.

Claire, who has been with the company for two years, said: “It’s a really fun mix of dancers from different countries: Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Brazil, of course Bulgaria… We all connect through dance. My partner in the shows is called Marco di Salvo, he’s Italian – I speak a bit of Spanish, which is similar, so we figure it out! I love working with him:.”

“We’re completely international – it’s really cool,” said Vittorio. “I started in August with the company and I really like the atmosphere. It’s like a family from all different places.”

Bringing a show such as this to Manchester is a major undertaking.

“We have about 40 dancers – that means that we can ensure, in any situation, we can continue on and give the audience a great show,” said Daniela. “We also have an orchestra with about 25-30 musicians.”

Vittorio added: “It makes such a difference having the orchestra with us. I feel it in my heart: the music and dancing are together, they are one. You might be scared before you go on stage, but when the orchestra plays you get this feeling that’s impossible to explain: it’s like a dream. We are carried away, and I hope people watching are too.”

All new sets and costumes have been designed specifically for the shows in the UK.

“When you get the dancing, the live music, the sets, the costumes, everything coming together, it’s magical,” said Claire.

And they all agree that the Manchester shows are ideal for family audiences and for those who have never seen a ballet performed on stage before.

“There is nothing better than The Nutcracker to introduce the Christmas season – that’s the perfect show for families.,” said Daniela.

Clairadded: “The Nutcracker is full of interesting characters and has a huge Christmas tree. There’s nothing better than seeing children in the audience with smiles on their faces.

“When I was a little kid, my mum always took me to Swan Lake, and I’d say ‘Oh, Mum, when I grow up I want to be a swan’. Now I am! I’m so thankful to be on stage, hopefully with other little kids looking up at me and having that dream.

Vittorio said: “It’s our job to carry people with us when we’re up on stage – to tell them the story through our dancing. It’s like sharing a fairy tale. I remember when I was younger how exciting it was going to the theatre at Christmas time. I think parents and children, everyone who comes will have an amazing time.

The Bolton News: Vittorio Scole

“You don’t need to understand all the ballet technique or the history. We’re bringing stories with princes and princesses that little kids will love, as well as beautiful dancing, costumes, music: everything you need to have a magical time.”

Being able to perform after theatres were closed for so long due to the global pandemic makes this tour even more special.

Vittorio said: “We stopped for two years with Covid, we were shut up in our homes, with no shows and no touring. Now we’re free. It’s not just for the dancers, it’s the orchestra and our teachers who work so hard with us every day. We get the opportunity to show that work and get the reward with performing – that’s the fun bit!”

The Nutcracker, Bridgewater Hall, Manchester, Monday, January 2 at 2pm and 5.30pm and Tuesday, January 3 at 7.30pm. Details from www.bridgewater-hall.co.uk