Nina Poláková

Nina Poláková was born in Trnava (Slovakia). She graduated from the Bratislava Dance Conservatory and was engaged as soloist by the Ballet of the Slovakian National Theatre. In 2005 she joined the Vienna State Ballet, in 2008 she was appointed demi-soloist. Two years later, she was promoted to soloist of the Vienna State Ballet, from 2011 to 2021 she was first soloist of that company.

Her most important roles are the title roles in Rudolf Nureyev’s »Raymonda«, Kenneth MacMillan’s »Manon«, Elena Tchernichova’s »Giselle«, Pierre Lacotte's »La Sylphide«, »Coppélia« by Gyula Harangozó sen., Davide Bombana’s »Ballett: Carmen« and in Michael Corder’s »The Snow Queen«. Furthermore, she danced Kitri in Rudolf Nureyev’s »Don Quixote«, Odette/Odile in Nureyev’s »Swan Lake«, Médora in Manuel Legris' »Le Corsaire«, Nikia in Vladimir Malakhov’s »La Bayadère«, Princess Aurora in Peter Wright’s »The Sleeping Beauty«, Princess Maria in Gyula Harangozó's »The Nutcracker«, Juliet in John Cranko’s »Romeo and Juliet«, Tatjana in Cranko’s »Onegin«, Baronesse Mary Vetsera in Kenneth MacMillan’s »Mayerling«, Marguerite in Ashton’s »Marguerite and Armand«, Romola Nijinsky/Armide in John Neumeier’s »Le Pavillon d’Armide«, Solveig in Edward Clug’s »Peer Gynt« as well as leading roles in George Balanchine’s »Thema und Variationen«, »Stravinsky Violin Concerto«, »Symphonie in C« and »Jewels«, Serge Lifar’s »Suite en blanc«, Jerome Robbins’ »In the Night«, Hans van Manen’s »Adagio Hammerklavier«, Rudi van Dantzig’s »Vier letzte Lieder«, Twyla Tharp’s »Variationen über ein Thema von Haydn«, Jiří Kylián’s »Petite Mort«, »Bella Figura« and »Symphony of Psalms«, Nils Christe’s »Before Nightfall«, William Forsythe’s »The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude«, »The Second Detail«, »Slingerland pas de deux« and »Artifact Suite«, Jorma Elo’s »Glow – Stop«, David Dawson’s »A Million Kisses to my Skin«, Helen Pickett’s »Eventide«, John Neumeier’s »Vaslaw«, Thierry Malandain’s »Mozart à 2«, Christopher Wheeldon’s »Fool's Paradise«, Mauro Bigonzetti’s »Kazimir's Colours« (excerpt), András Lukács’ »In Your Eyes My Face Remains«, Edwaard Liang’s »Murmuration«, Liam Scarlett’s »With a Chance of Rain« (excerpt), Kenneth MacMillans »Concerto«, Patrick de Bana’s »Ochiba« and Alexei Ratmansky's »Pictures at an Exhibition«. Moreover, she created roles in Jorma Elo’s »A Midsummer Night’s Dream«, Patrick de Bana’s »Ludwig II – The Swan King«, Natalia Horecna’s »Contra Clockwise Witness« and in Antony McDonald’s & Ashley Page’s »Ein Reigen«. Guest performances have taken her to many European Countries and overseas.   

Nina Poláková's awards include the 1^st Prize at the International Ballet Competition in Brno (2000), 2^nd Prize at the ÖTR-Contest in Vienna (2001), Philip Morris Prize for the »Best female dancer in Slovakia« (2003) and the Promotion Prize of the Ballettclub Wiener Staatsoper & Volksoper (2008).