Call for the selection of a new Artistic Director for the National Ballet of Portugal (Companhia Nacional de Bailado) - OPART E.P.E./National Ballet of Portugal

OPART, E.P.E. announces the international open call for the selection of a new Artistic Director for the National Ballet of Portugal (Companhia Nacional de Bailado) taking into account the end of the current Artistic Director's mandate on 31 August this year.



The deadline for submitting applications begins today, 22 March, and ends on 22 April 2024.



The mandate of the new Artistic Director will last four years and can be renewed twice for equal periods.



The competition jury is chaired by the President of OPART's Board of Directors, Conceição Amaral. Other members of the jury include Rui Morais (Member of the Board of Directors Opart, E.P.E.); Mark Deputter (Administrator and Artistic Director of the Culturgest Foundation); Olga Roriz (Choreographer and Director of the Olga Roriz Company); and Ted Brandsen (Choreographer and Artistic Director of the Dutch National Ballet).



The regulations and annexes are available at www.cnb.pt.



The National Ballet of Portugal (Companhia Nacional de Bailado) was founded in 1977 and is Portugal's leading classical dance organisation. Based in Lisbon, it is the only state-owned dance company in Portugal, with a permanent corps of artists that ensures the performance seasons and numerous parallel actions.



Founded by a government initiative with public service objectives, the company has two main missions: one of a patrimonial nature, the preservation and dissemination of the world ballet repertoire, through the production of classical ballet shows; and the permanent updating of this art form, with the presentation of contemporary choreographies by national and international choreographers, some of which were conceived for the National Ballet of Portugal (Companhia Nacional de Bailado) as part of its policy of encouraging creation. The result is a highly eclectic repertoire, which crosses centuries, styles and techniques, while maintaining a strong Portuguese and European identity.



Its history includes the first professional productions in Portugal of classic ballets in their complete versions, such as La Fille Mal Gardée, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, La Sylphide, La Bayadère, Paquita, Coppélia, Romeo and Juliet, The Firebird and The Rite of Spring, as well as continued investment in revising and re-reading these canonical works.



Over more than 45 years of history, the National Ballet of Portugal’s performances include works by leading international choreographers such as Alexander Ekman, Sidi Lardi Cherkaoui, George Balanchine, Vaslav Nijinsky, Serge Lifar, Kurt Jooss, Martha Graham, José Limón, Lar Lubovitch, Michael Corder, Hans van Manen, Robert North, Heinz Spöerli, Nacho Duato, Mauro Bigonzetti, Henri Oguike, Cayetano Soto, Ohad Naharin, William Forsythe, Anne Teresa de Keersmaeker and Akram Khan, and Portuguese choreographers such as Tânia Carvalho, Marco da Silva Ferreira, Olga Roriz, Clara Andermatt, Fernando Duarte, Filipe Portugal, Armando Jorge, Fernando Lima, Carlos Trincheiras, Rui Lopes Graça, Vasco Wellenkamp, Paulo Ribeiro, Rui Horta, among others.



Carlos Prado is the current Artistic Director, succeeding Sofia Campos (2018-2021), Paulo Ribeiro (2016-2018), Luísa Taveira (2010-2016) and 1999-2000), Vasco Wellenkamp (2007-2010), Mehmet Balkan (2002-2007), Marc Jonkers (2001-2002), Jorge Salavisa (1996-1999), Isabel Santa Rosa (1994-1996) and Armando Jorge (1978-1993). The National Ballet of Portugal’s headquarters are at the Camões Theatre in Lisbon.


Salary: gross amount of EUR 5,382.11/month + Representation expenses, paid on a monthly basis, 12 times a year, equal to 6% of the monthly basic amount, corresponding to a total of EUR 322.93 + The right to holiday and Christmas bonuses, as well as meal, subsistence and transport allowances, shall also apply, on the same terms as other OPART employees.