Japan Performing Arts Foundation (NBS) is delighted to present the 17th World Ballet Festival from Wednesday 31 July to Saturday 10 August 2024 at Tokyo Bunka Kaikan.
When the World Ballet Festival was first introduced in 1976 under the leadership of the late Tadatsugu Sasaki, Founder of Japan Performing Arts Foundation, it was very rare for the star dancers of different companies or countries to share the stage. Its first edition caused an international sensation by bringing together three legends, Margot Fonteyn from the UK, Maya Plisetskaya from the Soviet Union and Alicia Alonso from Cuba.
Since then, held triennially in Japan, it has become one of the most prestigious and largest international ballet festivals. This summer, leading dancers from around the world will gather again to perform a wide array of ballets from classic to contemporary.
Ticket information, programs and more participating artists will be announced as soon as they are confirmed. Date(s) for special performance(s) of a full-length ballet will also be announced at a later date.
The curtain call at the 16th World Ballet Festival in 2021 photo: Kiyonori Hansegawa
Performance Dates and Venue
Program A
Wednesday 31 July 2024 @Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Thursday 1 August 2024 @Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Friday 2 August 2024 @Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Saturday 3 August 2024 @Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Sunday 4 August 2024 @Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Program B
Wednesday 7 August 2024 @Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Thursday 8 August 2024 @Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Friday 9 August 2024 @Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Saturday 10 August 2024 @Tokyo Bunka Kaikan
Participating Artists
(as of 8 February 2024)
Elisa Badenes, The Stuttgart Ballet
Roberto Bolle, La Scala Ballet
William Bracewell, The Royal Ballet, first appearance
Mackenzie Brown, The Stuttgart Ballet, first appearance
Dorothée Gilbert, Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris
Marcelo Gomes, Dresden Semperoper Ballett
Mathias Heymann, Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris
Kimin Kim, Mariinsky Ballet
Sarah Lamb, The Royal Ballet
Hugo Marchand, Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris
Vadim Muntagirov, The Royal Ballet
May Nagahisa, Mariinsky Ballet
Marianela Nuñez, The Royal Ballet
Hannah O'Neill, Ballet de l'Opéra national de Paris
Daniil Simkin
Olga Smirnova, Dutch National Ballet
Diana Vishneva, Mariinsky Ballet
Friedemann Vogel, The Stuttgart Ballet
* More artists will be announced at a later date.
* Casting as of 8 February 2024 is subject to change. Changes in the cast do not entitle holders to return or exchange tickets.
