The past season has confirmed the Astana Ballet Theatre’s steady growth and its continued relevance on both the national and international stages.
The year 2026 is set to bring a rich tapestry of premier productions and large-scale touring projects, unified by a spirit of bold artistic ideas and a global perspective, DKNews.kz reports.
The new season will focus on developing the theatre’s creative direction, expanding its repertoire, and engaging with the national and international cultural scenes.
The emphasis is on creating exceptional productions that blend classical traditions with contemporary dance styles. Throughout the year, the audience will be presented with new large-scale performances, each of which reflects a key artistic landmark of the theatre.
The modern one-act ballet “Bolero X” to the music of Maurice Ravel, which is based on the orchestral variations of Bolero, will offer viewers a thoughtful reflection on the nature of dance and the process of its creation. This production will emphasise the theatre’s desire to communicate with the audience through the medium of relevant choreography, reinterpreting musical masterpieces of the 20th century in a modern stage interpretation.
A significant place in the repertoire will be occupied by the national ballet “Qyz Jibek”, which will be staged by the theatre’s chief choreographer, Mukaram Avakhri. The performance will set an example for respecting cultural heritage by combining traditional imagery with modern stagecraft to present Kazakh classics in a contemporary artistic form.
The season’s landmark event will be the large-scale premiere of the ballet “La Bayadère”, widely recognised as a masterpiece of the classical repertoire. The staging of this work serves to confirm the Astana Ballet Theatre’s dedication to the preservation of academic traditions, as well as its commitment to presenting the finest examples of the world ballet repertoire to the Kazakhstani audience, at a consistently high professional standard.
The 2026 repertoire will comprise a combination of classical ballets from world classics, modern choreographic projects, national programs and concert formats. Performances and concerts featuring the theatre’s symphony orchestra will occupy a significant place, as will projects involving the choir, soloists and guest conductors. The theatre will continue to develop its concert program, strengthening its musical focus and showcasing the orchestra as an autonomous artistic entity.
This year, the Astana Ballet Theatre has extensive touring plans, including performances in regions of Kazakhstan and participation in international cultural exchanges. We will pay special attention to educational and social projects. This will include the development of cooperation with the Academy, support for young choreographers and performers, and the implementation of international creative initiatives.
Tair Karatayev, Director of the Astana Ballet Theatre, noted,
“We are consistently working to ensure that the theatre remains a modern, open and dynamically developing venue. The new season will not only feature premieres and tours, but also seek to strengthen the professional environment, expand the audience, and take responsibility for the theatre’s cultural mission”
The artistic director of the theatre, Nurlan Kanetov, highlighted the artistic concept for the upcoming year:
“We believe it is important for the repertoire to reflect a lively dialogue between classics and modernity, national tradition and the universal language of choreography. We are preparing a selection of ballet masterpieces for your enjoyment, including “La Bayadère” Ballet, the “Qyz Jibek” National Ballet, and the modern “Bolero X” performance, which features a blend of classical and contemporary choreographic styles. The season promises to be both outstanding and eventful”
