Milica Bijelic Festival Ballet Providence Ballet Mistress

Born in Belgrade, Ms. Bijelic started her dance education at the Lujo Davico Ballet School at age 10. From 1975 to 1978 she studied at The Academy of Choreography in Moscow (studying with N.N. Kuzmina and G.K. Kuzenecova), and joined The National Opera and Ballet Theatre of Belgrade upon graduation in 1978. The coaches and teachers who most inspired her were Katarina Obradovic, M. Volodina, S. Afanasieva, M. Atanasiu, R.Klavin, Maryon Lane, and many others, both domestic and foreign. She quickly became a soloist, and in 1985 she was promoted to principal ballerina in 1985. The majority of her dancing career has been devoted to the National Opera and Ballet Theater in Belgrade where she appeared in a great number of principal roles over the period of more than two decades, including those in: Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Les Sylphides, Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Per Gynt, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Jelisaveta, Concerto Barocco, Love Divine, Ohrids Legend, Tales of Hoffman, Peter Pan, Resurrection and many others.

With the role of Marguerite Gotier in The Lady of the Camellias Ms. Bijelic celebrated her 20th anniversary at the National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Belgrade. Her awards include: the Prize of the National Opera and Ballet Theatre (1980) for the role of Swanhilda in Coppelia; a Public Award of Merit (1981) for the role of Antonia in Tales of Hoffman; the Award of Distinction on the Tenth Yugoslavian Ballet Biennial (1983) in Ljubljana for the role of Solveig in Per Gynt; and a Public Award of Merit (1985) for Wendy in Peter Pan.

The National Opera and Ballet Theatre in Belgrade honored Ms. Bijelic with a life-achievement award in 1997 for artistic and professional excellence throughout her career. Milica retired in 2002 as first ballerina from the National Opera and Ballet, and soon after began the next chapter of here career in the United States At Festival Ballet Providence together with Mr. Djuric, she has staged Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote. This is Ms. Bijelic’s fifth season as a member of Festival Ballet Providence’s artistic staff and Center for Dance Education’s faculty.