Jolanta Valeikaite Festival Ballet Providence Ballet Mistress

Born and raised in Vilnius, Lithuania, Ms. Valeikaite received her training from the Vilnius Ballet School. As a student she received her break through at age 18, in her debut in the title role of Giselle, whereupon she was promoted to soloist in the Lithuanian National Ballet Company.  Her coaches included T. Legat, I. Kolpakova and P. Gusev.  A principal for 10 years with the company, Jolanta danced numerous principal roles including those in Swan Lake, Giselle, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Raymonda, and Romeo & Juliet, and toured extensively in the Unites States, South America, and Europe. In 1988 she received prizes in international ballet competitions in Moscow, Varna and Paris.
 
Moving to Germany in 1992, Ms. Valeikaite was principal at Bonn Ballet  (1992-1994), and at Essen Ballet (1994-1997).  Additionally she has appeared as guest artist at numerous other companies including V. Vasiliev-E.Maximova Company, the Bolshoi, Xin Peng Wang and Ruth Page’s Nutcracker.  She continues to collaborate with the Lithuanian National Opera and Ballet Theater on numerous projects. From 1998 to 2001 she established, directed and instructed at her own ballet School in Bonn. Since 2003 she has been Ballet Mistress and choreographer for the Performing Arts School of Worcester, as well as teaching in several other dance schools.  This is Yolanta’s first year in this position at Festival Ballet Providence.