RIJEKA Paolo Mangiola appointed the new Ballet Director of the Croatian Nartional Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka. Mangiola joined the National Ballet in Rijeka after seven years as Director of the National Dance Company Malta and an extraordinary career as a dancer and choreographer.

„I am honored - Mangiola said - and excited to join the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc in Rijeka as Ballet Director on this new journey. I am deeply grateful to the General Manger of the Croatian National Theatre in Rijeka, Ms. Dubravka Vrgoč for placing her trust in me by offering this beautiful opportunity, and I am thrilled to contribute to this exciting new chapter as we explore new ways to expand what ballet can mean in today’s world“.

At the beginning of his four-years term in Rijeka, he also explaines: "Rijeka is a city with a rich cultural legacy and an engaged community, and I am inspired by the energy and creativity it offers. My goal is to foster an environment where artists can thrive and audiences can experience the profound impact of dance. Together, we will honor the company’s traditions while opening doors to new choreographic voices and artistic collaborations that reflect the vibrancy of our time. Our program will strike a balance between accessibility and innovation by reinventing the ‘big classics’ while investigating new directions in the art form and translating relevant social themes into dance. We will explore contemporary storytelling and immerse ourselves in the new languages that dance can offer."

The audience in Rijeka is especially important to him, to whom he promises a lot of dance excitement: "The Rijeka audience is at the center of this vision and through choreographing and curating high-quality, thought-provoking performances I will offer a dynamic mix of classical heritage and contemporary expression. I look forward to the opportunity to engage with the city’s audiences and to contribute to its thriving artistic scene. I believe in dance as a universal language that connects and prepares us for change, inviting new ideas and offering both intellectual and visceral experiences that transcend cultural boundaries. I am excited to embark on this new journey with the the Croatian National Theatre Ivan pl. Zajc, collaborating with its talented artists and team to create impactful and inspiring dance experiences for our audiences and make the transformative power of dance accessible to all.“

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