a city-wide stage
a city-wide stage
NOVARTS BALLET
a city-wide stage
Launching in September 2026, NOVARTS BALLET is a new emerging reality within the international dance scene.
Although occasionally touring domestically and abroad, the company is primarily based in Tallinn, Estonia, where its headquarters are located and where the majority of the performances are held.
Unlike most ballet companies — traditionally associated with a single theatre — each production of NOVARTS BALLET takes place in a different venue, enabling the dancers to perform in Tallinn’s most beautiful and historically significant locations.
The company is founded and directed by former lead soloist dancer Cristiano Principato who, in June 2026, stepped down from a twelve-year career with the Dutch National Ballet and the Estonian National Ballet in order to establish this new and dynamic organisation.
He serves as Artistic Director, main coach and choreographer.
a two-rank-ONLY structure
Designed around a totally unique organisational model, NOVARTS BALLET introduces a new way of presenting high-quality classical ballet.
Instead of relying on a large permanent ensemble with the extensive hierarchy typical of a traditional ballet company, NOVARTS BALLET operates with a smaller roster of dancers composed of only two ranks (both featured in all shows).
• GUEST ARTISTS from prominent ballet companies across Estonia and Europe are invited to perform the leading and soloist roles.
Alongside several recurring guests returning throughout multiple productions and seasons, the company will also continuously introduce new dancers to the Estonian audience.
• STUDIO COMPANY ARTISTS from all over the world perform both leading and group roles, while working tirelessly on perfecting their craft.
Training and rehearsing five days a week in Tallinn, Novarts Ballet Studio Company nurtures a carefully selected group of emerging young dancers.
The team evolves each season, constantly welcoming a new generation of talent until they are ready to enter the professional dance world.
A minimalistic and innovatiVe SHOW-STYLE
This very fluid and ever evolving structure also shapes NOVARTS BALLET's artistic identity and production model.
The company presents five to six programmes per season, all with a limited number of performances in order to preserve the highest possible artistic quality.
The lineup alternates between full-length works, mixed bills, and ballet galas.
Without relying on a single permanent theatre or a large fixed ensemble, the company embraces a more flexible and modern way of presenting classical ballet.
Each show offers a fresh perspective that is minimalistic, innovative, and international in character.
Depending on the production, the company may also collaborate with artists from other disciplines, incorporating elements such as visual projections, live musicians, singers, or performers from different dance styles.
This represents a new vibrant addition to the already rich Estonian ballet scene.
STUDIO COMPANY
A BRIDGE BETWEEN ACADEMY AND COMPANY
Also opening in September 2026, NOVARTS STUDIO COMPANY is a new transition programme for emerging dancers preparing to enter the professional ballet world.
The mission of the Studio Company is to welcome dancers who are expected to complete their studies within the summer (or who graduated in recent years) but have not yet managed to secure a work contract for the upcoming theatre season, despite having reached a very high level of preparation.
Bridging the gap between academy and company, this scheme is designed for talented dancers who remain highly motivated to pursue professional engagements and are looking for a safe space not only to maintain top ballet shape, but also to continue evolving once their formal education is completed.
Over the course of the season, the Studio Company assists members throughout their search for contracts within professional ballet companies.
This model may also suit already experienced professional dancers who are temporarily navigating a period without employment.
a sustainable model
NOVARTS BALLET itself has been created with the purpose of financially sustaining the Studio Company and allowing the programme to exist in a tuition-free form.
Operating as a self-sustaining non-profit organisation, revenue generated through performances is reinvested into covering the organisation’s many running costs, including resident and guest teachers’ fees, studios and theatres' rentals, costumes, props, and more.
Although Studio Company members do not receive a monthly salary and performances themselves are unpaid, their active participation in the preparation and presentation of productions directly contributes towards sustaining the programme financially.
In this sense, the dancers’ work within the company allows them to be able to attend the program entirely tuition-free.
As such, the position can be considered both an unpaid apprentice role and, at the same time, a free-of-charge course — a hybrid between a pre-professional experience and a post-graduate training programme.
A TASTE OF PROFESSIONAL LIFE
Running from September 2026 to June 2027, the plan has a part-time structure (10:00–14:30), five days a week.
Training generally takes place on weekdays (Monday to Friday), although the timetable may occasionally shift during performance or audition periods.
In such cases, activities may be held during weekends while still maintaining an overall five-day working week.
Each day begins with a morning ballet class, providing consistent professional training.
From time to time, prestigious guests are invited for a few days to teach ballet class or other complementary disciplines (Pilates, conditioning and more).
In addition, the Studio Company rehearses every day for its upcoming performances, allowing members to experience the daily routine of a professional dancer.
Through this process, dancers will develop the ability to retain choreography efficiently, dance in unison, work on acting and stage presence, adapt to different choreographic styles and further refine their technique and artistry in both group and solo roles, all within a very harmonious environment.
Members also always share the stage with already accomplished professionals, and get to be inspired by them.
The overall amount of scheduled performances will remain moderate, allowing dancers to gain precious stage experience while maintaining a strong focus on quality and preserving time and energy to prepare for upcoming auditions.
A RUNWAY TO YOUR AUDITIONS
In fact, amid audition periods, part of the rehearsal time is replaced by individual sessions to work on required variations.
Longer breaks (seven to fourteen days) are also scheduled throughout the year (autumn break, winter break, spring break etcetera).
Such off time may prove particularly useful, allowing dancers not only to recover and reunite with families, but also to potentially attend several auditions back to back, as these often fall within the same timeframe.
Dancers may be excused to attend international auditions during regular working days as well, provided that the absence is communicated with appropriate notice and that a replacement/solution can be arranged should the audition fall on a performance day.
A CREATIVE HUB IN TALLINN
Novarts Ballet operates in Tallinn’s city centre within the facilities of Free Flow Studio: its building is often referred to as a “Creative Hub”, since it functions as a multidisciplinary arts centre combining dance studios, acrobatics facilities, a music recording studio, and a producing company.
Prior to the start of the project in September, the largest room will be equipped with ballet barres, high-quality Harlequin linoleum, and a sprung floor underneath it.
This ensures that the dancers’ everyday work takes place in safe conditions at such crucial stage of their development.
The studio is located in Telliskivi (Tallinn’s cultural district), a dynamic space known for its artistic vibe, independent businesses, cafés, galleries and performing venues.
A CITY BETWEEN HISTORY AND EVOLUTION
Tallinn provides a very convenient base for dancers who need to travel across Europe for auditions.
The city is well connected through Tallinn Airport, which is located just a fifteen-minute car ride from the city centre and offers direct flights to many major European capitals, as well as frequent connections through nearby hubs such as Helsinki (Helsinki itself can also be reached in only two hours by ferry).
Despite being a capital city, Tallinn is safe, living costs are moderate, and all areas are easy to navigate and just a short distance from one another.
Public transportation is free for residents after officially registering in the population database.
During the winter months, the city transforms into a true winter wonderland, while in the summer it turns into a vibrant green harbour city illuminated by the spectacular white nights of the northern Baltic region.
Tallinn is characterised by a unique contrast between history and modernity.
On one hand it features wonderful ancient sites like the medieval Old Town (UNESCO World Heritage), the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral or the baroque Kadriorg Palace with its beautiful adjacent park (among other historical buildings).
On the other hand, the heart of the city has been immediately surrounded by modern architecture: few examples are the contemporary Rotermanni district, the skyscrapers area of Rävala, as well as the newly renovated Noblessner port.
Estonia is an ever-growing country that is recognised as one of the most digitally advanced nations in Europe, internationally known for startups such as Skype and Bolt.
The country is a member of the European Union and NATO, offering a stable, secure and connected environment.
This unique atmosphere, which attracts countless young expats and university students every year, provides an inspiring setting for dancers to train, perform, and take their first steps in their professional journey.
