Nina Brzoradová
This biography and image is taken from Nina’s biography at the National Theatre in Prague website.
Ballet master of the National Theatre Ballet Nina Brzorad, born in New York City, began her formal ballet training at age 11 at the Balanchine School of American Ballet, where she received full scholarship at the age of 12. Also studied at the American Ballet Theatre School as well as modern dance and jazz at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.
While still a student at the School of American Ballet, was chosen by Stanley Williams (one of her most influential teachers) to perform the leading roles in his restaging of the Bournonville classics, Napoli, Konservatoriet and La Sylphide, for the annual workshop performances. At age 16 received her first professional engagements with Eglevsky Ballet Company in NY and Ballet Spectacular, performing classical pas de deux such as Flower Festival and Don Quixote, with fellow student partner, Fernando Bujones.She then joined American Ballet Theatre where she danced for four years, touring the USA and participating in the movie “The Turning Point“, featuring M.Baryshnikov.Became a principal dancer with the Iranian National Ballet in Teheran, lran.Danced a variety of leading roles in full length classics as well as John Butler’s Carmina Burana and After Eden, plus other repertory.
Due to the political upheaval in Iran, returned to the. US where she went on to join the New Jersey Ballet Company as principal dancer. Danced leading roles in the company’s classical and contemporary repertory, as well as numerous Balanchine ballets. The company’s artistic advisor, Edward Villela, restaged his Romeo and Juliet pas de deux especially for her. Became principal dancer with Essener Ballett in Germany. For three years she danced all the leading roles in the repertory, including working with Dutch choreographer, Hans Van Manen and appearing as a guest in various dance festivals with the Essener Ballett in Koln, Frankfurt, Hanover and on television. Upon her return to N.Y., Nina Brzorad became principal dancer, co-founder and associate artistic director of the Dance Theatre of Long Island in N.Y., under the artistic direction of Ali Pourfarrokh, as well as co-founder and faculty member of the North Shore School of Dance.
She was also an associate professor and artist in residence at the Hofstra University Dance Department in NY Her other teaching credits include, ballet instructor for Neubert Ballet Institute at Carnegie Hall, Peridance School(artistic director Igal Perry) and the Ballet Academy East, all in N.Y. City. During the last ten years she has been working in the Czech Republic, mainly in Prague as a freelance company teacher for the National Theatre Ballet, Prague Chamber Ballet, Laterna magika and conducted several master classes for the dance department at the Charles University in Prague. She also continues to guest-teach for the Gärtnerplatz Theatre in Munich, Germany, as well as in N.Y. Since 2002, Nina Brzorad is the main company teacher for the National Theatre Ballet in Prague, under the Artistic Direction of Peter Zuska as well as rehearsal assistant and coach.