Royal Ballet star Natalia Osipova returns to Israel with world premiere by Israeli choreographer

Natalia Osipova, a principal dancer with London’s Royal Ballet, one of the world’s leading ballet companies for nearly a century, will return to Israel to perform her ballet program, Force of Nature, at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center on December 17 and 18.

The program combines excerpts from classical ballets with contemporary dance works created especially for Osipova, who will perform alongside American dancer and choreographer Jason Kittelberger and an ensemble of guest dancers.

The performances will also feature the world premiere of a new work created in collaboration with an Israeli choreographer, whose name has not yet been announced.

Osipova, born in Moscow, trained at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography before joining the Bolshoi Ballet. Although she began in the corps de ballet, she performed eight solo roles during her first season.

She drew international attention in 2007 when the Bolshoi visited London, and the danced Kitri in Don Quixote, a production directed by Alexei Ratmansky. That role is considered one of the most important in the ballet repertoire. Her performance drew enthusiastic reviews and helped establish her international career.

She subsequently appeared with major ballet companies and theaters in Paris, Milan, Berlin, and New York. In 2013, she joined the Royal Ballet in London, where she continues to perform.

Over the years, Osipova has worked with leading choreographers, including Ratmansky, Arthur Pita, Akram Khan, and Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui. She has received numerous awards, including the National Dance Awards and the Benois de la Danse prize.

From classical ballet to contemporary dance

The Tel Aviv program will feature excerpts from Giselle, one of Osipova’s signature classical roles, and Le Corsaire, known for its technically demanding pas de deux.

Another selection is Isadora, Frederick Ashton’s choreography set to five Brahms’ waltzes in the style of Isadora Duncan, the pioneering modern dancer.

The contemporary portion of the program includes Ashes, an intimate duet choreographed by Kittelberger in collaboration with Osipova. The work explores the relationship between two people through movement.

Osipova and Kittelberger also established Blooms Dance Project, an independent initiative that presents selections from her classical and contemporary repertoire while developing new productions.

The story behind Osipova's 'Force of Nature'

The title Force of Nature has accompanied Osipova for several years. In 2018, British filmmaker Gerald Fox directed the documentary Force of Nature Natalia, which followed her work in rehearsals and performances. In 2022, Osipova developed a stage program under the same title, bringing together highlights from different periods of her career.

Alon Yurik Productions will present The Force of Nature on December 17 and 18 at the Tel Aviv Performing Arts Center.