A fixture of the Ballet Spring Festival programme is the "Spectrum" series. Launched in 2023, the project provides a platform for choreographic debuts by Wielki Theatre dancers. Yet, the responsibilities of the artists who perform there daily extend far beyond creating and presenting dance études. They oversee the wider production of the show developing communication strategies, preparing promotional materials, designing sets, and selecting music and costumes. Dancers' careers are often short. The experience gained work on "Spectrum" allows them to explore new forms of expression and access new career paths.

This year, ten dancers from the company took part in the project, and we will see exactly that number of choreographic études brought to life on stage. With such a mix of voices, don't expect a neat, consistent ballet performance. Instead, over the course of one evening, audiences will be treated to ten distinct and varied pieces. As the organisers put it: "Past editions of "Spectrum" have proven that dancers' creativity can both surprise and captivate the crowd." The premiere of "Spectrum 04" is set for 27 February, with a second show to be held the day after.

Further instalments of the Ballet Spring Festival will continue into well into March. The spotlight returns to youth on 10 March, when ballet school graduates united within the Polish National Ballet Junior project will take to the stage in "Juvenalia", a night featuring three choreographies. The title nods to an étude by Krzysztof Pastor, the initiator of PNB Junior, which, as the organisers explain,challenges the dancers "with the vibrant music of John Adams, celebrating the pure joy of dance and youthful energy". That same night also sees "Fantaisie polonaise / Polish Fantasy", choreographed by Dawid Trzensimiech, set to music by Frédéric Chopin, alongside "Fluxus / Stream of Consciousness". The latter, described as "an exploration of the movement of thought-those fleeting ideas that come and go, overlap, and shift in intensity", is choreographed by Katarzyna Kozielska.

On 12 March, the spotlight turns to seasoned dance artists. The troupe from the National Theatre of Brno will present "Black and White", a modern twist on "Swan Lake". In Mário Radačovský's interpretation, the tale unfolds through the eyes of the protagonist, Siegfried, as he battles cancer. The authors describe it as "a story of love, loss and inner transformation, shown through characters balancing on the edge between life and death, black and white-light and darkness."

The festival's grand finale on 14 March will be "Carmen", performed by the ballet company of Opera Nova in Bydgoszcz. Johan Inger's production has been met with glowing reviews, praised for its fusion of contemporary and classical choreography, with ensemble scenes standing out in particular. "This contemporary choreographic vision moves, seduces and captivates. Reviewers call it a "complete production', and audiences leave the theatre utterly enchanted," say the organisers.

Three years ago, Robert Bondara, the mind behind the Ballet Spring Festival's programme, said: "We very much hope that the festival will become a fixture in the yearly repertoire in Poznań and transport us into a passionate, innovative and inspirational world of dance, bringing ballet closer to audiences, making it more accessible than ever before." Has it delivered? The best way to find out is by visiting the Wielki Theatre yourself.

Agnieszka Nawrocka

translation: Krzysztof Kotkowski

Ballet Spring Festival
Wielki Theatre, 27 February-14 March

© Wydawnictwo Miejskie Posnania 2026