Radu Poklitaru Choreographer Date of Birth: 22.03.1972 Country: Moldova

Biography of Răzvan Poclitaru

Răzvan Poclitaru, a renowned choreographer, was born in 1972 in Chișinău, Moldova, into a family of ballet artists. He spent his childhood and adolescence in Moldova, where he developed a passion for dance. In 1991, Poclitaru graduated from the Perm State Choreographic School in Russia, and in 1999, he completed his studies at the Belarusian State Academy of Music, specializing in ballet directing.

From 1991 to 2001, Poclitaru was a ballet artist at the National Academic Theater of Belarus. After finishing his studies, he began creating his own choreographic productions, including "The Fairy's Kiss" by Igor Stravinsky (1999) and "The World Doesn't End at the Doorstep of the House" to the music of Gustav Mahler and Jules Depre (1999).

In 2001, Poclitaru returned to his homeland and served as the principal ballet director at the National Opera of Moldova for a year. In 2002, he became a wandering choreographer, staging numerous outstanding productions throughout the former Soviet Union. Some of his notable works include "Carmen" by Georges Bizet and Rodion Shchedrin (Odessa State Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, 2002), "Pictures at an Exhibition" to the music of Modest Mussorgsky (Ukrainian National Opera named after Taras Shevchenko, 2002), "The Rite of Spring" by Igor Stravinsky (Ukrainian National Opera named after Taras Shevchenko, 2002), "In pivo veritas" to Irish pub music and Renaissance music (Minsk State Musical Theater, 2003), "Bolero" and "Waltz" to the music of Maurice Ravel (National Opera of Moldova, 2003), and "Othello's Birthday" to the music of Sergei Prokofiev (Russian Chamber Ballet "Moscow", 2004). These productions brought Poclitaru widespread recognition and numerous awards.

At the National Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, Poclitaru directed a full-length ballet adaptation of Sergei Prokofiev's "Romeo and Juliet" (in collaboration with English director Declan Donnellan, 2003) and a one-act ballet "Ward No. 6" to the music of Arvo Pärt (2004).

In 2005, Poclitaru was invited to Riga to stage the ballet "Cinderella" at the Latvian National Opera. Moldova, Belarus, and Russia considered Poclitaru their own choreographer. However, in 2006, thanks to the patronage of Vladimir Fillipov, the "Kyiv Modern Ballet" theater was established in Kyiv, Ukraine under Poclitaru's direction.

By the fall of 2008, the "Kyiv Modern Ballet" theater celebrated its second anniversary. During this time, Poclitaru directed six productions on the stages of Kyiv theaters and presented them at European festivals. These productions included "Carmen.TV" and "Veronese Myth: Shakesperiments," where the musical foundation was compiled and classical plots were dissected, as well as "The Nutcracker," which faithfully followed Tchaikovsky's original musical score. He also created two one-act fantasies to the music of Maurice Ravel, Johann Sebastian Bach, and ethnic music of various cultures, titled "Rain" and "Bolero." Critics describe each of Poclitaru's works as bold experiments and daring explorations that provide unexpected interpretations of universally known theatrical plots, renew and enrich the form and vocabulary of contemporary dance, and deeply reveal the complex inner world of human beings. Poclitaru is always open to experimenting with his artistic soul and does not shy away from breaking taboos, combining classical and modern dance styles.

Poclitaru's productions have been showcased at international music festivals and tours in the United Kingdom, France, the United States, and the Netherlands. His choreographic works have earned him laureates at international competitions and festivals. He has won the first prize at the Oleg Danovsky Competition (Romania), the "Musical World" Festival (Italy), the "Varna-2000" Ballet Artists Competition (Bulgaria), the "Arabesque-2000" Ballet Artists Competition (Perm, Russia), the Ballet Artists and Choreographers Competition in Moscow, the International Contemporary Choreography Festival in Vitebsk (Belarus), and the Sergei Lifar Ballet and Choreographers Competition (Ukraine).

In late 2008, Răzvan Poclitaru will present the premiere of his production "Underground" at the Ivan Franko Theater.