Nanu Alina
Main achievement
Ballerina. Principal Dancer Czech National Ballet. 1st Prize at the Romanian Ballet Competition
About
Alina Nanu, born on August 23, 1990, in Chisinau, Republic of Moldova, is a remarkable ballerina who began her studies at the State Conservatory of Dance in Moldova, later continuing them at the Prague Conservatory of Dance, which she graduated from in 2010. Even during her student years, she participated in international tours in Spain, Germany, and the USA, winning important awards, such as second place at the International Ballet Competition in Brno (2009) and first place at the one in Romania (2009). Her professional career debuted in 2010 at the State Opera in Prague, where she was promoted to soloist in 2011, performing iconic roles such as Odette/Odile in "Swan Lake," Kitri in "Don Quixote," and Myrtha in "Giselle." Since 2012, Alina Nanu has been part of the Czech National Ballet at the National Theatre in Prague, becoming one of the leading figures of the ensemble; in 2015, she was promoted to principal dancer, being recognized as the youngest principal ballerina in the theatre's history. She has performed an impressive repertoire, including classical roles such as Juliet in "Romeo and Juliet," Aurora in "The Sleeping Beauty," Clara in "The Nutcracker," and Nikiya in "La Bayadère," as well as contemporary works by choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, and Mauro Bigonzetti. Major achievements include the National Theatre Director's Award for young artists under 35 (2015), Thalia Awards for "La fille mal gardée" (2019) and "Onegin" (2020), a nomination for Dancer of the Year by Dance Europe (2019), and People's Artist from the President of Moldova (2023). Alina Nanu regularly participates in prestigious international galas, representing the Czech National Ballet alongside ensembles from Finland or Norway, and has been invited as a teacher in programs such as Prague Ballet Intensive. Although details about her personal life remain private, her Moldovan roots – with mixed Moldovan, Russian, and Ossetian origins – define her as a symbol of excellence in ballet, contributing to the promotion of Moldovan dance on major European stages.
