Alen Bottaini, a dancer of great virtuosity, a successful blend of English and Russian dance, was born in Tuscany in 1973 to an Italian father and a Scottish mother.
He began his training at his family’s ballet school and, at age 13, continued his studies in England at Bush Davies College, passing all the ISTD and RAD professional exams in both classical and modern dance in just one year.
He entered the Royal Ballet School in London and the following year, on the advice of the great Galina Ulanova, moved to Russia to attend the famous Vaganova Academy (Kirov Theatre School) in St. Petersburg, where he graduated with honors two years later. He completed his studies with a year at the National Canadian Ballet School in Toronto, where he furthered his studies in contemporary dance.
In 1993, he joined the Bayerische State Ballet in Munich, Germany, debuting the following year as a principal dancer in Frederik Ashton’s ballet “La Fille Mal Gardee.” Over the next 15 years, he covered all the principal roles in the classical repertoire and performed several contemporary roles, working with internationally renowned choreographers such as Jiri Kilian, John Neumeier, Mats Ek, Hans Von Manen, and Josè Limon.
In 1996, he won the gold medal at the prestigious Varna International Ballet Award, the first and only Italian ever to do so. This award had previously been won by great dancers such as Mikhail Barishnikov, Vladimir Derevyanko, and Vladimir Vasiliev. That same year, he was invited to dance on the stage of the Bolschoi Theatre in Moscow.
During his long, brilliant, and still active career, he has received numerous awards, including the Premio Positano alla carriera, the Premio Danza e Danza, and the Giuliana Penzi Award. In 2008, he received the title of “Kammertanzer” (Knight of Dance) from the German Minister of Culture in Germany.
Today, he remains an international guest star, dancing at the world’s greatest theaters. He expands his career by creating new choreographies, leading workshops, and master classes, passing on his vast experience to the young dancers of the future.
For five years, he taught at the prestigious ENBS (English National Ballet School) in London. He is currently the Artistic Director of the BBA (Bavaria Ballet Academy) in Munich, Germany, and the ABA (Alen Bottaini Academy) in Chieri, Turin. He is the founder of the ABA Alen Bottaini Academic Ballet Program, a program for professional students adopted by the Bavaria Ballet Academy (Munich) and its associated schools.