Otto Bubeníček

Otto Bubeníček is a distinguished artist renowned for his career as a Principal Dancer, stage and costume designer, music composer, and filmmaker. With a Master’s Degree in Scenography, he has earned numerous prestigious awards for his contributions to ballet and the arts.

Education

• Conservatory of Music and Dance, Prague
• Master’s Degree in Scenography, HFBK University of Fine Arts, Hamburg (2020)

Professional Experience

• Principal Dancer, Hamburg Ballet (1997–2015)
• Guest Artist, various reputable companies and ballet galas worldwide (1997–2016)
• Co-founder and Performer, Les Ballets Bubeníček, Europe and Asia (2005–present)
• Stage and Costume Designer (2005–present)

Creative Work

Stage design, costume design, music composition, and short films for prestigious venues, including:
• War Memorial Opera House, San Francisco
• David H. Koch Theater, New York
• Teatro alla Scala, Milan
• Vienna State Opera
• Zürich Opera House
• Royal Swedish Opera
• Semperoper Dresden
• Hamburg State Opera
• Badisches Staatstheater Karlsruhe
• Berlin Philharmonic
• Other opera and philharmonic houses

Awards

2017 Silver Medal of the City of Prague: Awarded for contributions to ballet and promoting Prague’s reputation globally. www.praha.eu
2016 Gratias Agit Award: Presented by the Czech Ministry of Foreign Affairs for promoting the Czech Republic abroad.
2016 Die Deutsche Bühne Feature: Scenography for The Piano featured in Die Deutsche Bühne magazine and calendar.
2014 Bearer of Hope Award: Dance Magazine TANZ.
2013 Golden Prag Award: 50th International Television Festival, Prague.
2012 International Ballet Award: Best Duet, Dance Open, St. Petersburg.
2010 Nominated for FAUST Theatre Award: Acting and Dance Performance.
2009 Premio Danza & Danza: Best Dancer, Italy.
1992 Prix Espèces Award: Prix de Lausanne, international competition for young dancers.
1992 Television Viewers Prize: Prix de Lausanne.

Film and Documentary

The Heart Dances – The Journey of The Piano: The Ballet (2018, 1h 38min, Documentary, Dir. Rebecca Tansley)
    - Gold Award, New Zealand Cinematographers Society (Simon Raby).
    - Chronicles the re-staging of The Piano by Otto and Jiří Bubeníček for the Royal New Zealand Ballet, addressing cultural appropriation challenges.
    - Facebook | Filmmaker Q+A
GEN – The Elite Nation’s Gallery (2017, Czech TV)
    - Documentary profiling Otto and Jiří Bubeníček. Czech TV | Show Site
Jiří & Otto Bubeníček (2016, 63min, Documentary, Dir. Martin Kubala)
    - Explores the brothers’ artistic and personal lives during their transition from dancers to choreographers. buc film | Film Database | Karlovy Vary Festival
Nachtrausch (Nocturnal Ecstasy) (2007, Short, Co-dir. Otto Bubeníček, Jana Pulkrábek)
Enlightened (2006, Short, Finalist, SideBySide Art Centre E.V. online video competition)
The Ballet Twins (2002, 52min, Documentary, Dir. Peter Schlögl, NDR/ARTE)
    - a&o büro

Music

Je Rêve (2016, Music Video, Matthias Arfmann Presents Ballet Jeunesse)
    - Choreography by Jiří and Otto Bubeníček, produced with Deutsches Filmorchester Babelsberg, Universal Music Classics.

Media Appearances

TV Talk Shows:
Má Vlast Bratří Bubeníčků (Czech TV, 2018)
Les Ballets Bubeníček – Orfeus (Czech TV, 2016)
Show Jana Krause (Czech TV, 2016)
Studio 6 (Czech TV, 2016)
Na Plovárně (Czech TV, 2014)
Uvolněte Se Prosím (Czech TV, 2008)
Manéž Bolka Polívky (Czech TV, 2006)

Radio:
Těžkej Pokondr (Frekvence 1, 2016)
Taneční Panorama s Janou Návrátovou (ČRo Vltava, 2014, Mozaika, by Marina Feltlová, Helena Petáková)

Cultural Programs:
Události v Kultuře (ČT Art, 2016, Orfeus)
Terra Musica (Czech TV, 2013)
Bubeníček in Prague National Theater (Czech TV 2, 2013)
Faun (Czech TV 2, 2013; TV Premiere, ČT Art, 2019)
Les Ballets Bubeníček (TV Premiere, ČT Art, 2014)
Le Souffle de l’Esprit (ČT Art, 2014)
DVD: Les Ballets Bubeníček (Czech TV, 2014–2015, Dir. Gustav Skála)
Jiří a Otto Bubeníčkovi (Czech TV, Karlovy Vary Festival, 2016)
Mittelfest Highlights (2014, Le Souffle de l’Esprit)

Teaching and Workshops

2017 Studio Architanz, Tokyo: Website
2017 ART of, Madrid: Summer Courses, Website
2012 ART of, Berlin: Summer Course, Website
2006, 2004 International Ballet Masterclasses, Prague: By Daria Klimentova, Website
2005 Sapporo, Japan: Ballet Class Workshop
2011 Ballett für Japan: Charity Ballet Gala, co-organized with Jiří Bubeníček, Facebook

Performances of Les Ballets Bubeníček

Orfeus (2015–2017):
    - Oldenburgisches Staatstheater, Oldenburg, Germany (May 12–14, 2017)
    - HELLERAU – Europäisches Zentrum der Künste, Dresden, Germany (March 3–14, 2017)
    - National Theatre/New Stage, Prague, Czech Republic (September 28, 2016)
    - Nové Divadlo, Plzeň, Czech Republic (July 2015, September 2016)
    - Divadlo na Vinohradech, Prague, Czech Republic (September 2016)
    - Metropol, České Budějovice, Czech Republic (September 2016)
    - Slovenské Národné Divadlo, Bratislava, Slovakia (September 2016)
    - Janáčkovo Divadlo, Brno, Czech Republic (September 2016)
    - Multifunkční Aula Gong, Ostrava, Czech Republic (September 2016)
    - Výstaviště Flora, Olomouc, Czech Republic (September 2016)
Le Souffle de l’Esprit, Toccata, Faun, The Picture of Dorian Gray (2014–2017):
    - Theater Bonn, Germany (February 14–15, 2017)
    - Festival Mittelfest, Cividale del Friuli, Italy (July 19, 2014)
Bubeníček New Year Gala – Canon: Bunkamura Orchard Hall, Tokyo, Japan (January 5–7, 2013)
Bubeníček Ballet World: Castel Sternberk, Šternberk, Czech Republic (July 17, 2012); Castle Velké Losiny, Czech Republic (July 16, 2011)
Jiří & Otto Bubeníček: Auditorium Conciliazione, Rome, Italy (October 11, 2011); Saitama Arts Theatre, Tokyo, Japan (January 23–24, 2010)
Bubeníček & Friends: National Theater, Prague, Czech Republic (May 15–16, 2009; January 11–12, 2014)