Ballet SNG Maribor concluded a successful season with a guest appearance at the Dubrovnik Summer Games

The Maribor Ballet's performance at this year’s Dubrovnik Summer Games has stirred memories of Vaslav Nijinsky, one of the most influential figures in modern dance history. The event took place on Saturday and Sunday at the Revelin fortress in Dubrovnik, where the ballet presented Wedding and The Rite of Spring, choreographed by Edward Clug. These performances marked the end of the Maribor Ballet’s season and were part of the Dubrovnik Summer Games, one of Europe’s oldest and most prestigious festivals of performing arts. The performances featured two key works rooted in the modernist movements of the early 20th century. In The Rite of Spring, Clug paid tribute to Nijinsky, whose revolutionary choreography in 1913 forever changed the course of dance. This piece was paired with Wedding, which continued the exploration of Igor Stravinsky’s work and drew inspiration from Bronislava Nijinsky’s famous choreography from 1923. The production team included set designer Marko Japelj, costume designer Leo Kulaš, lighting designer Tomaž Premzl, and sound designer Gregor Mendaš. The cast of Wedding included Monja Obrul and Catarina De Meneses as the bride, Jan Trninič as the groom, Evgenija Koškina as the bride’s mother, Ionut Dinita as the groom’s father, and Lucio Mautone as the false bride. Additional dancers were Tijuana Križman Hudernik, Beatrice Bartolomei, Ema Perić, Mirjana Šrot, Olesja Hartmann, Mina Radaković, Nuša Urnaut, Satomi Netsu, Davide Buffone, Matteo Magalotti, Tomaž Viktor Abram Golub, Christopher Thompson, Maro Vranaričič, Matteo Beeckman, and Aleksandar Trenevski. For The Rite of Spring, the performers included Evgenija Koškina, Tijuana Križman Hudernik, Mirjana Šrot, Beatrice Bartolomei, Monja Obrul, Mina Radaković, Ionut Dinita, Jan Trninič, Davide Buffone, Matteo Magalotti, Lucio Mautone, and Tomaž Viktor Abram Golub. The Dubrovnik Summer Games, running from July 10 to August 25, have long been a platform for international artists. This year, several Slovenian performers will take the stage alongside their foreign counterparts. On July 27, the fortress of Lovrijenac will host the premiere of Shakespeare’s Richard III, produced in collaboration between the Dubrovnik Festival and the national theaters in Zagreb and Varazdin. Directed by Vito Taufer, the production features set and costume design by Branko Hojnik and Alan Hranitelj. On August 7, the same venue will see the repeat performance of Medea, directed by Martin Kušej. This play was also created through an international co-production involving the Dubrovnik Festival, the Drama Theatre of the Ljubljana Opera, and the Croatian National Theatre in Varazdin. Among the actors is current winner of the Borštnik Award, Ales Valič. The festival continues its tradition of showcasing diverse theatrical productions, including both classical and contemporary works. This year’s lineup includes Elizabetan and Greek tragedies, reflecting the festival’s commitment to presenting a wide range of dramatic forms. The performances are held at various locations throughout Dubrovnik, drawing audiences from around the world. The presence of Slovenian artists at the festival underscores the growing influence of Slovenian theatre on the international scene. The collaboration between Slovenian and Croatian institutions highlights the cultural ties between the two countries and the shared heritage of their artistic traditions. As the festival progresses, more performances featuring Slovenian talent are expected to take place, continuing the legacy of the Dubrovnik Summer Games as a premier destination for performing arts.