Viktorina Kapitonova Principal Dancer of the Ballett Zurich Dance Open: 2016

Viktorina Kapitonova, who is a native of Russia, studied at the Kazan Ballet School and Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre Academy. From 2005 onwards she danced at the Jalil Opera House in Kazan, performing solo roles in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, La Bayadere, Coppelia and The Nutcracker. In 2008 became the winner of both the Young Ballet of Russia competition and the Arabesque contest. She was a member of the Stanislavsky Ballet for the 2008/09 season; and she joined Ballett Zurich in 2010, since when her performances have included leading parts of classical repertoire. Last season she was seen in the title role of Spuck's Anna Karenina and as Giselle/Myrtha in Patrice Bart's Giselle, alongside Roberto Bolle and Friedemann Vogel. Along with classical roles her repertoire includes parts in ballets by Duato, Balanchine, Ek, Forsythe, Kylian, Lee, McGregor and Schlapfer. Viktorina presented her choreography Two Bodies One Soul as part of the company's Young Choreographers programme. She was also the recipient of the Friends of Ballett Zurich's Dance Prize for 2015. Viktorina created Odile/Odette with Alexei Ratmansky for his recreation of Swan Lake. She danced the World Premiere performance at Zurich Opera house in February 2016.

Alexander Jones Principal Dancer of the Ballett Zurich Dance Open: 2016

Born in Rochford (Essex) in the UK, trained at Londons Royal Ballet School. He won the gold medal at the Adeline Gene Competition in Athens in 2004, and followed this by earning the Dame Ninette de Valois Prize. He initially joined the Stuttgart Ballet for its 2005/06 season, and was promoted to principal dancer from 2011/12. His roles during his Stuttgart tenure included Armand Duval in John Neumeier's The Lady of the Camelias, Romeo in John Cranko's Romeo and Juliet, the title roles in Cranko's Onegin and Kevin O'Day's Hamlet and the Man in Kenneth McMillan's The Song of the Earth. He also performed in choreographies by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Frederick Ashton, Peter Schaufuss, Glen Tetley, Maurice Bjart, Marcia Hayde, Hans van Manen, William Forsythe, Douglas Lee, Wayne McGregor, Edward Clug and Christian Spuck. He joined Ballett Zurich as a soloist for the 2015/16 season.

Victoria Ananyan First Soloist of the Ballets de Monte-Carlo Dance Open: 2017

She comes from the family of ballet dancers. Her grandfather, Zare Muradyan, is one of the ballet founders in Armenia and her grandmother graduated from the then St. Petersburg Choreography College. Her parents are also professional dancers and ballet tutors, they trained their daughter until she turned 17. Victoria continued the family tradition and entered the Perm Choreography College, that has recently turned into a breeding ground for the leading ballet companies of the world, in 2000. After the graduation she joined the Perm Ballet Company. After her participation at the Arabesk Ballet Competition and Vaganova-prix in 2002 her talent became obvious. In 2007 she joined the Dutch National Ballet where she performed first in the corps de ballet and then as a soloist. In the 2011/2012 season she performed with the San Francisco Ballet where she aimed to broaden her creative and technical skills. In 2015 she joined the Ballets de Monte-Carlo by the invitation of Jean-Christophe Maillot. She participated in the Dance Open Festival twice with the Dutch National Ballet: in 2014 in Hans van Manen. Master of Movement and in 2015 in Back to Bach. In 2017 Victoria will participate in the Dance Open Gala of Ballet Stars.

Arionel Vargas Principal of the English National Ballet Dance Open: 2014

Born in Cuba, graduated from the National Ballet School of Cuba. Began his dance career at the Canada's Royal Winnipeg Ballet, where he had a rich repertoire, including various ballets by George Balanchine. He was noted for his roles in ballets of Jiri Kylian, John Neumeier, Rudi van Dantzig and others. Since 2004 Principal Dancer at the English National Ballet, where he has danced all major classical principal roles, including his favorite role of Albrecht in «Giselle». Among his awards — gold medals in the International Competition in Brazil (1994) at the International Competition in New York (1996). Also guested at different venues around the world.