Roberto Bolle: The Leading Man

Roberto Bolle

The Nutcracker Prince

'For me, a professional dancer is a mix of different elements: technical mastery, interpretation and key physical requirements. Besides the physical characteristics which are a gift of nature, everything else comes with hard work if you want to become a great dancer.'

Roberto Bolle

Italian danseur Roberto Bolle was born in Casale Monferrato, and lived most of his youth in Trino, a small town near Vercelli in Piemonte. Bolle first began ballet studies at the age of seven at a local school and at twelve, was accepted at the La Scala theatre ballet school in Milan.

In 1990, he was spotted by Rudolf Nureyev, who chose him to play the role of Tadzio in the opera Morte a Venezia. The Theater however, would not allow Bolle to accept the offer because he was too young.

After an appearance in Romeo and Juliette in 1996, the then twenty-year-old Bolle was promoted to principal dancer at La Scala. He left that position when he was 21 to pursue a freelance career. Since then he has starred in many ballets including; Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Cinderella and of course, The Nutcracker. 

Roberto for Vanity fair Italia

Bolle is currently a principal dancer with the American Ballet Theatre and a principal dancer étoile at La Scala Theatre Ballet. Bolle also dances regularly as a guest artist with the world’s leading companies, including The Royal Ballet, the Mariinsky Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. 

Bolle by Bruce Weber

Roberto Bolle on Instagram

In 2010, Bolle appeared full nude for his first time on stage in choreographer Mats Ek production of Giselle.  You see Bolle's full nude performance on Youtube HERE: