In mid-April from 12 to 19 the traditional annual ballet Festival - International Baltic Ballet Festival delights the audience in sixteenth time, and is due to offer varied and rich ballet and dance programs, bringing the stars from around the world and allowing dance enthusiasts to enjoy world-class performances from classical to avant-garde. The Festival will be also complemented by exhibitions on the theme of dance.

"I'm pleased that for the sixteenth consecutive spring of the year, the International Baltic Ballet Festival will allow for a moment to stop and assess the talents of dance and legends, and let the emotions around us - passion, temperament, hot-bloodiness, grace - the plastic and sophistication the art of movement is capable of displaying, "said Festival director Lita Beiris.

An inseparable tradition from the Festival there has become the Festival's opening concert in Riga Railway Station. It will take place on April 11 and as free event will be available to anyone interested and allowing casual, at the same time unusual environment to enjoy charm of dance and music.

On April 12 in the New Hall of Latvian National Opera the Theater “Vanemuine” troupe will present performance Casanova.

On April 13 for the second year within the Festival there will take place the Riga dance marathon, which a is unique combination of performances given by many dance studios, folk dance ensembles, dance groups, ballet studies – performances much differing in time, space and style of dance, giving the viewer experience of the gamut of different feelings.

One of the highlights of the Festival will be a Spanish dance group Nuevo Ballet Espanol performances. In 2009 Ballet Festival it got full admiration and affection of viewers. Therefore, this group -  one of the best Spanish and flamenco dance companies in Spain, will be performing again this year in Latvian and will allow viewers at Riga Congress Hall on April 17 and on April 18 at the Preili region Culture Hall to enjoy a new, dynamic flamenco show Cambio De Tercio, in which current tendencies in contemporary dance are closely tied to the roots of Spanish dance.

The Festival’s most expected event – the Gala concert at the Latvian National Opera will take place on April 19 as a fiery of classical and contemporary dance danced by ballet stars from Ukraine, Poland, Latvia, Korea, China, Turkey and other countries.

This year the festival will be enrich by a number of exhibitions on the subject of dance. At the Latvian National Art Museum from April 14 audience will have the opportunity to visit the artist Eric Dzenis (Canada) art exhibition of paintings, but from April 18, at Pegasus Gallery - Elizabeth Melbārzdes painting exhibition "Geometry of Motion".

Tickets to Festival events will be available at “Biļešu paradīze", “Biļešu serviss” and LNO offices, as well as at event venues. More information to follow.