Bayerisches Staatsballett announces joiners for 2026-2027, leavers, retirement
- Ikuko
- 1 hour ago
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Bayerisches Staatsballett, Munich, Germany, announced the leavers and joiners on 21st July 2026 on its Instagram post.
Leavers:
Principal Dancer Maria Baranova after seven seasons with the company
Demi-Soloist Sergio Castro Navarro ended his dancing career in January 2026 and, after completing his degree in Psychology, opened his own practice in Spain as a General Health Psychologist.
Corps de ballet members Marta Navarrete Villalba and Alexey Dobikov retire from the stage.
Corps de ballet members Mikaela Milić and Zarek King will join Alberta Ballet in Canada and The Czech National Ballet in the Czech Republic.
Ballet mistress and former Principal Dancer Judith Turos retired on 10th July after working with the company for 45 years, the company said in a separate post and in an editorial. Originally from Romania, the 21-year-old Turos fled during a guest performance in Germany and applied for political asylum in Munich in 1981. She was appointed a Principal Dancer in 1985. She stepped away from performing on stage in 2005 after dancing numerous principal roles throughout her motherhood.
Joiners:
Tahlia Szumowski (from Bayerisches Junior Ballett München), Dmytro Litvinov, Jackson Smith-Leishman and Afonso Coelho to join as members of corps de ballet at the start of the 2026-2027 season.
Raffaela Renzi to join as Ballet Mistress
