Zdenek was born in Brno, Czech Republic. He studied classical and contemporary ballet at Europe's well-known Brno's Conservatory. During that time, he was often invited to perform with the National Ballet of Brno. He performed in such ballets as Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Giselle and Romeo and Juliet. In 1997, he joined the National Ballet of Moravia-Silesia and became the principal with the company in 1998. Mr. Konvalina was awarded 2nd prize at the 1997 Czech and Slovakian IBC. And in 1998 recieved the prestigious Phillip Morris Flower Award, Talent of The Year in the Czech Republic. In the same year, he recieved the prize for The Talent of National Ballet Theatre Moravia-Silesia. His most recent achievement is the Gold Medal from IBC in Helsinki which he recieved in June of 2001. In addition to his incredible classical repertoir, Mr. Konvalina has begun exploring the contemporary works of Eddy Tousaint, who will be the choreographer for The Uber Project. Together, they have worked on such works as Concerto en Movement, Souvenance, Simple Movement, Cantate, Bonjour Brel, The Nutcraker, Dracula, and Mozart's The Requiem. Mr. Tousaint commented during a television interview, that,"His (Zdenek's) interpretation of my ballet based on the famous Mozart's Requiem was surprisingly shocking and just. It is very rare to find in such a young dancer maturity and depth. Add to that his impeccable technique...It was really a memorable evening of dance. Mr. Konvalina reminds me of the principal dancers of Ballets de Montreal at their best. My sincere congratualtions to that young artist." During the past year Zdenek has toured Europe and America including critically accalimed performances at the Hulkvady Festival in the Czech Republic and the Festival montreal in 1999 in Canada. Linda Howe Beck, the dance critic of The Montreal Gazette and of The New York Dance Magazine, says of Zydenek, "Konvalina leads solid performances at Saint Sauveur (Montreal). At 20, the company's star, Zdenek Konvalina, is a senior dancer. He bears an uncanny resemblance to...Nureyev. He has the same stage presence...convincing...noble." Among many guest appearances in the year of 2000, Mr. Konvalina was invited for the productions of Romeo and Juliet b The Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, The Nutcracker of Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Carmen of Sylvan Opera in Philedelphia, Romeo and Juliet of Giselle of Slovak National Theatre, Swan Lake of Sacramento Ballet...and the list continues. Mr. Ben Stevenson O.B.E. and Trinadad Vives invited Zdenek to join The Houston Ballet as a Principal Dancer for the 2001-2002 season. Since he joined the company, he has added Indigo by Stanton Welsh, Balanchine Serenade, Mr. Stevenson's version of Esmeralda pas de deux, and Mr. Stevenson's version of Swan Lake, Don Quijote, The Nutcracker, and Five Poems. Most recently, Zdenek created the role of Des Grieux in MacMillan's Manon.

Zdenek Konvalina: Uber's Star Dancer

Dancer

Zdenek was born in Brno, Czech Republic. He studied classical and contemporary ballet at Europe's well-known Brno's Conservatory. During that time, he was often invited to perform with the National Ballet of Brno. He performed in such ballets as Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Giselle and Romeo and Juliet. In 1997, he joined the National Ballet of Moravia-Silesia and became the principal with the company in 1998. Mr. Konvalina was awarded 2nd prize at the 1997 Czech and Slovakian IBC. And in 1998 recieved the prestigious Phillip Morris Flower Award, Talent of The Year in the Czech Republic. In the same year, he recieved the prize for The Talent of National Ballet Theatre Moravia-Silesia. His most recent achievement is the Gold Medal from IBC in Helsinki which he recieved in June of 2001. In addition to his incredible classical repertoir, Mr. Konvalina has begun exploring the contemporary works of Eddy Tousaint, who will be the choreographer for The Uber Project. Together, they have worked on such works as Concerto en Movement, Souvenance, Simple Movement, Cantate, Bonjour Brel, The Nutcraker, Dracula, and Mozart's The Requiem. Mr. Tousaint commented during a television interview, that,"His (Zdenek's) interpretation of my ballet based on the famous Mozart's Requiem was surprisingly shocking and just. It is very rare to find in such a young dancer maturity and depth. Add to that his impeccable technique...It was really a memorable evening of dance. Mr. Konvalina reminds me of the principal dancers of Ballets de Montreal at their best. My sincere congratualtions to that young artist." During the past year Zdenek has toured Europe and America including critically accalimed performances at the Hulkvady Festival in the Czech Republic and the Festival montreal in 1999 in Canada. Linda Howe Beck, the dance critic of The Montreal Gazette and of The New York Dance Magazine, says of Zydenek, "Konvalina leads solid performances at Saint Sauveur (Montreal). At 20, the company's star, Zdenek Konvalina, is a senior dancer. He bears an uncanny resemblance to...Nureyev. He has the same stage presence...convincing...noble." Among many guest appearances in the year of 2000, Mr. Konvalina was invited for the productions of Romeo and Juliet b The Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, The Nutcracker of Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra and Carmen of Sylvan Opera in Philedelphia, Romeo and Juliet of Giselle of Slovak National Theatre, Swan Lake of Sacramento Ballet...and the list continues. Mr. Ben Stevenson O.B.E. and Trinadad Vives invited Zdenek to join The Houston Ballet as a Principal Dancer for the 2001-2002 season. Since he joined the company, he has added Indigo by Stanton Welsh, Balanchine Serenade, Mr. Stevenson's version of Esmeralda pas de deux, and Mr. Stevenson's version of Swan Lake, Don Quijote, The Nutcracker, and Five Poems. Most recently, Zdenek created the role of Des Grieux in MacMillan's Manon.

About The Artist

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What Zdenek will be doing for The Uber Project