Emanouela Merdjanova
In short
joined Dutch National Ballet 2002
birth place Sofia, Bulgaria
career with Dutch National Ballet
second soloist (2012),
grand sujet (2012),
coryphée (2005),
corps de ballet (2002)
previously danced with
National Opera (Sofia, Bulgaria),
Jeune Ballet de France (Paris, France),
Ballet du Capitole (Toulouse, France)
training State Choreographic School (Sofia, Bulgaria)
awards
1997, Grand Prix Anastas Petrov (Bulgaria)
1998, 18th International Ballet Competition, winner (Varna, Bulgaria)
biography
Emanouela Merdjanova, born in Sofia, Bulgaria, had too much energy as a child. Rhythmic gymnastics appealed to her more than ballet, but because there was no subsidised training for it, she spent several years at the State Choreographic School instead, which combined training in ballet and folk dance. On graduating, Emanouela danced with the National Opera in Sofia, the Jeune Ballet de France and the Ballet du Capitole in Toulouse. In 2002, she joined the Dutch National Ballet, where she was promoted to coryphée in 2005. In order to challenge herself further, she switched to the Finnish National Ballet in 2012, returning a year and a half later as a grand sujet to the Dutch National Ballet, which she calls her ‘home’. Last summer, she was promoted to soloist. Emanouela won the Anastras Petrov Award in 1997 and a special prize at the famous ballet competition in Varna in 1998.