Anelia Dimitrova: A portrait of a star

Described as a “phenomenon in Bulgarian professional ballet”, 36-year-old Anelia Dimitrova joined the Stara Zagora Opera troupe ten years ago, in 2015. She was soon entrusted with significant solo roles in productions such as Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and Minkus's Don Quixote. Dimitrova’s talent continued to flourish in the new staging of the dance drama Nestinarka by Marin Goleminov, which premiered in May 2018. Her portrayal of Demna received glowing reviews in the media and was hailed by experts as a notable achievement in contemporary Bulgarian dance.

Described as a “phenomenon in Bulgarian professional ballet”, 36-year-old Anelia Dimitrova joined the Stara Zagora Opera troupe ten years ago, in 2015. She was soon entrusted with significant solo roles in productions such as Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and Minkus's Don Quixote. Dimitrova’s talent continued to flourish in the new staging of the dance drama Nestinarka by Marin Goleminov, which premiered in May 2018. Her portrayal of Demna received glowing reviews in the media and was hailed by experts as a notable achievement in contemporary Bulgarian dance.

On 6 December 2025, the Stara Zagora Opera troupe began its latest European tour in Barneveld, the Netherlands. Until 18 January 2026, the dancers will perform a total of 39 shows of Tchaikovsky favourites – Swan Lake and The Nutcracker – in various cities across Germany and the Netherlands. Tickets have long been sold out, with European audiences familiar with and eagerly anticipating the Bulgarian company. Among the soloists, Dimitrova receives the warmest applause.

Currently, she is indisputably the star of the troupe, yet she gives the impression of a modest artist who “quietly reaches her dreamed peaks.” She even admits to being self-conscious and highly self-critical:

"There are all kinds of personalities in the world, and everyone carries their own inner fears. For me, it’s a constant fear that I’m not good enough and that I always have to prove myself, even if, to the untrained eye, I may appear to be an exceptional ballerina. I believe it is this self-criticism and constant drive to improve that has made me as good as I am. It is a continual battle with myself.

I believe that, first and foremost, we should always strive to be better than we were yesterday. Not to compare ourselves with others. This is also what makes me a good role model for my colleagues. The idea of being a star is very subjective – what does it even mean? In my view, being a star means setting a good example. If that is what it means, then yes, I believe I am a good example for my colleagues. In that sense, I feel like a star in this troupe."

The Stara Zagora Ballet is known for the large number of foreign dancers from around the world who join the company. What attracts and keeps them there?

"First and foremost, I think they are drawn by the repertoire they have the opportunity to dance, because globally there are now few companies that can maintain such a high professional standard. This is generally a priority for all dancers – when someone is looking for work, they first check a theatre’s portfolio, what it offers as opportunities. We have become a workshop for talent. In most cases, we take on dancers who are very young and have just left school, and they gain excellent professional experience here. Unfortunately, we cannot keep them long enough, because we simply cannot provide the material resources they need."

What language is spoken in such a multinational troupe?

"We rarely have difficulty communicating. In the ballet studio, we mostly speak the language of ballet. We don’t talk about standard topics or hold long conversations. Everything is connected to and revolves around ballet movements… as I said, we speak the language of dance."

And where does Anelia Dimitrova dream of dancing?

"Perhaps, as with many things, I don’t dare to imagine myself performing in other theatres. I have found my path and I am very happy with what is happening to me. Yes, of course, it would be amazing to dance at the Grand Opera (Palais Garnier in Paris) or the New York City Ballet, or at all the world’s major centres – dance trends come from there, after all. Naturally, it would be wonderful to see myself there someday, but I am happy with what I have at the moment."

Editor: Elena Karkalanova

Edited and posted in English by E. Radkova