Julio Bocca Appointed Artistic Director of Argentina’s National Ballet
Julio Bocca, widely regarded as the most celebrated Argentine dancer of his generation, is set to take the helm as the artistic director of Argentina’s national ballet company, a position he will officially assume in February. This announcement was made on Tuesday by the iconic Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires.
Throughout his illustrious career with the American Ballet Theater, Bocca captivated audiences with his passionate performances and remarkable onstage chemistry, particularly with renowned ballerina Alessandra Ferri. Following his retirement from ballet in 2007, many anticipated that Bocca would one day lead Argentina’s national ballet company, based at the prestigious Teatro Colón. That moment has now arrived.
The Teatro Colón, where Bocca received his training and launched his professional journey, has faced challenges in recent years, including work inefficiencies, internal rivalries, and episodes of labor unrest. Bocca expressed his vision for the company in a recent video call from Buenos Aires, stating, “What I want is for this company to find its place among the best in the world. I want what happens inside the Teatro Colón to be as celebrated as the theater itself.”
At the age of 57, Bocca will be a central figure in a newly formed leadership team at the Teatro Colón. This team includes new directors for both the opera and symphony orchestra, with the experienced Uruguayan manager Gerardo Grieco serving as the theater’s general director. Bocca and Grieco have a history of collaboration, having previously worked together at the Ballet Nacional Sodre in Montevideo, Uruguay, where Bocca served as director from 2010 to 2017.
Interestingly, Bocca had turned down offers from the Teatro Colón on two previous occasions. Although he was genuinely interested in the position, he revealed, “Each time, when I gave my conditions, I was told that they were simply impossible to meet.” With his appointment now confirmed, there is great anticipation regarding the future direction of the national ballet under his leadership.
