Klimentova, Daria

Daria Klimentova Photos

Daria Klimentova Biography

Notable: English National Ballet

Daria Klimentova was born in Prague, Czechoslovakia, now known as the Czech Republic. She started gymnastics when she was 5 years old and was spotted as a future Olympic talent and placed under the guidance of the countries top trainers. At the age of 10 she entered the Prague State Conservatoire of Music and Dance, where once again her teachers picked her out as a great natural talent, and placed her in a programme designed for future Principal Dancer. She was entered into numerous International Ballet Competitions, including “Prix de Lausanne” (won Paris Dance Foundation award) and the “International Ballet Competition in Pretoria” (won Gold Medal). After 8 years Daria graduated, with highest honours, with a performance of The Sleeping Beauty at the National Theatre and was immediately offered a soloist contract (the highest level in the Czech Republic) with the National Theatre Ballet Company in Prague.

During her time with the company in Prague she created the role of Margarita in The Lady of The Camelias to such popular and critical acclaim that it was filmed and is still regularly shown on Czech Television. In 1991 she was invited to join the Capab/Kruik Ballet, based in Cape Town, South Africa. Whilst in the company Daria was filmed in the role of Titania in Midsummers Night Dream. After one year she was invited to join The Scottish Ballet by the then Artistic Director, Galina Samsova, where she stayed for 3 years before being invited to join English National Ballet by the then Artistic Director, Derek Deane.

Her repertoire encapsulates all the major classical ballet roles and works by many contemporary choreographers. She has a close working relationship with Christopher Hampson who created the award winning ballet Double Concerto on her. Daria has performed all over the world and is in great demand as a Guest Artist. She is also regularily asked to perform in her home country where they have made two documentaries on her life, as a dancer and teacher. Daria is now also an acclaimed photographer and ballet instructor.