Nicoletta Manni,
flagship name of La Scala Ballet company, was born and raised in Santa Barbara (Lecce).
She received her initial training locally at her mothers ballet school, before being accepted at La Scala Ballet School at 13, where she graduated in 2009.
At 17 she joined StaatsBallett Berlin, under the direction of Vladimir Malakhov where she stayed for three seasons, performing in all the classical and contemporary productions.
Under the invitation of Makhar Vaziev, she returned to Italy, joining La Scala Ballet company, having her debut in Myrtha (Giselle) and Odette/Odile in Rudolf Nureyev’s Swan Lake.
One year later, at the age of 22, she was promoted to Principal Dancer of La Scala Ballet. Since then, she has danced all the main roles, alongside international guests stars, and performed many new creations, as well as masterpieces of the classical repertoire in Milan and abroad during the prestigious Tours of La Scala in Kazakhistan, France, Poland, China and Japan.
Her repertoire includes:
Ratmansky’s Russian Season and Concerto DSCH;Main couple in Diamonds and Rubies in George Balanchine’s Jewels;
Petit’s Pink Floyd Ballet and Jeune home et la Mort;
Kitri and the Queen of the dryads in Nureyev’s Don Quixote;
Genius of Civilization in Manzotti’s Excelsior;
Aurora and Lilac Fairy in Ratmansky’s Sleeping Beauty;
Gala des étoiles;
Title role in Kenneth MacMillan’s L’histoire de Manon and Romeo and Juliet;
Heins Spoerli’s Cello Suite; Main role in Nacho Duato’s Nutcracker;
Title role in Mauro Bigonzetti’s Cinderella;
she was created the main role with Roberto Bolle in Massimiliano Volpini’s The lovers garden;
Odette/Odile in Ratmansky’s Swan Lake.
She was awarded Danza&Danza Prix as best female dancer of 2014, is the first Italian dancer to be nominated for the prestigious Benois de la Danse in 2015 and she was named as a star in the making by the german magazine “Tanz”.Nicoletta has been frequently invited to perform at International Ballet Galas, and since 2014, she has been Roberto Bolle’s partner in “Roberto Bolle&Friends”.