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David Motta Soares joins the Staatsballett Berlin as principal dancer with immediate effect. Demi-soloist Bruna Fernanda Cantanhede Gaglianone and corps de ballet dancer Erick Swolkin complete the ensemble. In addition, Maria Valter is now a fellow of the Enhance Mentorship Programme.

David Motta Soares was born in Cabo Frio in Brazil and began his training at the Regina and Ofelia Corvello Ballet School in 2007. In 2010, he continued his training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and, after graduating in 2015, he joined the Bolshoi Ballet. As leading soloist, he has danced a wide range of principal roles including Albrecht in GISELLE by Yuri Grigorovich, Thaor in THE PHARAO'S DAUGHTER by Pierre Lacotte, solo roles in JEWELS by George Balanchine, Romeo in ROMEO AND JULIA by Alexei Ratmansky, Gaston Rieux in THE LADY OF THE CAMELLIAS by John Neumeier, James in LA SYLPHIDE by Johan Kobborg, Prince Florizel in THE WINTER'S TALE by Christopher Wheeldon and Shelmerdine in ORLANDO by Christian Spuck.

Bruna Fernanda Cantanhede Gaglianone and Erick Swolkin are also new arrivals who add to the company as demi-soloist and corps de ballet dancer respectively. Both have also been with the Bolshoi Ballet for the past eleven years.

Maria Valter has also been accepted into the Enhance Mentorship Programme as a temporary fellow. The Ukrainian dancer completed her training at the Ballet Academy of the Munich University of Music and Performing Arts and is now part of the Staatsballett Berlin's new training programme, bridging the gap between graduation and a professional dance career.