Anna Hop — a choreographer, director, dancer, and educator recognised as one of the most versatile and innovative artists of her generation — will assume the role of Director of the Ballet at the Grand Theatre in Poznań on October 15 this year. Her experience combines deep knowledge of ballet tradition with openness to new movement languages, bold artistic exploration, and international projects. She is an artist with a vivid imagination and an exceptional grasp of current trends in contemporary choreography. She has been associated with the Polish National Ballet since 2009.

Her work includes original ballet and opera productions for leading Polish stages, as well as film and multimedia projects. Key works include ​“Exodus” (to music by Wojciech Kilar), ​“Pinocchio” (to music by Mieczysław Weinberg), ​“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” (to music by Felix Mendelssohn), and ​“Butterfly in the Land of Shadows”.
International projects, where diverse traditions and stage aesthetics converge, form a significant part of her work. Her choreography ​“The Fall of Dora Maar”, commissioned by the French television channel ARTE in 2023, was created alongside works by artists such as Angelin Preljocaj. Anna Hop also created the choreography for the production ​“Fordlandia”, developed for world-renowned ballet stars Lucía Lacarra and Matthew Golding. In 2024, she co-created the choreography and direction for the opening ceremony of the ImpaQ conference in Saudi Arabia. In 2025, she participated in the Positioning Ballet Forum for Future Ballet and Dance Leaders, organised by the Dutch National Ballet. She is currently collaborating with the Paris Opera.

Anna Hop’s work is distinguished by her ability to combine classical technique with sensitivity to contemporary dance trends. Her interests extend beyond traditional ballet, encompassing formal experimentation and a dialogue with other art forms. She combines her choreographic experience with educational work and support for young artists, notably through the Polish National Ballet’s ​“Kreacje” (Creations) project.
Her artistic achievements have been recognized with numerous awards, including the ZAiKS ​“Sprzyjamy wyobraźni” (Fostering Imagination) Award (2025), the Terpsichore Statuette awarded by ZASP for outstanding achievements in dance (2023), the Jan Kiepura Musical Theatre Award for Best Choreographer for ​“Exodus” (2021), and the Bronisława Niżyńska Award at the ​“Perły Tańca” (Pearls of Dance) competition for ​“The Carnival of the Animals” (2019).

“I wish to emphasise that the building beneath the Pegasus is the shared home of both opera and the fleeting, ephemeral art of dance,” said Adam Banaszak, Director of the Grand Theatre in Poznań, in an interview. ​“I want to emphasise the stature of the ballet company; that is why we will have a Ballet Director rather than a manager, as was the case previously. This change symbolises a new way of thinking about ballet within the context of a modern cultural institution that is fully aware of its role,” he added.

Anna Hop’s appointment as Ballet Director at the Grand Theatre in Poznań marks the beginning of a new chapter in the institution’s history. Her experience, broad perspective on the performing arts, and keen awareness of the evolution of contemporary choreography provide an inspiring foundation for developing the company, building a repertoire that balances respect for tradition with bold artistic exploration, and strengthening the Poznań Ballet’s presence on both the Polish and international artistic stages.