-International ballet star to perform on July 7 at Shining Hat-

OSAKA, June 23, 2025/ANSA=Kyodo JBN/ --

Expo 2025 Osaka is gearing up for an exceptional event on July 7, when Italian ballet icon Roberto Bolle will star in the performance ‘Roberto Bolle and Friends’ at the prestigious Expo Hall ‘Shining Hat’ inside the universal exhibition.

The gala event, produced by Artedanza srl., is set to begin at 19:00 local time.

The appointment is part of initiatives organized by the Italy Pavilion at Expo 2025 Osaka.

Recognized worldwide as an ‘ambassador’ of great Italian art, Roberto Bolle became the first dancer in history to achieve the distinction of becoming an étoile at Milan’s Teatro alla Scala as well as a principal dancer at the American Ballet Theatre in New York.

Bolle was awarded the title of Grand Officer of the Merit of the Italian Republic.

He was also recognized as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum in Davos and received a UNESCO Medal for his artistic and cultural contribution.

“Ballet is a universal language, along with Expo 2025 Osaka, which was created with the idea of promoting a multilateral reflection on central themes for the future of our societies”, stated Ambassador Mario Vattani, Commissioner General for Italy at Expo 2025 Osaka.

“Roberto Bolle’s performance thus becomes an occasion to present to a large Asian and international audience a recognized ‘ambassador’ of the Italian arts, enabling us to celebrate our Country on a global stage”, added Vattani.

“Dance is at home where there is dialogue, encounter and union between populations”, stressed Roberto Bolle. “I was very happy to be invited once again to participate in the activities of the Italy Pavilion in a country which I particularly love and with which I have a longstanding relationship – Japan”, stressed the étoile.

“In addition, I consider the theme this year – ‘art regenerates life’ – to be as central as ever.

“We need more art interpreted as humanity and as a set of ethical and moral values to conceive a new world where contemporary tragedies have no place”, concluded Bolle.

Roberto Bolle is thus taking to Osaka ‘Roberto Bolle and Friends’, the Gala he created and of which he is artistic director that pursues the stated aim of promoting top-level classical ballet and contemporary dance worldwide.

The Gala event, which lasts about one hour and a half, includes 10 to 12 short performances - from solo dances, to pas de deux (duets) and parts of major ballets, each lasting between five and 10 minutes.

The ballets selected from the best 19th and 20th century repertoire feature leading principal dancers that have graced the all-star performance in major theatres around the world.

Along with the classical repertoire, Roberto Bolle has also explored digital experimentation by creating new synergies between dance and technology. And by mixing classical and ultra modern inspirations and experimentation, Roberto Bolle has created his original and inimitable voice.

With his performance, Roberto Bolle is offering a vision of the future of ballet, interpreting the theme of the Italy Pavilion – Art Regenerates Life – through which Italy has envisioned the general theme of Expo 2025 Osaka, ‘Designing Future Societies for Our Live

Source: General Commissioner’s Office of Italy for Expo 2025 Osaka