GIULIA TONELLI.
Giulia Tonelli was born in Italy, where she began her ballet training before continuing her studies at the Ballet School of the Vienna State Opera. After completing her diploma, she began her professional career with the Vienna State Opera Ballet and later joined the Royal Ballet of Flanders, gaining early experience across both classical and contemporary repertoire.
In 2009, she joined Ballet Zürich, where she worked first under Heinz Spoerli and was later promoted to First Soloist under the direction of Christian Spuck. Over the years, she has established herself as one of the leading artists of the company, contributing significantly to its international profile and repertoire.
Throughout her career, she has performed leading roles in both classical and contemporary works, including Romeo and Juliet, Anna Karenina and The Cellist. Her work is closely connected to the development of contemporary narrative ballet, particularly through her collaboration with Christian Spuck, while also engaging with creations by choreographers such as William Forsythe, Jiřà Kylián, Crystal Pite and Wayne McGregor. Her artistic profile is defined by a strong versatility, combining classical clarity with dramatic depth and contemporary intelligence.
Her career has taken her to major international stages and festivals, where she has represented Ballet Zürich and contributed to the visibility of its repertoire beyond Switzerland.
In addition to her stage work, she has expanded her artistic practice into film and public discourse. She appeared in the documentary Becoming Giulia, which offered insight into her artistic and personal journey, and she continues to develop her voice through international creative projects, collaborations and speaking engagements. In Zurich, she has also been recognised among the women shaping the city’s cultural landscape, underlining her influence beyond performance alone.
Prizes/Awards:
First Prize and Gold Medal, Eurocity International Ballet Competition
Premio Giuliano Penzi
Friends of Ballet Zürich Prize
ALL DANCERS
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DIANA VISHNEVA
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SILAS HENRIKSEN
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SILVIA AZZONI
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ALEXANDER JONES
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GIL ROMAN
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GIULIA TONELLI
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IGONE DE JONGH
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IVAN URBAN
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KAYOKO EVERHART
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MARA GALEAZZI
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MARIJN RADEMAKER
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NORA KIMBALL
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OLEKSANDR RYABKO
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POLINA SEMIONOVA
