European Ballet Grand Prix

The Winner of Grand Prix and F***y Elssler Prize at the European Ballet Grand Prix 2026 4-6 February in Vienna is: MAYA KONAGAI from Japan❤️

We are honoured to announce that at European Ballet Grand Prix 2026 in Vienna 4-6 February 2026, „The F***y Elssler Prize“ has been won by MAYA KONAGAI from Japan❤️

We are honored to welcome Ms. Adriana Villela as a juror in the 9th edition of the European Ballet Grand Prix Competition in Vienna 2026!

Born in Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil.
Adriana comes from a family of great artists, including writers, and a professional dancer.

She began her studies at the age of 8 years old at the Vaganova method.
At 16, she was hired by the first professional dance company in Belo Horizonte, and at 18 she danced for the Ballet Company of the Theatro Municipal in Rio de Janeiro through hearing under the direction of Dalal Achcar.

She practiced her technique courses with distinguished teachers in Brazil and abroad.
In 1985, through a competition, she joined the Companhia Nacional de Bailados in Lisbon under the direction of Armando Jorge, where she danced as a soloist in a classical and contemporary repertoire with important international choreographers.
At the invitation of director Erich Payer, she danced as the first soloist at Stadttheater Augsburg, Germany.
As the principal dancer, she performed at the Stadttheater Mönchengladbach / Krefeld, Germany, under the direction of director Irene Schneider.
Danced choreographies and repetiteur by great professionals: Uwe Scholz, Hans Van Manen, Michael Maclen, Irene Schneider, John Auld, Michael Renauld, José Limón, Hanns Brenna, Frederick Ashton.
Adriana was teacher and repetiteur at the São Paulo Dance Company, where she rehearsed ballets by Important ballets by choreographers Nacho Duato, G. Balanchine, Jirí Kylián.
She gave classes as a guest for the Corpo de Baile of La Scala in Milan during the Brazilian tour.
Guest teacher at the Deborah Colker Company.-
Founder and director of the Art Minas Seminar, a summer course for dancers and teachers held to date.-

-Guest teacher at the Dance School of the National Conservatory in Lisbon under the direction of Pedro Carneiro.-

Gave classes as a guest teacher for the National Ballet Company in Lisbon under the direction of Luiza Taveira.-

Gave classes as a guest teacher at Stadttheater Hagen, Germany.

Received the Artistic Merit Commendation 2016 at the City Council.
She teaches Pointe Technique courses and has a ballet school that bears her name.
She is currently a director of the dance department of the Artists' Union SATED MG in Brazil.
Director of the Arte MINAS Competition since 2018, where dancers are awarded internacional scholarships and places at important competitions.

Register: https://ebgp.info/registration/