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Julio Bocca

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Curriculum Vitae

Former Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theatre
Artistic Director of the Teatro Colón Ballet Company
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Lifetime Achievement Award, Prix de Lausanne 2027
Classical Teacher, Prix de Lausanne 2023 - 2024
Member of the jury, Prix de Lausanne 2019
Jury President, Prix de Lausanne 2016

I came to the Prix the Lausanne many times and I also had the chance to be President of the jury. It is an opportunity for me to help the dancers and to give my point of view about dance and about the way I would love to see a dancer perform.

It is important for this competition to continue to grow up and change because it represents such a huge opportunity for many students around the world. I thank the organisation for inviting me and also for organising a preselection in South America. It is a way to continue to learn and a chance to meet other jury members, Directors, teachers as well as seeing the new generation of dancers. I enjoy being there. I really appreciate it and hope it will continue for many more editions.

Biography

It all begins in Buenos Aires. Julio Bocca is four years old when he takes his first dance steps, guided by his mother, a dancer and a teacher. A true child prodigy, he doesn’t know it yet, but that childhood gesture is the first of a journey that will carry him from the stages of South America to the greatest theatres in the world. Trained at the National School of Dance and the ISA of the Teatro Colón, he enters the profession at a very young age: by 1982, he is performing at the Teresa Carreño Foundation and as a principal dancer with the Municipal Theater of Rio de Janeiro.

In 1985, the international stage discovers him. He wins the Gold Medal at the 5th Moscow International Dance Competition, and the following year American Ballet Theatre hires him as a principal dancer. There he becomes one of the most acclaimed artists of his generation, before going on to appear as a guest principal dancer on the world’s greatest stages.

But Julio Bocca is far more than a performer. In 1990, he founded the Ballet Argentino, taking dance well beyond the walls of traditional theatres. From 2010 to 2017, he directed the Sodre in Uruguay. Furthermore, he has organized and directed two international galas bringing together world-renowned dancers, and today he shares his experience as a guest teacher and coach with prestigious companies.

His career has earned him numerous honors: the Benois de la Danse, the Dance Magazine Award (1998), the Kennedy Center Gold Medal, and the Delmira Agustini Medal awarded by the Presidency of Uruguay. In 2026, he received the Lux Ductor Award, recognizing an exceptional career, and was named Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters of France.

Today, Julio Bocca is Artistic Director of the Permanent Ballet Company of the Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, the house where he took his first steps as a young artist. From the little boy dancing under his mother’s watchful eye to the master guiding the next generation, the circle is a beautiful one: that of an artist who has never stopped giving back to dance what dance gave him.

We asked Julio Bocca a few questions in 2016. In that time, he came in Lausanne as President of the jury…

What’s your favourite role?

For me it was to be on the stage, but if I have to choose one or two, it will be Romeo and Don Quijote.

What do you consider your greatest achievement?

Make the ballet very popular in Argentina and have the chance to dance all over the world and with the best dancers… and give my heart all the time.

Can you tell a funny or embarrassing anecdote on stage at the beginning of your career?

The first time I danced on stage: I was 4 and I danced with my pacifier… And also when I won the gold medal at the Moscow international dance competition I fell down on stage… hahahah!

What was your greatest fear as a young dancer?

Not to enjoy my performance.

Do you have any advice for the 2016 Prix de Lausanne candidates?

Dance with your heart and don’t come to compete. We miss artists on stage…

List of awards and distinctions:

  • Gold medal V International Moscow Ballet Competition 1985
  • María Ruanova Primus Inter Pairs – Argentina, 1986
  • Dancer of the Year, New York Times – United States, 1987
  • Knight of the Orden of San Martín de Tours – Argentina, 1987
  • Gino Tanni Arts Award – Italy, 1990
  • Personality of the Year – France, 1990
  • “Martín Fierro”, Argentine television, the best performance in a Show Musical – Argentina, 1991
  • International Association of choreographers in the first edition of Prix Benois de la Danse, Bolshoi Theatre – Russia, 1992
  • King David Prize of the Argentine House in Jerusalem – Israel, 1996
  • Dance Magazine Award – United States, 1998
  • Barocco Award, sponsored by Television Network RAI – Italy
  • Celebrity of the Year Gold Prize Clarin Newspaper – Argentina, 2006
  • Max Hispanoameican Award for the Performing Arts, by Sociedad General de Autores y Editores (SGAE) – Bilbao, Spain, 2007
  • Illustrious Citizen, appointed by the Legislature of Buenos Aires – Argentina, 2007
  • Equinoccio Cultural, awarded by the Embassy of Spain in Buenos Aires, for his career and contribution to the world of dance – Argentina, 2008
  • Gold Medal in the Arts, granted by the International Committee of Arts of Kennedy Center, for his achievements and dedication in the cultural exchange between Argentina and the United States of America – Argentina, 2008
  • Certificate of Honor of the dance, granted by the Council International of Dance – UNESCO – for his career – 2008
  • María Guerrero Award for his career – Argentina, 2008
  • Tribute from the American Ballet Theatre in the “Latin Night” – United States, 2008
  • Doctor Honoris Causa, Siglo XXI University of Córdoba – Argentia, 2008
  • Juan Bravo Prize, in Segovia, for the performance of the Ballet Argentino, under his direction, as best show of dance – Spain, 2009
  • Latin American Prize at the Ballet Gala in Asunción – Paraguay, 2009
  • Rome Culture Prize, received at the Roman Theatre of Ostia Antigua – Italy, 2010
  • Ambassador Ibero-American of the Culture, awarded in Cádiz by the House of Latin America – Spain, 2012
  • The Italianness award, granted by the Embassy of Italy – Argentina, 2012
  • Culture Award for his career “400 years” of the National University of Córdoba – Argentina, 2014
  • Award “Ibera_e” in the performing arts, awarded by the Ibero-American Television – 2014
  • Ariel Prize – Montevideo, Uruguay
  • In 2015 the President of Uruguay, Mr. Tabaré Vázquez, handed him the Delmira Agustini Medal for his contribution to the art and culture of the country as well for his career with the National Ballet of Uruguay
  • At the same ceremony, the Ambassador of France in Uruguay, Mr. Sylvain Itté, gave him the appointment of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters, on behalf of the Government of France