Vlastimil Harapes is an eminent representative of Czech ballet art. He became famous not only as a dancer but also as a choreographer, dance teacher, actor and director. He graduated from the Dance Conservatory in Prague. In 1966, he became a member of the National Theatre in Prague, where he performed as a ballet soloist from 1971. He has also danced on many international stages, e. g., as a permanent guest of the Deutsche Oper am Rhein Düsseldorf/Duisburg from 1977 to 1983. In 1990, he became Chief of the National Theatre Ballet, shaping our leading stage for a full 12 years. Among his highly acclaimed dance performances belonged the roles of Spartacus, Macbeth, the princes in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty, as well as Romeo and Mercurio in Romeo and Juliet. He was awarded the Thalia Prize in 2012 for his lifelong mastery.