Ricardo is known for creating classical and neo-classical ballets filled with impassioned choreography, successfully taking the audience on emotional rollercoasters. 

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Ricardo Amarante began training in Brazil and completed his studies at the National Ballet School Cuba and English National Ballet School. The following year, he worked with the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet and the Jeune Ballet de France. In 2000, Ricardo joined the Royal Ballet of Flanders working as a soloist from 2008 -2016. He performed all the major classical repertoire and worked closely with choreographers including Christopher Dámboise, William Forsythe, Marcia Haydee, Hans van Manen, Jiri Kylian, Nicolo Fonte, Jorma Elo to name a few.

 

Ricardo developed his interest in choreography with the Royal Ballet of Flanders in Antwerp, creating numerous one-act ballets. He restaged several of his ballets for Ballet Dortmund in Germany, Royal Ballet School of Antwerp, Paluuca Shcule in Dresden and the English National Ballet School. The critical and public success of ballets Love Fear Loss and Experiencing the Divine led to many invitations for galas around the world. March 2014, Ricardo was invited to participate in the New York City Ballet's Choreographic Institute, where he created the ballet Essential shift with a specially composed score by Sayo Kosugi. That same year he was commissioned for the Genée International Ballet competition by the Royal Academy of Dance. He was also nominated for the Rolex Mentor and Protege initiative choreographer. 

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In May 2015, the Royal Ballet of Flanders presented the world premiere of In Flanders Fields with music composed by Sayo Kosugi. Reviewed highly successful by world-leading dance magazines Dance Europe, Dancing Times, Danse Magazine and the Financial Times.  Ricardo was also mentioned as choreographer to watch in the Dance Europe Magazine critics choice awards. Ricardo's ballet Gaia for Astana Ballet premiered in February 2016. The same year here received a prize from the French Foundation of Dance for his ballet Love Fear Loss. June 2016, Ricardo was invited to judge at the International Ballet Festival in Goiana, Brazil. Several of his ballets opened the festival at the International Ballet Gala. 

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Due to the great success of Gaia for Astana Ballet, the ballet was invited and performed at the Mariinsky Theatre, St Petersburg for the White Nights Festival, July 2016. Ricardo commenced his role as resident choreographer and artistic associate for Astana Ballet.  At the 2016 International Ballet Competition Astana, he received the best choreography award for his ballet, Bach. Astana Ballet has since performed Love Fear Loss, Gaia, A Fuego Lento, Diversity and Touch of Illusion around the world at leading Theatre's and Festivals in New York, Paris, St Petersburg, Tokyo,  London, Brussels, Warsaw, San Francisco and many more. The pas de deux She premiered on Women's Day in Astana in March 2018. Ricardo's first full-length story ballet Giselle for Astana Ballet premiered June 2018. The Premiere, Ricardo's first creation in the USA for Atlanta Ballet, premiered August 14, 2018. Bodies in Bolero to the music of Ravel premiered in 2019 for the Abay State Opera and Ballet Theatre in Almaty, Kazakhstan that also successfully toured throughout France. The National Ballet of Cuba performed Love Fear Loss in October 2019 for the first time dedicated to the late Alicia Alonso. The same year Compañia Nacional de Danza premiered Love Fear Loss, as did Ballet Idaho. Touch of Illusion was re-staged for National Opera Ukraine and the world premiere of Silent Voices for Astana Ballet in 2019. The year 2020 saw the world premiere of Longing for Astana Ballet. Carmen world premiere for Ballet Idaho and world premiere of Firebird and Scheherazade for Vanemuine Ballet March 2022. 

 

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Ricardo Amarante's ballet is proudly neoclassical, a relief in present times. - Financial Times

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Amarante marvellously succeeds in taking the audience on an emotional rollercoaster. - Flanders Today

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Impassioned choreography, emotional intensity and a masterful commissioned music. - Danse Magazine Paris