 LEONARD AJKUN
Ajkun Ballet Theatre - co Artistic Director
Principal Dancer and Choreographer, Leonard Ajkun was raised in Tirana, the Capitol of Albania.
His mother, Ajkuna, Dancer then Language Professor, and his father, Kristofor, Director of the National Cultural Affairs,
inspired and supported him throughout his career. Leonard has a brother, Kliti, Music Professor at the Toronto Conservatory.
Leonard lives in New York City with his wife, Artistic Director and Choreographer Dr. Chiara Ajkun and their two sons,
Leonard Wolfrantz Jr. - named after him, Mozart and Listz,
and Ludwing Léon Alexeij - named after Beethoven, Tolstoj and A. Karenjina ‘s count Vronsky.
Leonard enjoys to travel and to learn new languages and is especially interested in history, philosophy and life on other planets.
Leonard also likes movies, diverse cuisines and to spend time with his family and friends around the world.
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Performing Career
Leonard began his professional career with the National Ballet Company of the Tirana Opera House at the age of sixteen,
bypassing the corps de ballet and qualifying directly to Soloist rank.
Promoted Principal dancer at 18 years of age, Mr. Ajkun is today considered the most outstanding dancer in all the Country’s ballet history.
Leonard was promoted Etoile by Ileana Iliescu, Ballerina Assoluta and Director of the National Ballet Company of the Bucharest Opera House in Romania.
As a Principal Dancer, Leonard performed with the Dance Theater of Harlem, Teatro Bellini di Catania, Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Shanghais National Ballet
and appeared with a variety of Companies in the United States, Asia and Europe.
National television broadcastings include programs for ABC, Albanian National Television, BBC, FOX, RAI National and International, among others.
     
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| Repertory |
Leonard's repertory includes virtually all traditional ballets and expands in Balanchine's and neoclassical and contemporary creations choreographed on him
by Masters of this century.
Pictures above feature him performing Romeo in Romeo & Juliet, Basil in Don Quixote, Nippur in Chiara Ajkun's Karien, The Amazon,
Prince Charming in Cinderella, Albrecht in Rudolf Nureiev's Giselle.
Pictures below feature Leonard performing Siegfried in Swan Lake, Bacchus in Walpurgis Night, Romeo in Rodney Gustafson's Romeo & Juliet,
Spartacus in Grigorovitch's Spartacus, The Cavalier in Nutcracker. Excerpts of his performances may be viewed on www.youtube.com/AjkunBT |
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| Press Quotes |
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"Leonard Ajkun is one of the most acclaimed dancers, from both the media and the public. Although he fascinates worldwide audiences with spectacular butter-landed leaps and razor shaped turns, it is his noble feature, his passionate temperament and dazzling predominance onstage that mesmerizes the audience."
Los Angeles Times – by Victoria Looseleaf
"Ajkun possède le don du vertige, lent mais profound, avec un résultat scénique sophistiqués, formidable et merveilleux".
Le Monde
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| Leadership |
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Mr. Ajkun shares the artistic leadership of Ajkun Ballet Theatre with Chiara Ajkun, since the conception in the year 2000.
Their leadership brought the company to perform traditional and contemporary creations for thousands of audience members across the world and opened the professional avenues for hundreds of emerging dancers and choreographers. Today, Ajkun Ballet Theatre is known as one of the most comprehensive organizations in the performing arts, counting patrons and industry partners in 5 continents for its innovative repertory, the excellence of its artists and the exceptional training of its programs.
Since 2007, Leonard annually restages traditional repertory ballets and new creations on the National Ballet Company of the Tirana Opera House,
often offering the opportunity to Artists from Ajkun Ballet Theatre, Arizona Ballet and Het National Ballet to appear in leading roles in his productions.
Leonard is also a Guest Artist in residence of the Università degli Studi di Danza e Teatro, Teatro San Carlo of Naples in Italy and serves the National Televisions as an Artistic Advisor.
Leonard's choreographies Legacy, The Odyssey of Albania introduced by Albanian Ambassador to the United Nation - ex ufficio, Mr. Pellumb Khulla,
Goya, The Spanish Master, The Adventures of Tom Sawyer are online at www.youtube.com/AjkunBT
Accolades
“You are preserving our culture and heritage and demonstrating that our diversity is our greatest strength.”
Hilary Rodham Clinton – Secretary of State of the United States
“Through their talent and vision, Leonard and Chiara Ajkun have led the company to great achievements and international recognition.”
Adolfo Carriòn Jr. – Director of the White House Office of Urban Affairs
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| Career Highlights |
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| A multi-award winner, Leonard was presented the diplomatic status of Albanian Ambassador of The Arts by President Berisha in 1998,
was distinguished as a Worldwide International Dancer by The American Guild of Music Arts in 1997
and performed for The Vatican holy Father, Giovanni Paolo II.
Leonard received The National Medal of Arts by Malta Culture Ministry Young (1991), Gold Medal at “Re Manfredi”, International ballet competition (1994),
Gold Medal at “Fiuggi Europa Platea” appointed as best European Principal dancer (1995), Gold Medal at “Premio per la Danza” as best Principal dancer in Italy,
International Gold Medal for The Arts by Knights of Malta’s Prince Humbert Fernando I (1999) and was awarded the Award for Excellence by the Prime Minister of Albania
to realize ballet productions for the National Opera House of Tirana (2008, 2009, 2010, 2011).
During his career, Leonard was fortunate to work with some of the most significant Artists of the century, among them, in no specific order, Ekaterina Maximova,
Vladimir Vassiliev, Luigi, Cynthia Gregory, Victoria Simon, Arthur Mitchell, Maximiliano Guerra, Luciana Savignano, Giuseppe Carbone, Ileana Iliescu, and Judith Fugate.
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The Ajkun Ballet Theatre Company, The Ajkun Ballet Theatre Organization and its authorized Agents exclusively represent all AjkunBT Artists, severally and jointly, worldwide. Their name, photos, videos and likeness are copyrighted and require written consent from The Ajkun Ballet Theatre’s Press and Communication Division for any use. Original photo files will be made available when permitted.
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Comp. Trainees