As published on Blog do Amaury Jr./Splash UOL

At just 15 years old, Brazilian dancer Pietra Rêgo is already preparing for a milestone that many ballet students spend years dreaming about. After becoming the only representative from Latin America selected for the 2026 Prix de Lausanne, one of the world’s most prestigious ballet competitions, she is now set to continue her training at the Royal Ballet School in London.

Before leaving for the United Kingdom in August, however, Pietra will return to the stage of Rio de Janeiro’s Theatro Municipal for what she describes as an emotional farewell. The performance will take place during A Touch of the Classics, presented by the Ballet Company of the Maria Olenewa School, on June 13 and 14.

“I’m very happy. This is my last performance at the Theatro Municipal before traveling to study at the Royal Ballet in London,” Pietra said.

Her appearance is one of the highlights of a production that celebrates both the history and the future of Brazilian ballet. A Touch of the Classics brings together excerpts from five renowned works from the international ballet repertoire, performed by students and young dancers from the Maria Olenewa School.

Founded nearly a century ago, the Maria Olenewa School is recognized as the oldest public institution dedicated to classical ballet training in Brazil. Over the decades, it has helped shape generations of artists who went on to build distinguished careers both in the country and abroad. Among its former students are celebrated names such as Márcia Haydée, Claudia Mota, Mercedes Baptista, Ingrid Silva, and Cícero Gomes.

For Paulo Melgaço, vice-director of the school, the production offers audiences a glimpse of the next generation of Brazilian dance talent.

“This is an unmissable performance. It is a journey through the great classical ballet repertoire danced by young and talented artists who will certainly become the future of Brazilian ballet,” he said.

Beyond its artistic significance, the production also plays an important role in supporting the school’s activities. Today, the institution serves more than 250 students and remains one of the country’s most important centers for ballet education.

According to Hélio Bejani, director of the Maria Olenewa School and general director of the production, performances such as this one help sustain the institution’s mission of developing new generations of dancers.

“It helps us keep alive the dreams of these young talents and of our more than 250 students as they continue along the challenging path of dance. Above all, it helps us transform lives,” he said.

For audiences, the event offers more than a celebration of classical ballet. It is also an opportunity to witness a young dancer at a turning point in her career, taking her final bow in Rio before embarking on a new chapter at one of the world’s most respected ballet schools.

Service

A Touch of the Classics
Ballet Company of the Maria Olenewa School – Theatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro

Dates: June 13 and 14, 2026
Time: 4 p.m.
Venue: Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro
Address: Praça Floriano, Centro, Rio de Janeiro

Tickets:
Stalls, Noble Balcony, Boxes, and Dress Circle Boxes: R$40
Upper Balcony: R$30
Gallery: R$20

50% discounts are available for students, seniors, and visitors under 21 years old.

Tickets are available through the Theatro Municipal website and at the venue’s box office.