Events

The ballet Zorba the Greek is based on the novel The Life and Times of Alexis Zorba by Nikos Kazantzakis. Composer Mikis Theodorakis, one of the greatest ambassadors of Greek music in the world, first wrote the music for the film, a blockbuster that was nominated for no less than seven Oscars. Together with choreographer and director Lorca Massino, they staged the ballet at the Arena Festival in Verona in the summer of 1988. It was a huge success and has been seen in several versions by more than two million people worldwide. The famous sirtaki dance, which was created in the way we know it today in the film, is still considered the most famous Greek dance.

The ballet was first performed at the SNG Maribor in April 2004 and will also be performed in Portorož this summer as part of the Seaside Summer Festival. Twenty years later, in April this year, it was staged with a new cast, with the exception of Sergiu Moga, and the stage and costumes were refreshed.