Born in Crotone (Italy). Alessandro graduated cum laude in the Teatro dell'Opera di Roma school in 2004. During that time he received prestigious Italian prizes as a young promising talent (Danza & Danza, Premio Positano, Premio Adriana Panni, Spoleto Danza, Danza in Fiera).
After graduation he went to Semperoper (Dresden) under Vladimir Derevianko’s direction where he danced as a soloist and principal dancer in most of the company’s productions. In 2006 he went back to Italy, entering the Maggio Musicale Fiorentino (Florence) as Principal Guest Dancer until 2013, under Vladimir Derevianko and Francesco Ventriglia’s direction. During that time, he was also invited as Principal Guest in some of the most prestigious Italian Theaters: Teatro dell’Opera di Roma, Teatro Massimo di Palermo, Arena di Verona and Teatro alla Fenice di Venezia. His repertoire goes from the most famous classical ballets, such as Don Quixote, Giselle, la Sylphide, la Fille mal Gardèe, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, to the most important contemporary choreographies of our time, such as R. Petit, M. Bejart, W. Forsythe, J. Kylian, S. Lynke, J. Neumeier, G. Balanchine, A. Foniadakis, F. Ventriglia, U. Scholz, sharing the stage with partners such as S. Guillem, E. Abbagnato, E. Obrazova, C. Fracci. In 2012 his home town nominate him “Cittadino Illustre” (Honorary Citizen).
In September 2013 he joined Compañía Nacional de Danza as principal dancer under the direction of José Carlos Martínez. Since then he has danced leading roles in In the Middle Somewhat Elevated and Herman Schmerman by William Forsythe, Casi-Casa by Mats Ek, Sonatas, Delibes Suite and Don Quixote Suite (Basilio) by José Carlos Martínez, Allegro Brillante by George Balanchine and Minus 16 by Ohad Naharin. Nowadays he is Lead Principal dancer under the direction of Joaquín De Luz. During these last years he has also danced The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, Artifact Suite, In the Figure, Por vos muero, Gods and Dogs, Nutcracker, Apollo, Kübler-Ross, Bella Figura, Giselle, Carmen or Morgen;. He was nominated for the Benois de la Danse award in the category of best dancer for his performance in L’Arlesienne by Roland Petit, who was especially well received by the audience and international critics.
Instagram: @alessandro.riga
