2026 World Finals Judge
Lorelei Bari
• 2022 – Outstanding Teacher Award, Youth America Grand Prix Jury
• 2018 – Excellence Award, Union of Choreography Arts, Romania
• 2015 – Outstanding Pedagogical Achievement, European Dance Union
• 2014 – Best Teacher Award, World Ballet Competition
Currently a ballet teacher at the John Cranko School in Stuttgart, Germany, Lorelei Bari has been teaching ballet and repertoire for over 30 years.
She graduated in 1985 from the High School of Choreography in Bucharest under the tutelage of prima ballerina and choreographer Alexa Mezincescu, and began her professional career as a classical ballet dancer at the National Opera House, Bucharest. As a young ballerina, she performed in productions such as Giselle, Coppélia, Don Quixote, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.
In 1987, at just 22 years old, Lorelei was offered a contract as Soloist, Ballet Master, and Assistant Choreographer at the National Opera House in Rijeka, Croatia. She went on to serve as assistant choreographer for more than six years, contributing to classical, neoclassical, and contemporary productions including The Merry Widow, Salome, Graduation Ball, and Istrian Sketches.
Since 1993, Mrs Bari has worked in Italy as a teacher and choreographer. In 1999, she returned to Romania and founded her own ballet academy, La Sylphide Academic Ballet School.
As an international dance artist and educator, Lorelei has delivered masterclasses and residencies in Belgium, Italy, Israel, France, Romania, the UK, Hong Kong, and Brazil. She mentors and prepares students for international competitions and company auditions, helping them discover and shape their own artistic path towards a professional classical career.
Over the years, Ms Bari has worked with both vocational and non-vocational students of all ages. Many of her pupils have gone on to become professional ballet dancers and teachers, training at prestigious institutions including the Bolshoi Ballet Academy (Moscow), Vaganova Ballet Academy (St Petersburg), Martha Graham School (New York), Paris Opera Ballet School, European Ballet School (Amsterdam), Zurich Ballet Academy, Elmhurst Ballet School (Birmingham), and the Berlin State Ballet School.
Mrs Bari currently serves as International Artistic Director of the Dance World Cup Competition (DWC), adjudicating young dancers of all ages across classical ballet, repertoire, contemporary, lyrical, and character dance. The competition welcomes participants from around the world, including the UK, Israel, Romania, Italy, Hong Kong, Macao, Brazil, Portugal, and Spain.
Lorelei considers sharing her passion for ballet with children the most fulfilling and inspiring vocation, viewing her teaching career not merely as a profession, but as a true mission and purpose in life.
• 2018 – Excellence Award, Union of Choreography Arts, Romania
• 2015 – Outstanding Pedagogical Achievement, European Dance Union
• 2014 – Best Teacher Award, World Ballet Competition
Currently a ballet teacher at the John Cranko School in Stuttgart, Germany, Lorelei Bari has been teaching ballet and repertoire for over 30 years.
She graduated in 1985 from the High School of Choreography in Bucharest under the tutelage of prima ballerina and choreographer Alexa Mezincescu, and began her professional career as a classical ballet dancer at the National Opera House, Bucharest. As a young ballerina, she performed in productions such as Giselle, Coppélia, Don Quixote, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.
In 1987, at just 22 years old, Lorelei was offered a contract as Soloist, Ballet Master, and Assistant Choreographer at the National Opera House in Rijeka, Croatia. She went on to serve as assistant choreographer for more than six years, contributing to classical, neoclassical, and contemporary productions including The Merry Widow, Salome, Graduation Ball, and Istrian Sketches.
Since 1993, Mrs Bari has worked in Italy as a teacher and choreographer. In 1999, she returned to Romania and founded her own ballet academy, La Sylphide Academic Ballet School.
As an international dance artist and educator, Lorelei has delivered masterclasses and residencies in Belgium, Italy, Israel, France, Romania, the UK, Hong Kong, and Brazil. She mentors and prepares students for international competitions and company auditions, helping them discover and shape their own artistic path towards a professional classical career.
Over the years, Ms Bari has worked with both vocational and non-vocational students of all ages. Many of her pupils have gone on to become professional ballet dancers and teachers, training at prestigious institutions including the Bolshoi Ballet Academy (Moscow), Vaganova Ballet Academy (St Petersburg), Martha Graham School (New York), Paris Opera Ballet School, European Ballet School (Amsterdam), Zurich Ballet Academy, Elmhurst Ballet School (Birmingham), and the Berlin State Ballet School.
Mrs Bari currently serves as International Artistic Director of the Dance World Cup Competition (DWC), adjudicating young dancers of all ages across classical ballet, repertoire, contemporary, lyrical, and character dance. The competition welcomes participants from around the world, including the UK, Israel, Romania, Italy, Hong Kong, Macao, Brazil, Portugal, and Spain.
Lorelei considers sharing her passion for ballet with children the most fulfilling and inspiring vocation, viewing her teaching career not merely as a profession, but as a true mission and purpose in life.