2026 World Finals Judge
Anna Grabka
Anna was a former Principal Dancer at the Polish National Ballet and then Principal Dancer at Hamburg Ballet under the direction of John Neuemeir. She is now recognized as an established International Ballet Master. In 2024, Anna continued her academic contribution to the artform by co-authoring the book, “The Health of Dancers”. For the current season 2025-2026, Anna was delighted to make a returning engagement with the Royal Swedish Ballet as guest Ballet Master.
Anna began to dance at the age 6 and started her professional studies aged ten at the National Ballet School in Warsaw. He first major role was in the lead role of small Klara in The Nutcracker, at the National Theatre (Teatr Wielki) in Warsaw, aged eleven.
Between 1980-1985, Anna was a member of the Ballet Company of the National Theatre in Warsaw as Principal Soloist. In 1982 she won a silver medal in the Polish National Ballet Competition.
During these years, she completed studies in Ballet Pedagogics at the F. Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw. She has continued academic studies in dance, achieving a Master’s Work on the theme “Pregnancy and Dance”, in 2002. Since then, she has worked as guest teacher at the F. Chopin Music University in Warsaw.
In 1985 Anna joined The Hamburg Ballet, in Germany, where she flourished as a Principal Soloist under the Artistic Direction of John Neumeier. For 18 years, she danced Solos and Principal roles and interpreted large panel of works by John Neumeier. In her 23 years of professional Ballet career, she has had a chance to dance in choreography`s of Frideric Ashton, Maurice Bejart, August Bournonville, Jean Coralli/Jules Perrot, John Cranco, Matz Ek, William Forsythe, Leonid Jacobson, Jiri Killian, Serge Lifar, Jose Limon, Asaf Messerer and Marius Petipa.
In the 2001/02 and 2002/03 season she danced as guest Soloist with The Hamburg Ballet, while serving in the role of Ballet Master. After a successful performing career, Anna worked as guest Ballet Mistress in a range of European ballet companies including Thoss Company, Bavarian Ballet, English National Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre, Royal National Ballet, Finnish National Ballet, Het National, Queensland Ballet in Brisbane and Polish National Ballet in Warsaw.
Anna began to dance at the age 6 and started her professional studies aged ten at the National Ballet School in Warsaw. He first major role was in the lead role of small Klara in The Nutcracker, at the National Theatre (Teatr Wielki) in Warsaw, aged eleven.
Between 1980-1985, Anna was a member of the Ballet Company of the National Theatre in Warsaw as Principal Soloist. In 1982 she won a silver medal in the Polish National Ballet Competition.
During these years, she completed studies in Ballet Pedagogics at the F. Chopin Music Academy in Warsaw. She has continued academic studies in dance, achieving a Master’s Work on the theme “Pregnancy and Dance”, in 2002. Since then, she has worked as guest teacher at the F. Chopin Music University in Warsaw.
In 1985 Anna joined The Hamburg Ballet, in Germany, where she flourished as a Principal Soloist under the Artistic Direction of John Neumeier. For 18 years, she danced Solos and Principal roles and interpreted large panel of works by John Neumeier. In her 23 years of professional Ballet career, she has had a chance to dance in choreography`s of Frideric Ashton, Maurice Bejart, August Bournonville, Jean Coralli/Jules Perrot, John Cranco, Matz Ek, William Forsythe, Leonid Jacobson, Jiri Killian, Serge Lifar, Jose Limon, Asaf Messerer and Marius Petipa.
In the 2001/02 and 2002/03 season she danced as guest Soloist with The Hamburg Ballet, while serving in the role of Ballet Master. After a successful performing career, Anna worked as guest Ballet Mistress in a range of European ballet companies including Thoss Company, Bavarian Ballet, English National Ballet, Northern Ballet Theatre, Royal National Ballet, Finnish National Ballet, Het National, Queensland Ballet in Brisbane and Polish National Ballet in Warsaw.