Radim Kafka
Classical Ballet - Repertoire
DIP Dance (Ballet) & Ballet Teaching Prague Dance Conservatory
Czech National Ballet, Ballet of the National Theatre Brno
Born in Prague, Czech Republic, Radim studied at the Czech National Ballet Preparatory School for two years before joining the Prague Dance Conservatory where he trained for 8 years, studying both academic and dance subjects. He graduated with ‘Absoluturium’ - Diploma of Dance (Ballet) and Ballet Teaching.
Upon graduation, Radim completed compulsory military service of the Czech Republic and was a member of the Czech Army Arts Corps – Ballet Division. The professional company performed mainly for other members of the army corps as well as other civilians.
Radim was subsequently offered a place in the Czech National Ballet, dancing numerous solo roles from the classical and contemporary repertoire during his 16 years with the Company including Jiří Kylián’s Sinfonietta, Field Mass and The Child and Magic, Ek’s Carmen, Balanchine’s Who Cares?, Vàmos’s The Nutcracker – A Christmas Carol, Greve’s Swan Lake, Zuska’s Requiem, Ways 03 and D.M.J 1953-1977, and countless other classical and modern works from the Company.
In 2010 he joined the Ballet of the National Theatre Brno, Czech Republic, dancing many roles in all the ballets including many solo roles such as Coppelius in Vàmos’s Coppelia from Montmartre, Drosselmeyer in Nault’s The Nutcracker, a soloist in Uwe Scholz’s The Creation of the World and Dörnen’s Transfigured Night. Radim toured extensively with both ballet companies to numerous countries including France, Spain, Italy, Germany, Denmark, Finland, Turkey, Taiwan and Lebanon.
Retiring after a 20 year professional dance career, Radim moved into the roles of Artistic Coordinator and Producer with the Ballet of the National Theatre Brno. He was also the sole ballet master for ballet in the opera productions of the National Theatre Brno. As Artistic Coordinator, he coordinated and liaised with the dancers and artistic team of the Ballet, as well as with numerous other departments within the theatre. He was responsible for foreign affairs with the Ballet, managing all aspects for foreign members and guests and acting as the interpreter between all parties. His duties also included the fitting, ordering and distribution of dance shoes for the Company.
Radim migrated permanently to Australia in 2015 and is now the Manager of Bloch York Street, the flagship store of Australia’s leading dance footwear and apparel retailer. He was also the Co-organiser and Assistant of the 2015 Australian and New Zealand Tour of the Czech Philharmonic Children's Choir (Kühnův dětský sbor), liasing with the Artistic Director and Main Organiser, Dr David McIntosh.
Continuing his passion and connection to ballet, Radim has been a regular Senior Ballet Teacher at Ecole since 2016, giving specialised coaching and training to senior-level dance students. He played an integral part in assisting in the 2016 production of Ecole’s Cinderella. At the 2016 and 2017 Ecole Summer School, he taught both technique and repertoire classes, and was jointly the main senior classical teacher. Radim’s expertise is in classical technique, pas de deux, repertoire, boys coaching, strengthening, character, folk dance, performance and production.
Radim holds great knowledge, insight and first hand professional experience in the field of the performing arts, in particular ballet and dance. He has studied and performed numerous dance styles throughout his careers and has worked with world-renowned choreographers and teachers.