Matěj Šust

First soloist of The Czech National Ballet

Biography

Matěj Šust is a prominent figure of the Czech dance scene and a principal dancer of the National Theatre Ballet in Prague. Renowned for his exceptional technique, natural stage presence, and deep interpretative sensitivity, he is admired for his versatility in both classical and contemporary repertoire. His charisma, musicality, and ability to embody dramatic and lyrical characters alike have made him one of the most distinctive artists of his generation. Audiences know him as Romeo, Danceny, Lescaut, Lensky, and the Prince, as well as in more character-driven or comedic roles such as Mercutio, the Devil, Kay, or the Moonman.

Šust began dancing in childhood, initially focusing on tap dance, in which he became the Czech junior national champion three times (2001–2003). He later studied at the Dance Conservatory of Prague, graduating in 2011. That same year, he joined the National Theatre Ballet and quickly attracted attention for his maturity and stage personality. In 2011, he also won the Grand Prix at a dance competition in Szczecin, Poland. In 2013, he was promoted to demi-soloist, in 2015 to soloist, and in February 2022, following his acclaimed portrayal of Mercutio in the Czech premiere of John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, he was named principal dancer.

At the National Theatre, he has created a number of significant roles, including Romeo and Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, the Prince in The Little Mermaid and Cinderella by Jean-Christophe Maillot, Kay in The Snow Queen, Colas in La Fille mal gardée, Lensky in Onegin, Lescaut in L’Histoire de Manon, and Danceny in Valmont. He has also danced in iconic works by Jiří Kylián (Petite Mort, Bella Figura, Six Dances, Symphony of Psalms, Gods and Dogs), Glen Tetley, Ohad Naharin, William Forsythe, and Wayne McGregor. His dancing is marked by precision, elegant phrasing, and an authentic emotional presence on stage.

Šust has been nominated several times for the Czech Thalia Award – for his roles as Mercutio, Danceny, and Kay. He received the Opera Plus Award in 2016 and was honoured with the Thalia Award in 2023 for his performance as the Prince in Cinderella. In addition to performing, Matěj Šust is also active as a choreographer and dance teacher. He has created several short pieces presented by the National Theatre Ballet, Bohemia Balet, and the DekkaDancers collective.

Classical Repertoire

La Bayadère – Solor’s Friend, Man from the Temple of Kali (Rafael Avnikjan)
La Fille mal gardée – Colas (Frederick Ashton)
La Sylphide – Gurn (Johan Kobborg)
Onegin – Lensky (John Cranko)
Romeo and Juliet – Romeo, Mercutio (John Cranko)
Sleeping Beauty – Bluebird, Prince of the North, Ali Baba (Márcia Haydée)
Swan Lake – Benno, Pas de trois, Companion to the Neapolitan Princess (John Cranko)
The Nutcracker – A Christmas Carol – Bob Cratchit, Policeman Bobbie, The Devil, Nutcracker/Prince, Spanish Dance, Russian Dance, Harlequins, Waltz solo (Youri Vámos)
Valmont – Chevalier Danceny (Libor Vaculík)

Contemporary and Neoclassical Repertoire:

Americana III – Fancy Free (Jerome Robbins)
Beyond Vibrations – Fly Paper Bird (Marco Goecke), Moving Rooms (Krzysztof Pastor)
bpm – Artza (Shadows) (Eyal Dadon), Bill (Sharon Eyal, Gai Behar), Bohemian Gravity (Yemi A.D.)
Cinderella – Prince, Stepsisters, Prince’s Friends (Jean-Christophe Maillot)
Dance On... The Second Detail (William Forsythe)
Gods and Dogs (Jiří Kylián)
Gala with Young Dancers – Rose (Petr Zuska)
Holo Harmonies – Pas de trois (Mauro Bigonzetti)
Indigo Rose (Jiří Kylián)
Kafka: The Trial – Commissioner (Mauro Bigonzetti)
Kylián – Bridges of Time – Petite Mort, Bella Figura, Six Dances, Psalm Symphony, Gods and Dogs (Jiří Kylián)
La Nutcracker and the Cuddly Mouse – Devil, Myself (Petr Zuska)
L’Histoire de Manon – Lescaut (Kenneth MacMillan)
Moonshine – Dance at the Crossroads (Various Choreographers)
Moving Still (Douglas Lee)
Phoenix – Puppet, Prelude und Liebestod (Cayetano Soto, Alejandro Cerrudo, Douglas Lee)
Slavic Temperament – Dumka, Aspects (Various Choreographers)
Solo for the Two of Us (Petr Zuska)
Spiritual Quintet – Rose (Petr Zuska)
A Streetcar Named Desire – Allan’s Friend (John Neumeier)
The Sun, the Moon and the Wind – Fly, Moon Prince (Viktor Konvalinka)
The Last Supper – Dancer (DekkaDancers)
The Nutcracker and the Cuddly Mouse – Devil, Myself (Petr Zuska)
The Woman Behind the Cult – Dancer (DekkaDancers)
Timeless – Waltz Boy, Boys Solo (Glen Tetley, Jiří Kylián, Jerome Robbins)
Under the Blanket (Pavel Šmok)
Vertigo – Rain, Cacti (solo & ensemble) (Ohad Naharin, Alexander Ekman)
Ways 03 (Petr Zuska)
Young Dancers Gala – Rose (Petr Zuska)