Sylvia Tomova, a star of the Bulgarian stage, received her training at the Vaganova State Ballet Academy in Saint Petersburg. Her career has been closely linked to the National Opera and Ballet, where, as a prima ballerina, she has performed over 90 roles, spanning classical and contemporary works. She is a laureate of prestigious ballet competitions.

In recent years, Tomova has been a sought-after guest répétiteur and choreographer, and has served as a jury member at international competitions. She has held the position of artistic director at the National Ballet, the Ballet of Plovdiv Opera, and the ballet company of State Opera Ruse. Since November 2016, she has been the artistic director of Stara Zagora State Opera. In early September 2025, Tomova received an award from the International Festival of Dance and Dances (Il Festival Internazionale della Danza e delle Danze), held annually in Agrigento, Sicily. Her company is known for its large, multinational ensemble, with Bulgarians making up only about a third of the troupe. 

What draws so many foreign dancers to Stara Zagora, and keeps them there?

“I can’t say that I ‘keep’ them,” Sylvia Tomova admits. “There is a core group of artists who have been with me since the first year: Tomoki Ishigo, Haruka Suga, Fiordi Lloha, Anelia Dimitrova, Romina Slavova, and Ivelina Dimitrova, of course. There is also some turnover, which is perfectly normal — it happens everywhere in the world. But our company has great appeal. We constantly receive applications from dancers who want to audition in Stara Zagora and, potentially, be invited to join the troupe.”

“It's a wonderful thing,” says Sylvia Tomova. “I work with everyone in the same way, and my expectations are consistent. But the dancers come from so many different places, and blending all those cultures, temperaments, and personalities is fascinating. And they’re all so young! It’s amazing to watch them live and grow together like one big family — how they help each other, how they care for each other, and how they blossom before my eyes. I’ve already nurtured major artists and stars who are recognised worldwide, such as Anelia Dimitrova, Fiordi Lloha, Clara Ferrer, Alessia Bakin, and Tomoki Ishigo. They are applauded everywhere — in Germany, in the Netherlands, wherever we go. And here in Bulgaria, in Sofia, people know them well, too.

Tomova cites Marcelo Molina, a Mexican dancer who has long lived and worked in Bulgaria, but is increasingly invited abroad as a choreographer, as one of her remarkable achievements.

She strives to instil in her dancers the belief that “Ballet is a fleeting art, and reaching the top requires immense discipline, creativity, love, and dedication. And once you get there, you can’t relax — you have to work even harder, because falling from great heights is very painful.” She aims to pass on everything she learned from the Vaganova Academy, the teachings that shaped her illustrious and strong character.