Vlastimil Harapes


Vlastimil Harapes was a Czech dancer, choreographer and actor. He served as the artistic director of the Prague Conservatory.

Life and career

Harapes was born in a hospital in Chomutov on 24 July 1946, and but was native of Droužkovice, where he lived until the age of 14. His parents led an amateur theatre company, which allowed him to start acting at the age of five. After graduating from the Prague Dance Conservatory in 1965, he got a job at the National Theatre, where he was a soloist until his death. He also studied dance in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
His first wife was. In 1986, he married singer Hana Zagorová in order to adopt a child, and the marriage lasted until 1992. However, Harapes lived with a male poet, Josef Topol, for over 44 years. Their relationship was kept a secret until it was revealed to the public in 2013.
Harapes acted in several films throughout his career, notably in and Marketa Lazarová. However, most over his performances were overdubbed over by other actors. With his then wife Zagorová, he performed occasionally as a singer. In 2006, he was a judge in the first season of the show StarDance.

Death

He succumbed to lung cancer on 15 May 2024, at the age of 77.

Awards

Selected filmography

Political activism

In 1977, Harapes signed the Anticharter In the 2016 [Czech Senate election], he ran as an Independent candidate, backed by the ANO 2011 Party, in District No. 25. He captured 13.30% of the vote, finishing fourth place and did not advance to the second round.