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Ballet award hit by crisis
Published: 04 June, 2009, 20:09
The Benois de la Danse international ballet contest winners have been named in Moscow. However, this year the best choreographers and individual ballets have been deprived of an awards ceremony due to a funding shortage.
For the first time in the award’s 17-year history, often called the “Ballet Oscar” in artistic circles, there has not been a public awards ceremony and winners’ concerts.
“As the budget was cut we had to allocate the money for another project also headed by Yury Grigorovich – the International competition of ballet dancers and choreographers – which will be held in Moscow in June,” said Aleksandr Avdeev, the Russian Culture Minister.
The winners were announced at a press conference by the general director of the Benois de la Danse program, Regina Nikiforova.
The award for best choreographers was accepted by a representative of the Royal Ballet of Great Britain, Wayne McGregor, for his “Infra” production, and Jose Martinez of the Paris National Opera for his “Children of The Rake”.
The best ballerinas for this year are Christie Martin – the leading actress in “Manon”, directed by the Australian Ballet of Melbourne and Russian Natalia Osipovar, representing the Bolshoi theatre. Osipovar was recognized for taking parts in a number of productions including leading roles in “Sylphide” and “Giselle”.
Receiving “Best Dancers” of the year awards were Ivan Vasiliev from the Bolshoi troupe and Joaquin de Luz for his leading role in the ballet “Prodigal Son”, a production of the New York City Ballet.
The Benois de la Danse award was founded by the International Dance Association in Moscow in 1991. It takes place each year and is jury-based in its judging. The members of this jury change every year and consist of only top ballet personalities. The head of the jury is the famous maestro, Yury Grigorovich.
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