Regulations

1.1. The 29th International Ballet Competition – Varna will be held by Foundation “International Ballet Competition – Varna”, referred to hereinafter as “the Organizer”, with the kind cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Varna Municipality, from 15 through 30 July, 2020, and under the auspices of the International Dance Committee of ITI – UNESCO and CID – UNESCO. The Competition is open to ballet dancers of all nationalities, provided they comply with the requirements of these Regulations.

1.2. Dancers take part in the Competition in two age groups and separate prizes and titles are awarded to each group:

• Group “A” – SENIORS – for ballet dancers aged under 26, i.e. born after July 15th 1994 and before July 14th 2001.
• Group “B” – JUNIORS – for boys and girls aged 15 to 19, i.e. born after July 15th 2001 and before July 14th 2005.

1.3. The maximum number of candidates to be allowed to take part in the 29th IBC-Varna shall be 130. After receiving the application documents of the 130th candidate the Organizer shall stop accepting any documents.

1.4. 40 dancers with the highest score from the First Round, but no lower than 18.00 points, shall be allowed to participate in the Second Round. Each group shall have a guaranteed minimum of 16 competitors, but with score not lower than 18.00 points.

1.5. 10 competitors from Group “A” – SENIORS and 10 competitors from Group “B” – JUNIORS with the highest score in the Second Round, but not lower than 19.00 points shall be admitted to the Third Round.

1.6. Competitors may participate in the Competition rounds either in couples or as soloists, but in both cases classification is done individually. Couples may be formed from members of the same or different age groups, i.e. one of the competitors may be from Group “A”, the other from Group “B”

1.7. Competitors may participate also with a partner who is not a competitor at all, when they perform a pas-de-deux or contemporary choreography where more than one performer is required.

1.8. The Competition will take place in three rounds at the Open-Air Theatre in Varna on a wooden floor stage sized 16/18 m, no slope.

1.9. In case of bad weather, some days or entire rounds of the Competition may take place indoors on a wooden floor stage, covered with linoleum, having approximately the same dimensions.

1.10. All performances included in the Competition Programme are open to the public.

Competitors perform, at their own choice, one pas de deux (adagio, variation and coda) or two variations from the obligatory repertoire listed below:

N.B.:
1. All variations from the above listed “Pas de deux” and “Pas de trois” can be performed as independent entries.
2. In all three rounds solo dancers perform their two variations in one competition night.
3. According the George Balanchine Trust the choreography of George Balanchine is not permitted to be used for competitions. It was his wish during the course of his life, which the George Balanchine Trust continues to honor.

a) a pas de deux (adagio, variation and coda) or two variations (at competitor’s choice) from the classical ballet repertoire, created by the end of the 19th century;

b) a contemporary work of the competitor’s choice choreographed in the last five years, i.e. after July 15th, 2015, not exceeding 6 minutes.

a) a pas de deux (adagio, variation and coda) or two variations (at competitor’s choice) from the classical ballet repertoire, created after the end of the 19th century;

b) a contemporary work of the competitor’s choice choreographed in the last ten years, i.e. after July 15th, 2010, not exceeding 6 minutes.

1. Besides the three rounds the Competition programme includes two concerts:

• Gala Concert of the laureates of the 29th IBC-Varna, awarding of the prizes and closing of the Competition;
• Super Gala Concert “Meeting of Generations”.

In the gala the dancers shall perform the programme selected by the Organizer and for no fee.

2. The competitors take part in the Competition with their own ballet costumes, rehearsal ones, toes and slippers. The Organizer is not providing wig-makers, make-up artists or wardrobe keepers.

3.1. Competitors must perform different dances in the three Competition rounds.

3.2. The Jury will evaluate the competitors at their choice of repertoire as well, taking into consideration the variety of its means of expression as a prerequisite for the manifestation of the dancers’ performance skills.

3.3. The duration of the pas de deux from the classical repertoire should not exceed 12 minutes.

3.4. Contemporary choreography covers a broad spectrum of subjects and reflects the modern man’s views and understanding of the world. It is connected with full or partial denial of the classical dance system and its replacement with different modern dance systems, jazz-dance, free plastique, etc. or complex combinations of classical dance elements with other dance systems including (besides the ones mentioned above) elements of folk dances, ball dances, pantomime, sport and acrobatic movements, etc. The principle difference between classical and contemporary choreography lies in the idea, the concept, the form (dance system) and the contents of the work.

3.5. There may not be more than 5 changes in the lighting of the contemporary choreography works.

3.6. The duration of contemporary choreography works in the Second and Third Rounds should not exceed 6 minutes.

3.7. Not more than three dancers are allowed to take part in a dance performance.

3.8. Where the beginning of a contemporary piece is without music, a representative of the competitor must be with the director during the Competition performances and the Galas.

4.1. For the sound track of their programme competitors should use high quality sound-recordings, USB flash drive or CD media, only of the original orchestra performance of the respective work. Competitors should present these sound-recordings at the Secretariat of the Competition Organizer when registering.

4.2. The audio material, necessary for all competitors’ performances, shall comply with the following technical requirements:
a) supported audio formats: mp3 with bitrate greater than or equal to 128 Kbps; wav with 16 bit and 44,1 kHz sampling frequency;
b) all audio materials shall be presented either on USB flash drive or CD media;
c) audio tacks shall have SNR>65dB (signal to noise ratio greater than 65 decibel);
d) no additional compression or other altering of the original dynamics of the piece are allowed;
e) all musical pieces shall not contain any audible defects such as clicks, noise, wow, flutter, etc.

4.3. Each piece should be recorded separately on a CD media or USB flash drive . The name of the competitor, the name of the respective work and in which of the rounds it will be performed should be clearly written in the name of each file on the USB flash drive or the CD media .

4.4. For rehearsals Competitors shall themselves provide the sound equipment they might need.

The International Jury can disqualify by an open vote of 2/3 majority participants who:

5.1. Do not perform the generally known – conventional – version of the classical choreography works;

5.2. Do not use audio records of the original orchestra performance of the respective classical dance;

5.3. Use audio recordings of poor quality and have not met the requirements of item 4 – Musical Accompaniment;

5.4. Whose programme does not comply with the requirements of the previous item 2 and 3 – Obligatory Competition Repertoire and Competitors’ Programme Selection;

5.5. Perform a contemporary choreography dance whose duration exceeds the stipulated in these Regulations one by more than 45 seconds.

6.1. Competitors shall be judged by an International Jury, which will include world-famous ballet art figures.

6.2. In its work the Jury shall be guided by Regulations approved by the Organizer.

6.3. The decisions of the Jury shall be final and not subject to appeal or corrections.

7.1. The Jury shall judge the competitors on a 25 point system. Full computerization of voting is ensured through a special computer system. The members of the International jury enter their marks in the computer immediately after the performance of each dancer. The scoring and judgement shall be done under special Regulations, approved by the Organizer’s Management Board, individually, separately for both men and women and for the two age groups regardless whether they perform as soloists or in couples.

7.2. When competitors participate with two classical variations, the International Jury shall give one single score for both variations.

7.3. The score in the Second and the Third Rounds, when competitors perform two dances – classical and contemporary choreography, shall be formed by the arithmetic mean of the Jury’s assessment for both performances.

7.4. During the discussions for granting the awards the International Jury will take into account the overall competitors’ presentation and the arithmetic mean of the total points received in the three rounds.

The title “29th INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION – VARNA 2020 LAUREATE” shall be awarded, as well as the following prizes:

THE VARNA GRAND PRIX
EUR 6,000, Gold Medal and Diploma

WOMEN
One First Prize – EUR 3,000, Gold Medal and Diploma
One Second Prize – EUR 2,000, Silver Medal and Diploma
One Third Prize – EUR 1,500, Bronze Medal and Diploma

MEN
One First Prize – EUR 3,000, Gold Medal and Diploma
One Second Prize – EUR 2,000, Silver Medal and Diploma
One Third Prize – EUR 1,500, Bronze Medal and Diploma

The title “29th INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION – VARNA 2020 LAUREATE” shall be awarded, as well as the following distinctions:

SPECIAL DISTINCTION – VARNA 2020
EUR 4,000, Diploma and Medal

GIRLS
One First Class Distinction – EUR 2,000, Diploma and Medal
One Second Class Distinction – EUR 1,500, Diploma and Medal
One Third Class Distinction – EUR 1,000, Diploma and Medal

BOYS
One First Class Distinction – EUR 2,000, Diploma and Medal
One Second Class Distinction – EUR 1,500, Diploma and Medal
One Third Class Distinction – EUR 1,000, Diploma and Medal

Special Prize “Emil Dimitrov” for young talents.

One prize from the “Nina Kiradjieva” Fund – USD 200 for artistry of a Bulgarian dancer, who has received the highest score in the Third Round.

N.B.:
All proposals of legal or physical persons from Bulgaria or overseas for participation in the Competition Prize Fund with their own prizes to be awarded by the International Jury, shall be most willingly considered by the Organizer.

A. FOR PERFORMANCE for participants in the Third Round

1. For competitors who have not received any prizes or distinctions:

• Bounty Awards for achievements of a ballet couple from Group ‘A” – Seniors – each of EUR 300 and Certificates;
• Bounty Awards for achievements of a ballet couple from Group ‘B” – Juniors – each of EUR 200 and Certificates;
• Bounty Awards for partnership – each of EUR 150 and Certificates;
• Bounty Awards for the youngest competitors, a girl and a boy, who participated in the Third Round – each of EUR 200 and Certificates;
• Bounty Awards for competitors who participated in the Third Round but who have not received any other prize or distinction – each of EUR 100;

2. All competitors who participate in the Third Round of the Competition, but are not granted any prizes or distinctions, shall get a diploma for dancer-finalist.

B. FOR CHOREOGRAPHY

1. For original contemporary choreography performed at the Competition, created in the last 5 years, i.e. after July 15th, 2015:

• One First Class Distinction – EUR 700 and Certificate;
• One Second Class Distinction – EUR 500 and Certificate.

2. For original choreography on music by a Bulgarian composer. The piece performed at the Competition should be choreographed in the last 5 years, i.e. after July 15th, 2015:

• One Distinction – EUR 500 and Certificate.

N.B.:

1. All awards are individual and indivisible.
2. The Jury shall not be under the obligation to grant all prizes, distinctions or bounty awards.
3. The Jury may award a prize or distinction to more than one competitor.
4. All prizes, distinctions and bounty awards shall be paid in Bulgarian Leva at the exchange rate of the Bulgarian National Bank on the day of payment, with the relevant deduction as per the existing Bulgarian legislation.
5. All prizes, distinctions and bounty awards shall be paid after the participation of the laureates in the concerts on July 29th and 30th. In case of bad weather on the dates specified the reserve date 31st July will be used for the concerts. The dancers included in the programme of the Laureates’ Concerts, who may choose not to take part in them, shall lose their right to any money award.

9.1. The order of appearance of each competitor in the three Competition rounds shall be determined by the drawing of lots, which will take place at the hall of Cherno More Hotel and Casino at 13:00 hours on July 14th, 2020. Candidates from Group “А” – Seniors and Group “B” – Juniors shall draw separate lots.

9.2. Each candidate shall obtain an individual competition number, whereby he/she shall take part in the three Rounds of the Competition. Competitors performing in couples shall dance under the order of the competition number obtained by the ballerina.

9.3. Competitors, who with valid reason do not attend the drawing of lots, shall obtain a number drawn ex officio by a representative of the Competition Secretariat. Competitors, who for transport or other valid reasons, arrive in Varna after 12:00 h on 14 July 2020, shall take part in the 1st Round last, in order of the ex officio obtained number. In the following Rounds they shall take part under their respective competition numbers.

9.4. Upon the completion of the drawing of lots the Competition Secretariat shall announce the day, time and order of candidates’ performance.

9.5. To competitors, who due to illness evidenced by medical certificate issued by a hospital or medical diagnostic centre, or with other valid reason, cannot perform at the time determined for them, the Bureau of the International Jury, after considering their written request, may allow to perform after the last participant in the respective Round or day, in alphabetical order of their first names. Such changes shall be possible only within the duration of the respective Round.

10.1. The Organizer provides before the competitors’ participation in each round – one 10-minute night rehearsal (with lighting and sound) on the stage of the Open-Air Theatre in the order of the programme for the respective night.

10.2. For their daily rehearsals the competitors provide their own sound equipment and the Organizer shall provide suitable rehearsal halls depending on the possibilities of the city of Varna.

10.3. For any additional rehearsals, if there is such opportunity, outside the programme announced by the Organizer, one must pay the respective rent for the rehearsal halls.

10.4. During rehearsals the following languages can be used: Bulgarian, English, Russian and French.

Candidates for participation in the Competition should send to Foundation “International Ballet Competition – Varna”, at varnaibc@gmail.com the following documents not later than April 15th, 2020:

1. Application for participation after enclosed form – signed and scanned;
2. Copy of the receipt, certifying that the participation fee of EUR 200 has been paid to the Foundation’s bank account under item 12.1 not later than April 15th, 2020.
3. A brief Curriculum Vitae, including information about education, professional training of the candidate, artistic activities, prizes received, etc. in Bulgarian or English; the CV should also be sent in Microsoft Office Word format by e-mail to varnaibc@gmail.com
4. Copies of press reviews, if any;
5. Copy of competitor’s passport;
6. Copy of the partner’s passport, if he/she is from a country subject to an entry visa for Bulgaria. The same applies to any other person, accompanying the competitor, subject to the same visa regime;
7. Copy of document certifying their choreographic education or information by two eminent ballet pedagogues concerning training courses passed;
8. Two photos, colour ones if possible – in stage costumes and two photos – head-shot of the competitor and head-shot photos of the partner and the coach for the issuance of free access cards. The photos should be the of following sizes:
   • 2000 х 3000 px for the photos in stage costumes;
   • 1000 х 1500 px for the head shot photos;
9. Recommendation from an opera or ballet theatre, ballet company or state art body. Students at state and municipal schools should present a recommendation from their Headmaster, and for those studying in private schools – a recommendation from their Headmaster or two prominent members of the ballet community;
10. Winners at other international ballet competitions under the auspices of the Permanent Dance Committee of ITI – UNESCO and of CID – UNESCO shall be admitted without any recommendations.

12.1. The participation fee is EUR 200. The amount should be paid to the bank account of Foundation “International Ballet Competition – Varna” not later than April 15th, 2020. If the person ordering the bank transfer is not the competitor himself/herself, then in the grounds/reason for the transfer it is obligatory to fill in the names of the competitor in favour of whom the money is transferred. All commissions for the bank transfers shall be covered by the participants. A copy of the document certifying the bank transfer MUST be attached to the application form. The Organizer shall neither consider nor confirm the participation in the 29th International Ballet Competition – Varna 2020 of candidates who have not attached the relevant document for paid participation fee.

In EURO:
UniCredit Bulbank
7, Sveta Nedelia Sq.
1000 Sofia
Bulgaria
IBAN: BG22UNCR76301475555502
BIC: UNCRBGSF
Foundation “International Ballet Competition – Varna”

In BGN:
Уникредит Булбанк
пл. “Света Неделя” № 7
България, 1000 София
IBAN: BG19UNCR76301000338200
BIC: UNCRBGSF
Фондация “Международен балетен конкурс – Варна”

The participation fee is non-refundable.

12.2.1. All competitors and their partners shall cover their return travel costs to Varna, as well as their accommodation and sustenance expenses.

12.2. All participants are responsible for making their own insurance (medical and other).

12.3. Medical care of chronic and other lasting diseases of competitors shall be at their own expense.

12.4. All prizes, distinctions and bounty awards shall be paid after the participation of the laureates in the concerts on July 29th and 30th. The dancers included in the program of the Laureates’ Concerts, who may choose not to take part in them, shall lose their right to any money award.

13.1. The overall organisation – preparation, conducting and funding of the Competition – shall be done by Foundation “International Ballet Competition – Varna” with the kind assistance of the Ministry of Culture and Municipality Varna and the generous sponsorship of Bulgarian and foreign corporate bodies and individuals.

13.2. For the time of the Competition the Organizer shall set up a Secretariat at Cherno More Hotel and Casino in Varna. Competitors should address the Secretariat for all issues that they might be interested in during the Competition. All formal announcements, rehearsal schedules and results shall be exhibited in the Secretariat office and the hotel lobby.

13.3. All participants should plan their travel so as to arrive in Varna not later than 09:00 hours on July 14h, 2020 to register for participation in the Competition at the Secretariat and to take part in the drawing of lots at the Cherno More Hotel and Casino the same day at 13:00 hours. Drawing of lots ex officio shall be done only for competitors who for transport reasons have not arrived by the said deadline. Competitors who have planned in advance to arrive in Varna after 09:00 hours on July 14h, 2020 and have not agreed that in advance with the Organizer will not be allowed to compete.

13.4. All participants in the Competition should register at the Organizer’s Secretariat in Cherno More Hotel and Casino in the period 12th July until 10:30 hours on 14th July 2020. Participants who have filed an application form but do not register within the time limit set shall lose their right to participate in the Competition.

13.5. When registering before each round participants should submit in person the following:

• filled-in registration form for the relevant round
• USB flash drive or CD media – the name of the competitor, the name of the respective work and in which of the rounds it will be performed should be clearly written on files on USB flash drive or CD media. Each piece should be recorded on a separate USB flash drive or CD media.
• information about the lighting required together with a sketch (only for the Second and Third Rounds);
• copy of the document certifying the bank transfer of the participation fee (only before the First Round)

13.6. In view of getting information about the Competition schedule in time and in order to ensure quick contact with competitors the Organizer strongly recommends that competitors should organize their stay for the time of the Competition at Cherno More Hotel and Casino.

13.7. The Organizer will assist the participants in making hotel reservations and for their accommodation at

Cherno More Hotel and Casino, Varna,
33, Slivnitsa Blvd.,
tel. + 359 52 612219,
fax + 359 52 612240,
www.chernomorebg.com
reservation@chernomorebg.com
hotel@chernomorebg.com
chernomore@chernomorebg.com

Each competitor should make the hotel booking himself or herself, both for himself/herself and for their partners, coaches and other accompanying persons. The booking should be made using one of the above e-mail addresses of the hotel and the e-mail should be copied to the Organizer at varnaibc@gmail.com. After receiving the copied request for the hotel booking the Organizer would be able to confirm the preferential prices for hotel accommodation of the participants and the persons accompanying them. The number of nights at preferential prices is limited and the offer shall be valid until such accommodation is available. On request the Organizer may render assistance for accommodating different participants in one double room.
The places at the hotel are limited and the Organizer does not guarantee that it would be able to ensure reservations for all those willing. Participants, partners, coaches and accompanying persons who would like to be assisted with hotel reservations should sent a request thereof by April 30th, 2020, stipulating their period of stay, number and type of rooms they wish to stay in. If there are free rooms, those that have made a request will receive confirmation in writing.

13.8. Participants who have not received confirmation for their hotel reservation by the Organizer shall have to organize their hotel accommodation personally for the time of the Competition.

14.1. All competitors shall organize their own return trip to Varna.

15.1. By signing the Application Form the candidates confirm that they agree with all the provisions of these Regulations.
After reviewing the received documents, the Competition Organizer shall reply in writing to all candidates by e-mail or fax not later than May 15th, 2020 confirming or rejecting their participation, and to those that need entry visas – by ordinary mail to their postal address, if required.

15.2. The requests for assistance with hotel reservations at Cherno More Hotel and Casino should be sent to the e-mail address of the Organizer: varnaibc@gmail.com. The request shall be deemed accepted only after an explicit confirmation by the Organizer to the e-mail address from which the request has been sent.

16.1. The “International Ballet Competition – Varna” Foundation has the exclusive right to contract the whole or partial recording with video-, film- or photo cameras of the performances included in the Competition programme, by Bulgarian and foreign movie and TV companies, any agencies or media, private persons, professionals and amateurs, as well as their direct broadcasting by wire or cable or other means or the production of printed matter, video tapes, advertising materials and others.
For the above mentioned broadcasts, recordings or video tapes, as well as for the production of photo-, video- and printed materials competitors and their partners shall not receive any royalties or fees.

16.2. Any kind of photo-, video- and movie records (amateur or professional) shall be allowed during the Competition only after special permission of the Organizer and against payment of a certain charge.

16.3. The production of any type of souvenir or other articles with the trade mark and name of the Competition or inherent elements thereof, shall be possible only after obtaining in advance the Foundation’s permission in writing, signing of a relevant contract and payment of a charge therefor.

16.4. All matters regarding the copyright of composers, choreographers and others connected with the works performed by the competitors in the overall Competition programme are to be arranged by the dancers themselves. The “International Ballet Competition – Varna” Foundation shall not be held responsible for unsettled copyrights.

16.5. In accordance with international practice at the time of the Competition an International Press Centre shall be established. Accreditation of journalists and photo reporters shall take place at the Secretariat after presentation of an Accreditation Letter, an application form and one head-shot photo. No more than one journalist from editorial office will be accredited. All accredited journalists and photo reporters shall receive a special pass to attend all Competition events.

16.6. All candidates are kindly requested to send the documents required with complete, accurate and legible return address, as well as e-mail address in order to enable timely and unobstructed correspondence with the Organizer.

16.7. In case of any disputes in the interpretation of these Regulations for participation in the 29th International Ballet Competition – Varna 2020, the Bulgarian text shall prevail.

17.1. By tradition, concurrently with the Competition in the period July 15th till July 30th, 2020, the Foundation will organize the International Summer Ballet Academy – Varna 2020 with the participation of pedagogues from Bulgaria and overseas.
The programme shall be published later.

17.2. All participants in the Academy shall get admission cards for free access to all the events of the 29th International Ballet Competition – Varna 2020.

17.3. Participation fee:

1. For dancers – EUR 600.
   Dancers younger than 14 years shall not be enrolled.
2. For coaches and observers – EUR 330.

17.4. All travel expenses of the participants and their stay in Varna are on their account. The participants in the Academy should organize themselves their stay in Varna. Where possible the Organizer may assist for reservations in Cherno More Hotel and Casino under the conditions described in paragraph 13.7 herein.
For information and enrolment – the Competition Organizer
For the purpose not later than May 30th, 2020 candidates shall send to the Organizer by e-mail to varnaibc@gmail.com, the following documents:

• an application as per the enclosed form
• copy of the receipt for the participation fee paid
• in the grounds/reason for the transfer it is obligatory to fill in the names of the participant in favour of whom the money is transferred
  All commissions for the bank transfers shall be covered by the participants.
• one head-shot photo 1000 х 1500 px;

and then candidates should receive confirmation by the Organizer that they have been enrolled in the Academy.

The maximum number of Academy participants shall be 120. After reaching that number no more candidates shall be enrolled. Only dancers whose training level corresponds to the level of the relevant master class shall be allowed to participate therein. The master class teachers shall have the right, at their discretion, not to allow dancers with insufficient training to take part in the class.

N.B.
All the conditions concerning the copyrights as possession of the Foundation as per item 16.1 are valid also for the lectures and demonstrations at the International Summer Ballet Academy-Varna 2020.

For those willing to attend the Competition the Organizer shall organise and render assistance for the organisation of tourist groups and individual tourist visits at preferential prices and special services.

For information and reservations, please contact the Competition Organizer.

Foundation “International Ballet Competition – Varna”
67 Hristo Botev Blvd., entrance 1, floor 2, apt. 13, 1303 Sofia, Bulgaria
Tel: +359 2 988 33 77
varnaibc@gmail.com
www.varna-ibc.org

Chairman – Dimitar Dimitrov
tel: + 359 888 416 588

Executive Secretary – Vesselinka Nikolova
tel: +359 888 468 829