At a Press Conference in the French Institute of Culture, the programme, jury, and participants of the ХХVI edition of the International Ballet Competition-Varna were officially announced. The first ballet competition in the world this year marks the 50th anniversary since its establishment. The forum is organized by the “International Ballet Competition-Varna” Foundation and will be held from 15 to 30 July 2014 at the Summer Theatre in Varna with 129 participants from 30 countries, and an emblematic international jury. The competition is held under the patronage of Margarita Popova, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria and under the honorable patronage of the UNESCO, and of Irina Bokova, Director General of the world organization.
Official participants in the Press Conference were His Excellency Xavier Lapper de Caban, Ambassador of France to Bulgaria; Ivan Portnih, Mayor of the city of Varna; Dimiter Dimitrov and Sonia Dimitrova from the “International Ballet Competition-Varna” Foundation; Antoine Toussaint, Executive Director of Societe Generale Expressbank, General Sponsor of the competition; ballet icons, ambassadors. The event was also honored by the special attendance of Bulgarian members of the authoritative jury of the competition – Professor Petar Lukanov, choreographer, professor at the Musical Academy for Ballet and Fine Arts, Plovdiv, Academician Krasimira Koldamova, laureate of the I IBC Varna 1964, prima ballerina, ballet pedagogue, Sara-Nora Krasteva, prima ballerina, Director of the Ballet of the Sofia National Opera and Ballet.
The ХХVI edition of the International Ballet Competition – Varna will be held in honor of Maestro Emil Dimitrov, its founder and key figure for its success and longstanding existence.
The organizers from the “International Ballet Competition-Varna” Foundation have invited in the jubilee jury renowned ballet figures from all over the world. The jury is headed by Vladimir Vasiliev (Russia) – the only holder of the Grand Prix of the Ballet Competition in Varna throughout its history. In the comprised of ballet masters jury are ballerina asoluta Yoko Morishita (Japan), holder of Gold and Silver from Varna Aurora Bosch (Cuba), the adored by the audience Maximiliano Guerra (Argentina), the respected pedagogues – professors Suhua Xiao (China), Sun-Hee Kim and Suon Hee Yang (Korea), Associate professor Biser Deyanov (Bulgaria) – holder of two First Prizes from Varna in 1968 and 1974, who has discovered and taught several generations of quality dancers.
In parallel with the competition, there will also be held accompanying events, among which is the traditional International Summer Ballet Academy with classes in classical ballet, contemporary techniques and jazz. In it are invited world renowned pedagogues from Russia, France, Denmark, the USA, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, and etc. This year the classes of the Academy will be led by Prof. Sun-Hee Kim – Korea, Aurora Bosch – Cuba, Associate professor Biser Deyanov – Bulgaria, Morris Kozi – USA, Alfredo Torres – Cuba. Especially for this year’s edition of the Ballet Academy, Professor Vladimir Vasiliev will give a “Class of the Master” demonstration lesson on the theme “Pa-de-de Don Quixote” under the choreography of A. Gorski and V. Vasiliev. In the supplementary programme of the Competition are also included an art exhibition “Ballet in Art”, and a photo exhibition “The Varna Ballet Olympiad in Photography”.
Traditionally, the Ballet Competition will be closed with a “Where the generations meet” Gala Concert with the participation of previous years’ laureates. On July 30 2014, at the Summer Theatre in Varna the audience will have the pleasure to feast their eyes in the performance of Maximiliano Guerra – Argentina, Rolando Sarabia – Cuba, Brooklyn Mack, Whitney Jensen, and Mathias Dingman.
The Jubilee forum will be held under the patronage of the Margarita Popova, Vice President of the Republic of Bulgaria, and the honorable patronage of the UNESCO, and Irina Bokova, Director General of the world organization, with the kind cooperation of the Ministry of Culture and Varna Municipality. The Competition is organized in support of the candidacy of Varna for European Capital of Culture 2019.
General sponsor of the Competition is Societe Generalе Expressbank.
Sponsors of the Competition are: Albena AD, Automotor Corporation Citroen, Aurubis Bulgaria AD, “America for Bulgaria” Foundation, Sylvia Co., “Nova Trade” EOOD through “Bachkovo” Spring Water