Winners of 15th International Ballet Competition announced in Moscow
The 15th International Ballet Competition has come to an end on the Main Stage of the State Academic Bolshoi Theatre of Russia, once again confirming its place as one of the most prestigious creative competitions in the world. The list of previous winners features artists from Russia, the United States, Japan, South Korea, China, Mongolia, Serbia, Slovenia, Armenia, and other countries.
This year’s competition generated interest like never before. A total of 362 applications were submitted from 35 countries, and a qualifying round whittled the number of performers on the Bolshoi Theatre stage to 158 contestants from 30 countries.
All the rounds of the competition were sold out, with hundreds of thousands of viewers from Russia, Belarus, the United States, Brazil, Argentina, Japan, South Korea, Spain, Italy, Australia, Turkey, and China, watching the live broadcasts every day.
The success of the young performers from the American ballet school was particularly noteworthy, walking away with gold medals in the junior age group.
The International Ballet Competition has long been a celebration for ballet lovers around the world. Guests and attendees were treated to two days’ worth of workshops in Moscow by leading experts in ballet art, film screenings, and conversations with famous artists Mikhail Lavrovsky and Boris Akimov, and winners and participants in past competitions, including Denis Zakharov and Maria Koshkareva, and many others.
A meeting of the International Federation of Ballet Competitions was also held at the Bolshoi Theatre during the competition. Representatives of 16 prestigious competitions from nine countries met in Moscow: Bulgaria, Italy, Kazakhstan, China, Russia, the United States, Turkey, South Africa, and South Korea. This year’s meeting was particularly significant, as the organization was celebrating its 20th birthday.
The 15th International Ballet Competition again proved that prominent cultural projects are becoming an important part of global humanitarian cooperation. The success of young performers from various countries, including representatives of the American school of ballet, clearly shows that art continues to unite people, remaining a space of trust, mutual respect, and professional dialogue. This idea was reflected in the main theme of the 12th St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum ‘United Cultures, Common Values’.
“The fact that people came from around the world to compete here, and that the winners came from various countries, again shows how well-respected the Russian school of ballet is. Today, it is especially important to remember that there are values that united people regardless of citizenship, language, or political circumstances. Culture and art have always been and will be this kind of unifying force. The victories of young performers from various countries, including the United States of America, on the stage of the Bolshoi theatre, are not only recognition of the highest professional skill, but also evidence that respect for talent and the pursuit of beauty and creativity remain a universal language of mutual understanding. When people come together through art, they find far more similarities than differences, creating a strong foundation for trust, cooperation, and peace,” noted Minister of Culture of the Russian Federation Olga Lyubimova.
The development of performing arts has always occupied a key place on the agenda of the St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum. At last year’s Forum, participants in the ‘Theatre’ thematic session organized by Artistic Director Theatre of Nations Evgeny Mironov discussed the development of international theatrical cooperation, support for joint cultural projects, attracting investments into the cultural sector, and the role of young directors and playwrights in shaping the global theatre space.
The triumph of young American ballet dancers has also received high praise in the United States. Chair of the United States Commission of Fine Arts Rodney Cook highlighted the high level of training, talent, and artistry of the American dancers, noting the unifying role of classical ballet as a universal language of international cultural dialogue.
“The outstanding achievements of these young American dancers on the historic stage of the Bolshoi Theatre are a source of great pride. Their success reflects not only their exceptional individual talent, but also the enduring strength of the artistic education and discipline that define classical ballet. Art has long served as one of humanity’s greatest bridges, allowing people of different nationalities, languages, and traditions to interact through beauty and cultural expression. The achievements of the participants from the United States, Russia, and numerous other countries in ballet remind us that artistic excellence is a language understood throughout the world. It encourages us to recognize the humanity that we all share. May the spirit of cultural exchange, respect, and friendship demonstrated on the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre continue to inspire future generations and strengthen the ties between our peoples.
“I take my hat off to the maestro, General Director of the Bolshoi Theatre Valery Gergiev,” explained Rodney Cook.
The discussion will continue at the 12th St. Petersburg International United Cultures Forum scheduled for 24–26 September of this year.
