Press conference of the XIV International Ballet Competition

A press conference dedicated to the opening of the XIV International Ballet Competition was held in the Atrium of the Bolshoi Theater. Participated: Oksana Kosyreva, Director of the State Support for Arts and Folk Art Department of the Russian Ministry of Culture; Andrei Malyshev, Director of the Competition as well as the representatives of the international jury- Margherita Parilla (Italy) ), Marina Leonova (Russia), Valentin Elizariev (Belarus), Nikolai Tsiskaridze (Russia), Vadim Pisarev (DPR), Jae Keun Park (the Republic of Korea).

Oksana Kosyreva started the press conference: “Culture will always live no matter what - neither difficulties, nor the economic situation, nor any other obstacles. The competition, which we are opening tonight with the ballet "Spartacus" by an outstanding choreographer Yuri Grigorovich, is a clear confirmation of this. Ballet is a brand of the Russian culture, and this competition is a vivid example of the fact that it is flourishing and developing.

The jury members shared with the media their expectations and thoughts about the upcoming competition.

Marina Leonova, the People's Artist of the Russian Federation, the Rector of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography: “Training, school, musicality, acting, artistry - these are the main things that I, as a jury member, always pay attention to. We expect the contestants to surprise and delight us with all this.”

Margherita Parilla, an ex-prima ballerina of the Rome Opera, a member of the expert council of higher national education in the field of dance: “I want to congratulate the eminent choreographer Yuri Grigorovich, whom I have known since 1980, when I danced his Swan Lake for the first time… I want to say that he was, is and remains forever a famous choreographer who taught Italian ballet art a lot.”

Nikolai Tsiskaridze, the People's Artist of the Russian Federation, the Rector of the Academy of the Russian Ballet named after Vaganova: “I always stick to the same idea that this competition is a contest between ballet dancers. And what is most important, it’s not just jumps and frills, it is important for the contestants to remember that they are artists, and this is precisely the meaning of our profession. This is the most important criterion for me as a jury member. I am happy that in honor of the anniversary of Yuri Grigorovich, pieces from the ballets choreographed by the master are included in the mandatory program of the III round for the first time in the history of the competition. I am sure that this repertoire will very well show the level and capabilities of the participants who will reach the third round.”