Grand Jeté on an international stage: 4th Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition concludes

The awards ceremony on August 11, 2017 (Photo/Courtesy of the organizing committee of the 4th Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition)

The finals of the 4th Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition (IBCC), hosted by National Theatre for the Performing Arts (NCPA) and co-sponsored by the Beijing Morning Star Ballet Foundation, culminated in an awards ceremony on Aug. 11, after six days of intense competition.

The competition was divided into two parts: classical ballet and choreography. In May, over 200 contestants from 18 countries and regions registered for the competition by submitting a video including two variations or one pas de deux for the classical ballet competition, or a video showing an originally-choreographed piece for the choreography competition.

Zhao Xinyue (R), gold medalist in the Junior B Division, and Zeng Shuai (L), bronze medalist in the Junior B Division, perform pas de deux from Don Quixote, Act III. (Photo/Courtesy of the organizing committee of the 4th Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition)

Sixty-seven of the registered competitors were shortlisted for the Beijing semi-finals starting on Aug. 5. Among them, 34 classical ballet contestants and 16 choreography contestants made it to the finals on Aug. 9 and 10. The final results were revealed in an awards ceremony, with over 20 competitors taking home awards.

Daniel Rittoles, bronze medalist in the Senior Division, performs a variation from Le Corsaire. (Photo/Courtesy of the organizing committee of the 4th Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition)

Aiming to select promising ballet dancers and talented choreographers, as well as to promote international exchanges among ballet students, institutions, and companies, the 4th IBCC also held a series of master classes, workshops, seminars, and lectures last week. Moreover, in order to provide ballet-lovers and theater-goers with more, open film screening of The Royal Ballet repertoires and Gala performances by international ballet stars were also staged.

Ma Minghao (L) and Huang Baimao (R), silver medalists in the Senior Division perform pas de deux from Swan Lake, Act III. (Photo/Courtesy of the organizing committee of the 4th Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition)

“I really appreciate the precious opportunity IBCC has given me to shine on an international stage. Despite the tears and sweat we shed before the competition, I enjoyed every minute when the audience felt the same emotions when I was dancing. I will keep going and pursue a better future.” Zhao Xinyue, a contestant from the Secondary School of Beijing Dance Academy and the female gold medalist of the 4th IBCC Junior B Division, told People’s Daily Online.