Nominees for Benois Ballet Prize Announced

Nominees for the international ballet prize "Benois de la dance" were announced on Wednesday. The 11th presentation ceremony of prizes to the winners, best choreographers and dancers, and a gala-concert of the world ballet stars will take place in the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, on April 29th.

According to the organisers -- the Benois Centre, the Bolshoi Theatre and the Russian Culture Ministry - this year the prestigious contest is displaying an expanded geography. For instance, representatives of the Singapore Dance Theatre can be found among the nominees and members of the jury for the first time. The Bavarian State Ballet, the Paris National Opera and the Royal Ballet of Flandres are widely represented. Maria Allash and Dmitry Belogolovtsev (the Bolshoi Theatre) were nominated for the prizes in the best dancers' category. President of the International Union of Choreographers is the chairman of the jury.

The "Benois de la dance" prize was established by the International Union of Choreographers in 1991. This is a unique ballet prize, a kind of "ballet Oscar", which is awarded for the year's best achievements in choreography and is traditionally dedicated to the International Dance Day.

The prize is named after Alexander Benois (1870-1960), an outstanding figure, whose creative activity combined music, theatre and scenery art.