Certificate of Merit awarded to entrant from Alberton
The talented ballet dancer awarded for his excellent performance.
After three exciting days of classical ballet and contemporary dance, the 10th South African International Ballet Competition (SAIBC) at the Artscape Opera House came to a thrilling close.
The gala performance featured the 2023 award winners and South African and international guest artists such as Angela Revie and SAIBC juror Javier Monier Jr from Mzansi Ballet and previous SAIBC winner, Kiko Gomes from Cape Town City Ballet.
This year saw 65 dancers competing in three age groups namely 9 – 12 (learners), 13 – 16 (junior) and 17 – 22 (senior) in both classical and contemporary solos and the recently introduced duets, trios, group and choreographic categories.
With five dancers representing South Korea, the majority of the competitors were South African, hailing from the Western Cape, KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. Five dancers entered via video from overseas and South Africa.
Certificates of merit were awarded to several entrants including Alberton’s very own Miguel Franco-Green (17). He was awarded a certificate in the senior contemporary boy group and the senior classic boy group (bronze medal).
The big finale number was danced by all the 2023 entrants to a song sung in person by Selim Kagee. VIPs in the audience included Minister Anroux Marais of the Western Cape Government Department of Cultural Affairs and Sport and Roberto Quintas representing The City of Cape Town.
The jury, chaired by Ted Brandsen, awarded only two gold medals, both going to junior entrant Yeonseon Cho (16) from South Korea.
Brandsen was joined by panel members Madame Feng Ying (director and artistic director of the National Ballet of China), Beijing Hyo Jung Jun (director Incheon City Ballet), South Korea (gold medalist at the inaugural SAIBC 2008), Carol Kinsey (former principal ballerina with CAPAB Ballet and Cape Town City Ballet), Christoph Boehm (Berlin State Ballet School), Javier Monier Jr (Cuba, who is currently a member of Mzansi Ballet in Johannesburg) and Ana Laguna from Sweden.
