Finnish Maria Baranova the best in the Junior Division, Gloria Grand Prix goes to Xiaoyu He from China
11.6.2009
The sixth Helsinki International Ballet Competition came to an End late on Wednesday Night. The Climax of the Competition will be seen late on Thursday Night, when the Award Winners are perfoming and not knowing their placements until the last part of the Gala is over, the Award Ceremony is a Surprise to everyone.
The Gloria Grand Prix, 12 000 euros, was awarded to 21 year old Xiaoyu He, who was competing in senior division. He has graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy and is currently a Member of corps de ballet of the National Ballet of China. He convinced the jury with his wide Competence, special Talent and artistic Interpretation. He performed in all Rounds with his Partner Haijing Yao. In the first Round their classical Number was pas de deux from Flower Festival in Genzano, in the Second Round they performed a contemporay Choreography There... and in the Finals both a classical pas de deux from Ballet Flames of Paris and a modern Choreography 5 Minutes Rendez Vous.
The Chinese Dancers won the two first Placements of Senior Ladies Category. The First Prize was awarded to Haijing Jao and the second Prize went to Hong Yu Guo. Third was Magda Matejkova from Czech Republic.
In the Senior Men's Division the first Prize was given to a Chinese Dancer Jun Shuang Huang. The Jury decided to give two second Prizes in the Men's Division; they were Brooklyn Mack from USA for the second time in Helsinki and Avetik Karapetyan from Armenia. Maxime Quiroga was the third.
Maria Baranova, a Finnish Dancer, was the best in the 15-19 years old Junior Girls Division.
17-years old Maria Baranova is studying at the Helsinki Dance Institute and the Hamburg Ballet School. She was awarded the Encouragement Prize for a talented Finnish Dancer by the Union of Finnish Dance Artists. The second Prize in this Category was given to Camille Bracher from South-Africa. The third Prize was given to Meaghan Hinkis from USA.
Two best Dancers in the Junior Men's Division went to the American Dancers, the first Prize to Jeffrey A. Cirio and the second Prize to Lonnie Weeks. Two third Prizes were given to Junxiong Zhao from China and Gergely Leblanc from Hungary.
The Jury decided not to distribute the Choreography Award of 12 000 euros. Instead they gave two Prizes valued 2 250 euros. The Prizes went to Marco Goecke for his choreography Affi and David Jonathan for his choreography 303.
Pessi & Illusia Prize by Doris Laine-Almi and Heikki Värtsi was given to Hong Yu Guo, China and Wen Jun Zhang, China for their performance of the contemporary work Distance Between.
Helsinki International Ballet Competition 2009
Awards:
Gloria Grand Prix (12 000 euros)
Xiaoyu He, China
Seniors:
Ladies:
1. Haijing Yao, China (8 000 euros)
2. Hong Yu Guo, China (6 000 euros)
3. Magda Matejkova, Czech Republic (3 500 euros)
Men:
1. Junshuang Huang, China (8 000 euros)
2. Brooklyn Mack, USA (6 000 euros)
Avetik Karapetyan, Armenia (6 000 euros)3. Maxime Quiroga, France (3 500 euros)
Juniors:
Ladies:
1. Maria Baranova, Finland (3 500 euros)
2. Camille Bracher, South Africa (2 500 euros)
3. Meaghan Hinkis, USA (1 500 euros)
Men:
1. Jeffrey A. Cirio, USA (3 500 euros)
2. Lonnie Weeks, USA (2 500 euros)
3. Junxiong Zhao, China (1 500 euros)
Gergely Leblanc, Hungary (1 500 euros)Choreography Award:
Marco Goecke: Affi (2 250 euros)
David Jonathan: 303 (2 250 euros)
Union of Finnish Dance Artists Encouragement Prize for a talented Finnish Dancer:
Maria Baranova, Finland (500 euros)
Pessi & Illusia Prize
by Doris Laine-Almi and Heikki Värtsi:
Hong Yu Guo, Kiina & Wen Jun Zhang, China: Distance between (3 000 euros)
