The 5^th Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition (IBCC), hosted by the NCPA and Beijing Xiaoxing Ballet Art Development Foundation, will be held at the NCPA from July 13^th to 21^st 2019. The IBCC is a state-level international competition initiated with the approval of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of the People’s Republic of China. The competition has been successfully held for four years in 2011, 2013, 2015 and 2017. This year, themed in “Tribute to Chinese Ballet”, the competition will continue to spot excellent ballet dancers and choreographers. It will make efforts in promoting international dance art exchanges by setting up a platform for young dancing artists to broaden their horizons and drive the international development of dance artistry.

The preliminary round of the 5^th Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition formally kicked off at 9:30 on the morning of April 6^th. The kick-off ceremony was attended by Vice President of the NCPA ZHU Jing, Chairman of the Arts Council of the Competition ZHAO Ruheng, and representatives of the Arts Council and judges. Vice President ZHU announced the start of the preliminary round of the competition, and Chairman ZHAO introduced the six judges and issued a letter of appointment to them. At 10 o’clock, the judges signed a confidentiality agreement, starting their work.

By convention, this year’s competition will be divided into two parts: classical ballet competition and choreography competition. Since the registration began, the Organizing Committee has received applications from more than 250 applicants in 23 countries and regions, including China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan, USA, Canada, Australia, South Korea, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Greece, France, Spain, Netherlands, Russia, Belarus, Ukraine, Serbia, Cuba, Mexico and Colombia.

 

The jury is made up of six acclaimed artists, of whom the three ballet judges include YU Jing, who was the ballet teaching section head and vice headmaster of the Affiliated Secondary School of Beijing Dance Academy and is now a senior lecturer at the Affiliated Secondary School of Beijing Dance Academy, ZOU Gang, national first-class director, head of the Guangzhou Ballet, headmaster of the Guangzhou Arts School and vice chairman of the Guangdong Dancers Association, and LIU Jun, national first-class director, and head and artistic director of the Chongqing Ballet. The three choreography judges are XIAO Xiangrong, assistant dean of School of Arts and Media and head of Department of Dance of Beijing Normal University, TONG Ruirui, national first-class choreographer at China National Opera & Dance Drama Theatre and distinguished choreographer at the Shanghai Song & Dance Ensemble, and FEI Bo, national first-class choreographer and resident choreographer of National Ballet of China. After the Kick-off ceremony was over, the two groups of judges reviewed the videos posted from participants. A list of finalists will be announced at www.china-ibcc.org, the official website of the competition after the preliminary contest ends.

This year’s classical ballet competition will extend the age limit on players in order to provide opportunities for more young people to show their own talents. In addition, the juries, composed of world-class art masters, will provide an escort for the competition based on the principles of justice and equity.

 

In addition to the official competition, many other exciting activities and highlights will be carried out with support from the President of the NCPA WANG Ning. A wonderful opening ceremony themed in “Tribute to Chinese Ballet” will be held, domestic and foreign young choreographers’ works will be commissioned for ballet players, and master-grade music will be played in the choreography competition. Judges’ master classes, creativity workshops, face-to-face meetings with stars, ballet sculptures, an exhibition of photos of all previous competitions and ballet art documentary screening, will also be held.

 

The opening and closing ceremonies as well as finals of the competition will be broadcast live on NCPA Classical Channel and Tencent Art Channel so that audiences could take a closer look at the ballet art.

 

On July 20^th and 21^st, two performances of ballet given by world-class ballet stars will show audiences more highlights.

 

On July 19^th, the organizing committee will work with the Affiliated Secondary School of Beijing Dance Academy to organise a ballet-themed summer camp. Then in October this year, the organising committee will hold Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Asia.

 

The NCPA will sell tickets at a preferential price for the opening and closing ceremonies and every session of the competition as it did before.