The 3rd AYGP ends with great success

The 3rd Ailian Youth Grand Prix (AYGP), with the National Ballet of China as its supervisor, is co-organized by Beijing Tianqiao Theater Co., Ltd. and Global Ballet Center. On July 28th, the Award Ceremony & Gala Evening of the 3rd AYGP was celebrated in Tianqiao Theatre. Showcasing the charm, technique and artistry of prize-winners, this evening was reported by over 20 major media outlets, including People's Daily, Xinhua News Agency, China Media Group, Beijing Television Station, etc. Receiving high interest and wide claim from the society, this year's competition came to the end with great success.

At the award ceremony, Madame Feng Ying, the Jury Chairman, also the Director and Artistic Director of National Ballet of China, expressed her gratitude to all the people of different walks of life for their concern and support. She also stressed the reason for using "Ailian" as the competition title.
As Madame Feng said, "Ailian" came from the name of Madame Dai Ailian, who served as the first Director of National Ballet of China. Seen as the Mother of Chinese Ballet, Madame Dai always valued the mutual reference and common development of culture and art among different countries. We name the competition after her, judge it with professional and authoritative attitude, try our best to make it as an international and influential platform for young ballet lovers. In this way, we show our highest tributes to Madame Dai, and to other predecessors as well. They have made great contributions to the development of culture and art of our country!

Feng Ying, Jury Chairman, Director and Artistic Director of National Ballet of China

John Meehan, former Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theater and the Australian Ballet, Jury Chairman of the USA International Ballet Competition

Zhu Yan, Deputy Director of National Ballet of China

Peggy Dursort , Ballet Instructor and former ballet dancer with Paris Opera

Zhang Jian, Deputy Director of National Ballet of China, Vice President of School of National Ballet of China

Afterwards, Madame Feng and the jury members awarded medals and certificates to the prize-winners. The Jury members are:
- John Meehan, former Principal Dancer with the American Ballet Theater and the Australian Ballet, Jury Chairman of the USA International Ballet Competition;
- Zhu Yan, Deputy Director of National Ballet of China;
- Peggy Dursort , Ballet Instructor and former ballet dancer with Paris Opera;
- Zhang Jian, Deputy Director of National Ballet of China, Vice President of School of National Ballet of China;
- Christoph Böhm, Ballet Master and Choreographer of State Ballet School Berlin;
- Xu Gang, Assistant Artistic Director and Ballet Master of National Ballet of China;
- Dirk Badenhorst, Founding CEO of the South African International Ballet Competition;
- Zou Zhirui , Professor of Beijing Dance Academy, former Dean of the ballet department.

Christoph Böhm, Ballet Master and Choreographer of State Ballet School Berlin

Xu Gang, Assistant Artistic Director and Ballet Master of National Ballet of China

Dirk Badenhorst, Founding CEO of the South African International Ballet Competition

Zou Zhirui , Professor of Beijing Dance Academy, former Dean of the ballet department

This year's competition was launched on April 1st. It went through the Preliminary Rounds in Chengdu and in Beijing, the Preliminary Round Online and the Final Round, with a total of 695 participants. In the end, the prizes and awards, including the 1st, 2nd, 3rd Prizes, the Special Jury Awards and Best Teacher Awards, went to 162 participants from the General Division (groups of Ballet, Contemporary, Ensemble) and the Professional Division.

The Gala Evening opened with the group dance Flower Rain Butterfly Dream. The winners showcased their talents and glamour through classical variations, contemporary dances and group dances. The dance pieces in various styles demonstrated that dance organizations and participants have achieved huge progress. Both their creations and presentations have widened and deepened. In this year, we saw many familiar little figures, who has participated for several times before. These young participants began to shine on our platform and kept growing with it. Following the path of artists who used to performed in Tianqiao Theatre, these young talents will dream high and bloom themselves on this stage.

Hosts: Cao Shuci, Zhang Tiao (National Ballet of China)

As Madame Feng said, "Ailian Youth Grand Prix serves as a platform to develop the aesthetic education of ballet for children by cooperating with more international professionals and people in different sections. Help more non-professional young ballet lovers gradually achieve their perfect life through ballet aesthetics.

At the end of the Gala Evening, Zhang Zhiling, prize-winner of the 2nd AYGP, performed the unique and charming contemporary piece Border. Yan Mengxuan, prize-winner of the 1st AYGP, together with the artist Shen Lexuan, danced an exquisite and touching Pas de Deux from Cinderella.

Going through three sessions, the Ailian Youth Grand Prix has now become a unique international platform for the youth for ballet exchanges in our country. With its huge influences, the competition has indeed play a role in promoting the high-quality development of ballet aesthetic education in China.
The competition will inherit and carry forward the dedication of the older generation of artists such as Madame Dai Ailian to China's dance career, promote international cultural and artistic exchange through ballet, keep progressing towards newer and higher artistic goals!
We sincerely thank all sectors of society for their concern and support for the 3rd Ailian Youth Grand Prix!
 

Highlights

Flower Rain Butterfly Dream

Performers: Chen Yifan, Zhang Junxi, Wu Ruihan, Wang Minda, Wu Qianyu, Tang Hexi, Sun Zhizhi, Liu Lingyi, Yan Yujiaqi, Cai Yichen, Liu Chang, Qin Qiyue, Yang Yinuo

Female Variation from The Nutcracker

Performer: Yang Zhiyi

Female Variation from La Bayadère

Performer: Guo Siqi

Pas de Deux from The Flames of Paris

Performers: Lu Wuyou, Liu Yangqiangdi

Female Variation from Harlequinade

Performer: Zhang Luyu

Female Variation from Coppélia

Performer: Zhong Qixu

Duet from Chipollino

Performers: Zhang Yuhan, Liu Juntong

Who Stole My Mushrooms?

Performers: Qian Yuehan, Xu Jiayue, Wang Yutong, Yu Shuyao, Zhu Yuxuan, Zheng Hao, Tao Chengxi, Yang Jian, Wu Yutong

Carrying the Plume

Performers: Liu Yinuo, Xu Aofei

Pas de Deux from Don Quixote

Performers: Huang Jueya, Yang Rui

Tick Tock

Performers: Jin Jiayan, Yang Wanyu, Ouyang Yingche, Wang Jinxuan, Zhou Yajing, Wang Qiuyue, Zhang Chenlin, Luo Ruilin, Wang Xinzhu, Zhang Junran, 

Li Xinyi, Zhang Yuqi, Li Wanquan

Male Variation from The Nutcracker

Performer: Zhang Yicheng

Border

Performer: Zhang Zhiling (2nd AYGP Prize Winner)

Pas de Deux from Cinderella

Performers: Yan Mengxuan (1st AYGP Prize Winner), Shen Lexuan

Photography: Shi Ren, Chen Li, Zhu Jiang, Han Jun, Yang Lin, Yu Zhiqiang