The Grand Audition was held for the first time in Budapest last year.Continue reading
Tatyjana Melnyik and Gergő Ármin Balázsi have been nominated for this year’s Prix Benois de la Danse, one of the most prestigious awards in the ballet world, writes Magyar Nemzet. The gala will be held on June 25, 2024 at the Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow.
The Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow. Photo via Wikipedia
For the first time in its thirty-three year history, artists from the Hungarian National Ballet has been nominated for the Prix Benois de la Danse. Tatyjana Melnyik, one of the leading soloists of the Hungarian National Ballet since 2015 and holder of the title of “Étoile” (“star dancer”, the highest rank of ballet dancers) of the 2019/20 and 2023/24 seasons at the Hungarian State Opera, has been nominated in the ballerina category of the award named after the renowned artist and art critic Alexandre Nikolayevich Benois.
Among the male dancers, Gergő Ármin Balázsi represents the Hungarian National Ballet, who has been a member of the company since 2014 and was also elected “Étoile” of the 2022/23 season. In their categories, they will compete for the award with soloists from the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow, the Mariinsky Ballet and the Mikhailovsky Theatre St Petersburg, the La Scala Theatre Ballet in Milan, and leading Japanese and Chinese companies (Tokyo Ballet, Liaoning Grand Theatre).
The jury, chaired by legendary prima ballerina Svetlana Zakharova and composed of ballet artists, choreographers and company directors. The jury is changing every year, and this year Tamás Solymosi, Artistic Director of the Hungarian National Ballet, is also invited.
This means that for the first time in 18 years, a Hungarian professional is involved in the awarding of the most prestigious ballet prize.
Previously, in 2006, Gyula Harangozó, director of the Vienna State Ballet, was elected to the jury.
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Via Magyar Nemzet; Featured image via Facebook/Magyar Nemzeti Balett / Hungarian National Ballet