Award-winning ballet students from the Art 4 All Centre take a photo with centre director Trần Thu Hương. Photo Art 4 All Centre

HÀ NỘI — Junior Vietnamese ballerinas have won several top prizes at the Marie Taglioni Ballet Competition in St. Petersburg, Russia on July 4. 

The first prizes went to soloists Lê Nhật Mai Khanh, Cao Minh Minh and Lê Bảo Hân, as well as duo Lê Nhật Mai Khuê and Hân. Meanwhile, three second prizes and two third prizes were also awarded to Vietnamese contestants. 

First prize winner Khanh performed the Bunny variation from The Fairy Doll in the group aged 7-9 years. She has been learning ballet for almost two years with Việt Nam National Opera and Ballet soloist Phạm Thu Hằng at the Art 4 All Centre. 

Performing the Odette variation from Swan Lake and Kitri from Don Quixote, Minh claimed first place in the 10-13 age category for Odette and also the second prize for Kitri. 

Her performance was highlighted by 19 consecutive pirouettes in the Don Quixote excerpt, executed with exceptional control and fluidity. 

"For her age, it was very good," said juror Rika Ishii. "This is fantastic. I really like the girls, everyone is different and brought difficult variations. We are very glad that Vietnamese ballet students came to show their skill."

Ishii is a graduate of the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. She trained at the Paris Opera and London's Covent Garden, and has performed with the Bolshoi and Mariinsky theatres, as well as with other ballet companies in Russia and internationally. Her repertoire includes leading roles in Giselle, La Sylphide, Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty.

In the 14-17 year age group, Phạm Ngọc Khánh Vy won the second prize with her Esmeralda and Ducilnea variations, while Ngô Phạm Kim Khánh placed third with her William Tell variation.

"The talented students are very impressive," said Nikolai Blankov, another of the competition judges. 

"This is exactly the Lenigrad school that is present in the performers, and in general it's a strong composition. I liked it. We gave quite high marks, of course. Good luck to them in the future, I think that they can achieve enough serious results. They are very talented students."

Blankov is a ballet dancer and choreographer who graduated from the Vaganova Academy. He has performed principal roles in major classical ballets, including Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty and La Bayadère.

The Marie Taglioni Ballet Competition is held annually in St. Petersburg and is named after Marie Taglioni (1804-1884), who is considered one of the most iconic figures in the history of classical ballet. 

She not only revolutionised ballet technique as a pioneer of the pointe style, but also changed the perception of dance as an art form. Her elegance and dedication raised the standard of interpretation on European stages, and her influence transcended the borders of her time.

As part of the competition, participants can learn about her life and legacy, visit the theatre where she performed and see the house where she once lived, offering a glimpse into the world of the artist whose impact helped shape classical ballet.

For more than a decade, the competition has brought together over 3,000 ballet enthusiasts and young dancers from around the world. 

“I was overjoyed and deeply proud of my students’ performance at this ballet competition in Russia,” said Hằng. "Even if these were not their best performances, the results proved their ability to perform with confidence on one of ballet’s most prestigious international stages.

"Their achievements are the result of years of disciplined training, perseverance and a determination to overcome countless challenges. I hope this milestone will strengthen their passion for ballet, boost their confidence and inspire them to continue pursuing the art form, while opening up new opportunities along the way."

The ballet students are taught at the Arts 4 All Centre, which is run by former ballerina from the Việt Nam Theatre of Contemporary Art Trần Thu Hương. She received a Candidate of Pedagogical Sciences at Moscow State Art and Culture University. — VNS