The Genée International Ballet Competition to take place in Sydney in 2016 | Apply from July 1st
In recognition of the Australia’s 80-year commitment to The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD), the Genée International Ballet Competition will return to Sydney in 2016.
Back in 2002, Australia was chosen to be the first country outside of the UK to host the prestigious competition which saw Australian dancer Steven McRae, now Principal at The Royal Ballet in London, awarded a gold medal. Also in 2002, the competition saw the highest record of candidates entering, which is hoped to be beaten in 2016.
The decision to return to Sydney was made in recognition of Australia’s long commitment to the Genée, where it has produced outstanding candidates every year for the past decade, including the 2015 silver medal winner Lania Atkins, and bronze medal winner Makensie Henson.
The competition will take place between 2 and 11 December 2016. Prospective candidates may apply between 1 July and 3 October. For eligibility criteria click here.
Semi-finals will take place on Wednesday 7, Thursday 8 and Friday 9 December 2016 at The Concourse, Chatswood. The Final will take place on Sunday 11 December at 6.30pm at the Sydney Opera House, Joan Sutherland Theatre, with the support of The Australian Ballet.
Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet, David McAllister, said: ‘Being the first country outside the UK to host this internationally recognised competition, I am thrilled that Sydney will once again have the pleasure of welcoming back the Genée. Dance is an art-form that grows and develops by nurturing talent and the Genée brings together young dancers from across the globe to meet, compete and build friendships that will last their whole lives.’
‘We at The Australian Ballet are thrilled to once again welcome this competition into our Sydney performance home, the iconic Sydney Opera House, to enjoy performing on one of the world’s most famous stages.’
Artistic Director of Queensland Ballet and Royal Academy of Dance Vice President, Li Cunxin, said: ‘As a former judge of the Genée and an avid supporter of the competition, I’m thrilled that it will be returning to Australia in 2016. I certainly hope we will see a record number of candidates this year.
‘The Genée provides gifted young dancers such a unique opportunity to learn from the best, showcase their skills and develop as dancers. It is so much more than a competition and offers great insight to young dancers about how the industry works, allows them the opportunity to meet and learn from their peers and to work with some of the best teachers, coaches and choreographers today.’
The Genée has proved to be a launch pad for a professional career in dance. Its alumni have gone on to work in such celebrated companies as The Australian Ballet, The Royal Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, English National Ballet, The Mariinsky Ballet and National Ballet of Canada. Since 2002, the Genée has been staged around the world as far as Athens, Singapore, Hong Kong, Toronto, Cape Town, Wellington and London.
For more information about The Genee visit www.rad.org.uk/achieve/the-genee
