Dance competition at Herod Atticus
London’s Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) is coming to the Herod Atticus Theater on June 6 to conduct its annual Adeline Genee International Ballet Competition, held under the auspices of the Cultural Olympiad as part of the Athens Festival. Aspiring stars of ballet, both male and female, will be vying for the prestigious award, while offering their best performances to audiences in the Roman theater. This will be the second time the competition’s final leg has been held outside the UK and the first in Greece. «It is an honor for the Royal Academy of Dance to participate in the Cultural Olympiad,» said RAD Artistic Director Lynn Wallis at a recent press conference in the Greek capital. «Each year, the quality of the candidates, the choreography and the venue all add up to make a unique competition. This year, the setting alone will make it a truly magical experience for everyone, and we are hoping to see that rare ‘Gold’ performance,» she also says in a comment published on the RAD website. The Adeline Genee International Ballet Competition was established in 1931 and named after the founder of the RAD. Since then, it has become one of the most prestigious events in the world of ballet and a unique opportunity for young dancers to work with world-renowned choreographers. This year’s competition has seen participation by 47 dancers (aged 14-19) from around the world who have completed the RAD training program, and the Athens performance – the finals of the competition – features the 12 finalists (six female and six male), competing for gold, silver and bronze medals. Each dancer will perform a piece from the classical repertory, a solo by choreographer Antony Dowson and a piece by Christopher Hampson, and their performance will be judged on «skill, musicality and interpretation,» notes Wallis. Herod Atticus Theater, Dionysiou Areopagitou, Acropolis, tel 210.928.2900. Tickets can be purchased at the Hellenic Festival box office, situated at 39 Panepistimiou, tel 210.928.2900 and the Herod Atticus Theater box office.
