The International Ballet Festival will celebrate its 11th anniversary in 2012. Please note this is not a competition, it is a festival with a wide spectrum of events. The festival is held annually in Saint-Petersburg, Russia. The founder of the festival and the head of the project is Ekaterina Galanova. The original motivation was to have a series of master-classes for the children from all over the world to give them the opportunity to work with the best Russian dance instructors (from the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet and the Mariinsky Theater). We had around 100 dancers in 2010, foreign dancers made around 75 per cent of the total number of participants. 5 daily master-classes that we arrange within the festival are given in three different studios by three different ballet teachers at the same time, because we divide participants according to their skills and abilities into three levels: beginners, intermediate, advanced students. The procedure of entering the festival is very simple, a participant just needs to fill in the questionnaire and pay the festival fee.

The dates of the festival are 23-29 April 2012. Closing date for entries is 1 April 2012.

Master classes are held at the venue called Theater of Choreographic Miniatures – it is a state ballet studios in the center of the city.

Besides the master-classes, we arrange round tables for dance teachers and instructors, a gala performance of International Ballet Stars where the best of the best perform –this show of the principal dancers of all famous ballet theaters is held at the Grand Concert Hall Oktyabrsky. The soloists—participants of the show automatically become nominees for the International Ballet Award Dance Open. The jury panel of the Award consists of the heads of famous ballet theaters, the constant jury chair person and patron of the festival is a legendary ballerina Natalia Makarova.

For more information, contact Olga Belenkis: