 |
FINLAND - Principal dancers from Ballet Philippines Candice Adea and Jean Marc "JM" Cordero, both 25 years old, received loud applause from the audience as they competed for the Gloria Grand Prix Award at the 6th Helsinki International Ballet Competition (HIBC) last May 29.
Adea and Cordero were considered audience favorites early on.
Referring to Adea's Round 1 performance, Finnish dancer and blogger Johanna Aurava noted in her blog “Pointe Til You Drop” - “Her portrayal of Kitri was sublime, both sensuously elegant and supremely secure. You don't see this often, technical bravura together with heartfelt artistic expression. Adea has it all, a warm and winning smile, excellent taste and real quality in her dancing. Throw in some fearless pirouettes, the kind where her partner pushes her off to turn like a spinning top, and that famous high one-arm lift - Wow!”
“I think they have a very strong possibility to be on the top of this competition,” 27-year-old Pirjo Sohlo from Circo Aereo said.
“We are very excited - people are living the moment and they have their own favorites, but these two impressed me,” she said.
As BP soloists, the duo are coached by Victor Ursabia, whom Sohlo described as a very calm coach, after ABS-CBN News watched their regular daily practice, alongside dance lessons HIBC provides for the participants. “He (Ursabia) has his own special quiet way where he does not need to raise his voice to guide them.”
Adea and Cordero’s performance was seen by an audience of 500 people that filled the Alminsali venue to capacity.
“Their performance was amazing -- I took the video and I can tell it was very special - they have a strong technique and grace,” an HIBC videographer observed.
From a total of 69 dancers, 28 countries, 32 seniors, and 3 days of preliminary rounds, the duo was selected as one of the 44 dancers qualified for the semi-finals last June 2 to 3 at the National Opera of Finland.
The duo will compete with a powerhouse of luminaries and international dancers in the senior division aged 20-25 from Finland, Russia, Japan, China, UK, Romania, and Czech Republic among others for the top prize worth 15,000 euros and other awards including the Marimekko Dance Design, Friends of the Kirov Opera in Finland, Best Interpretation of Tchaikovsky's music, and the Union of Finnish Dance Artists' prizes.
The top three male and female dancers will receive 8,000, 6,000 and 3,500 euros, respectively, and choreography prizes worth a total of 6,000 euros.
To qualify for the semi-finals, Adea, who was recently awarded a Silver Medal at the Boston International Ballet Competition (Jackson competition) in 2011, performed two variations of classical ballet and a pas de deux. With her multi-awarded partner Cordero, she solicited joyful cheers for their performance of Marius Petipa's “Don Quixote”.
“After this performance, naku...sold na sold na ang mga audience...siyempre naman! I hope she will win!” Tessie Ruutu, cultural director of the Finnish-Philippine Association said after watching the program with the staff of the Philippines Embassy in Finland.
HIBC was attended by Chairman of the Arts Council Professor Doris Laine-Almi and Finnish National Ballet Director Jorma Uotinen as the new artistic director of the competition.
“In addition to promoting dancers in their efforts to reach the top of their profession, HIBC aims to draw out new masters of choreography and innovators in the art of dance,” Competition Press Chief Office Mila Kajas-Virtanen said.
"The finals will be held on June 5-6 and winners will be announced at the Gala on June 7, where the most successful dancers will perform."
Senior Dancers who reached the HIBC semi-finals are as follows:
Tikka Yulia Russia, Seletskaja Ksenia Estonia, Pleskova Jevgenija Czech Republic, Sundqvist Piia Finland, Cozlac Andrei Nicolae Romania, Muto Machi Japan, Adea Candice Philippines, Pennanen Emmi Finland, Anraku Aoi Japan, Hernon Rachel United Kingdom, Baranova Maria Finland, Almarales Rodrigo Cuba, Cordero Jean Marc Philippines, Wang Yun China, Adilova Irina Russia, Yu Chuanya China, Haukka Tuomas Finland, Oleynik Ekaterina Belarus,Takano Yonen Japan, Tanis Emrecan Turkey, Karmitsa Emilia Finland, Sun Ruichen China
No comments:
Post a Comment