LITTLE STARS SOFIA 2009


REGULATIONS

Art. 1 Participation on four levels:

• First steps (From accomplished 8 to accomplished 10 years of age
• Beginners (From accomplished 10 to accomplished 12 years of age)
• Young hopefuls (From accomplished 12 to accomplished 14 years of age)
• Young talents (From accomplished 14 to accomplished 16 years of age).

Art. 2 Competition in two sections:

• Classical ballet
• Contemporary techniques

Art. 3 Duration of the competition: 5 days

• Day One: Draw of competition numbers and rehearsal for the First audition.
• Day Two: Holding the First audition (from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.).
• Rehearsal for the Second audition (from 3.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m.).
• Day Three: Holding the Second audition
• Rehearsal for the Third audition
• Day Four: Holding the Third audition
• Announcement of the awarded dancers (from 5 p.m. to 7.30 p.m.).
• Day Five: Rehearsal for the concert (from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.)
• Concert of the winners (6 p.m.)

Art. 4 Competition repertoire

Level One:

• Classical dance – optional choreography (variation) with a classical technique. Duration – 1.30 minutes. Performance to be on semi-tiptoe.
• Contemporary techniques – optional choreography in the respective dance genre.
• Duration – 1.30 minutes. Performance to be consistent with the respective genre style.

Level Two:

Classical variations

Gilrs:
“Sleeping Beauty” – All variations of the ballet prologue
“Fairy Doll” – ladies’ variation
“Pachita” – ladies’ variation of pas de trios.
“Coppelia” – ladies’ variation of pas de deux.

Boys:
“Swan Lake” – men’s variation of pas de trios.
“Pachita” – mes’ variation of pas de trios.
“Coppelia” – mes’ variation of pas de deux.

Note: variations may be of a simplified version, however without modifying the classical version.

Contemporary technique:
Author’s free choreography with elements of Graham Technique


Level Three:

Classical variations

Girls:
“Sleeping Beauty” – Aurora variation of Act 1 and 3
Princess Florina variation of Act 3
“Pachita” – all variations
“Bayadere” – ladies’ variations of pas de trios
“Giselle” – peasant pas de deux of Act 1
“La Fille mal Gardee” – ladies variation of pas de deux
“Swan Lake” – variations of pas de trios

Boys:
“Sleeping Beauty” – Prince variation of Act 2 and 3
“Giselle” – men’s variation of peasant pas de deux
“Sleeping Beauty” – Blue Bird variation
“Pachita” – men’s variation of pas de trios
“Pachita” – men’s variation of grand pas
“La Fille mal Gardee” – variation of pas de deux
“Swan Lake” – variation of pas de trios

Contemporary technique:
Author’s free choreography with elements of Cunningham Technique


Level Four:

Classical variations

Girls:
“Classical pas de deux” – ladies’ variation.
“Swan Lake” – all variations.
“Bayadere” – all variations.
“Corsair” – all variations.
“Esmeralda” – ladies’ variation of pas de deux.
“Pachita” – all variations.
“Classical pas de deux” Tchaikovsky – variation.
“Don Quixote” – all variations.

Boys:
“Classical pas de deux” Ober – variation.
“Swan Lake” – all variations.
“Bayadere” – Solor variations.
“Corsair” – all variations.
“Classical pas de deux” Tchaikovsky – variation.
“Don Quixote” – Basil variation – Act 1 and 4

Contemporary technique:
Author’s free choreography with elements of Release Technique

Art. 5 COMPETITION PROGRAMM

First tour - classical variation.
Second tour - contemporary choreography.
Third tour - full programme.


Art. 6 RECORDED BACKGROUND MUSIC

Participants shall supply the background music for their performances in every audition on a separate CD. Each CD shall bear the participant’s name and the number, under which he/she is performing and the title of the ballet.


Art. 7 SCORING SYSTEM

The scoring system will be based on 10 points maximum. The final score will be calculated from the scores in each audition (middle mark).


Art. 8 PANEL OF JUDGES

The Jury of Little Stars Ballet Competition

Chairperson: Kalina Bogoeva

Prima ballerina of the State Opera and Ballet Theater in Sofia.
She is a recognized authority in the field of teaching techniques for classical dance and classical repertoire (Russian school of dancing).
She is a graduate of the State Choreography School in Sofia and of the Academic Ballet School in Moscow.
She is a certified ballet master and a stage director of the State Institute of Theater in Moscow.
She is a laureate of the International Ballet Contests in Varna.
She has been a member of international jury many times, She is the head of the department of Ballet in the National Music Academy “Prof. Pancho Vladigerov”.


Krasimira Asenova Koldamova

World criticism defines Koldamova as one of the brightest stars of 20th Century European ballet.
She has been trained at the Bulgarian and Russian Ballet Schools. She has danced and is familiar with the whole classical ballet repertoire /St. Petersburg version.
She is a long-term ballet pedagogue and artistic manager of the State Ballet School for the period of 1984 – 1988.
She has represented Bulgaria as a ballet dancer, a pedagogue and a member of international jury /Varna, New York, Paris, Holgate, Osaka, Jackson, Moscow/ for years.
For special merits to the Republic of Bulgaria in the field of ballet art she was decorated by the president with the order of Stara Planina - Second Degree.


Mariana Deneva

She is one of the most famous Bulgarian prima ballerinas; Laureate of the International Ballet Competition-Varna. She is a master of the whole classical repertoire and has represented Bulgarian Ballet Art in Europe, Egypt, China, and Cuba. As a ballet pedagogue she has trained a number of ballet artists, who have made Bulgaria famous all over the world. She is a successful and highly professional person. Currently she is a principal of the National School of Dance Art.


Sara-Nora Krasteva

Even as a student she has had successful ballet performances which were reflected in the Award of Excellence and the Most Promising Young Performer Award of Anastas Petrov National Competition. During the academic year of 1995-1996 she was awarded with the Anastas Petrov Scholarship. Right after her graduating at the National School of Dance Art she joined the Ballet troupe at the National Opera and Ballet /1996/.
Repertoire: Kitri and Karmensita /“Don Qiuxote”/, Mirtha /“Giselle”/, Odette-Odile /”Swan Lake”/,Black Night /“Crusaders”/,Lilac Fairy, Aurora /“The Sleeping Beauty”/, Effie /“Silfida”/, Mademe Ortans /”Zorba the Greek”/, Zobeida /”Scheherezade”/, etc.
Sara-Nora Krasteva’s international carrier starts with an invitation for guest-performance in “Baletto del Sud”, Italy in the part of Odette-Odile. Her successful performance brought her permanent engagements in performances of the troupe – Scheherezade, Rhapsody in Blue, Swan Lake, etc. She is also a guest artist in Romand Ballet, Switzerland, with The Nutcracker.
In 2002, she has specialized Ballet Directing at the National Academy of Music under the tuition of the Bulgarian outstanding ballet dancer and pedagogue Kalina Bogoeva. In 2002 she was awarded the Crystal Lira – an Award of the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers, for the part of the Black Night in “Crusaders”, and in 2008 she was awarded by the Minister of Culture, Prof. Stefan Danailov, with Silver Rython for exceptional merit for promotion of Bulgarian culture.


Svetlin Ivanov

In 1990 he graduated Ballet Directing and Choreography in GITIZ, Moscow; in 1998 defended a Master’s degree at Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music. Since 1994 he has been a chief master-ballet dancer and vice-director of St. Makedonski National Theatre of Music. His production work is variable and wide-spectrum. Among his most significant ballet productions are “Along Our Way”, “Erotore”, “Breath in Time”, “Color Dimension”, “The Limit”. For his performance “Tango” he is awarded “Musician of the Year” for best musical-stage work of 2002. For the musical “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat” he is awarded Crystal Lira for exceptional choreographic achievements. He makes the choreography and sets ballet screens in opera works of the National Opera and Ballet.
His performances and concerts have been played and performed not only in Bulgaria but also in Greece, Turkey, Germany, Slovenia, Austria, Macedonia, Denmark, Holland, Switzerland, Japan.
Currently, Svetlin Ivelinov is head of the ballet and chief master-ballet dancer of St Makedonski National Theatre of Music.


Boryana Sechanova

Boryana Sechanova graduated the National School of Dance Art in the city of Sofia in 1981 and was accepted in the ballet troupe of the Sofia Opera and Ballet. Then she continued her education in Moscow with Prof. Olga Tarasova – in 1990 she has specialized Ballet Directing in GITIZ, Moscow.
Since 1991 she has been working as a choreographer and since 2002 she is a director of Ballet Arabesk. She is author and choreographer of 20 ballet and drama performances on the stage of the National Opera and Ballet – city of Sofia, Ballet Arabesk, Ivan Vazov National Theater, the National Opera – town of Stara Zagora, the National Opera – city of Varna, the National Opera – town of Ruse, Pantdance Theatre, etc.
In 2006 and 2008 she was selected for a member of the Jury of the International Ballet Competition, city of Varna.
In 1996 she has been awarded first prize for contemporary choreography at the International Ballet Competition in the city of Varna. She is also a winner of the Sofia Municipality Award for best performance – for the performance of Faust in 2003. In 2006, both with Tsvetanka Petkova-Stoynova received the Crystal Lira Award for creative team for the performance of “Carmina Burana”.


Olesya Pantikina

Olesya Pantikina graduated the National School of Dance Art in Sofia in 1986 in the class of Lyubov Fominih. In the period of 1986 – 1996 she has worked as a ballet dancer in Ballet Arabesk - Sofia.
She studied Ballet Directing with Margarita Arnaudova and Boryana Sechanova at the New Bulgarian University – 1993-1996.
She graduated in Ballet Pedagogy at the National Academy of Music Pancho Vladigerov – Sofia, with Prof. Kalina Bogoeva.
Since 1994 she has worked as a choreographer. In the period between 1994 -1996 taught modern dance at the American University in Blagoevgrad and at the New Bulgarian University – Sofia.
Since 2000 she has been a choreographer and tutor in Ballet Arabesk.
Since 2001 she has been teaching modern dance techniques at the National School of Dance Art – Sofia.
Olesya Pantikina is an author and choreographer of performances for Ballet Arabesk, the National Opera – Varna, the National School of Dance Art – Sofia, etc.
Some of her performances have been filmed by the Bulgarian National television.
She has been a member of the jury of the International Youth Ballet Competition in the town of Lvov – 2006 and in the town of Kharkov (Ukraine) – 2007.


George Elkin

Georgi Elkin has received his Classical Dance education at The State Ballet School in Sofia, Bulgaria, and the last three years at The Moscow Academic Ballet School.
His Classical Repertory includes a wide range of roles which he performed both in Bulgaria and abroad.
Following his interest in Contemporary Dance, he joined the “Arabesque” dance company in Sofia and later on The Cullberg Ballet Company in Stockholm, Sweden, where he pursued an international career with the unique art of Mats Ek and internationally known choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Nacho Duato, Christopher Bruce, Ohad Naharin, Bill Forsythe, Carolyn Carlson, Philip Taylor and many others.
George Elkin is currently active as Classical Technique Coach, conducts Contemporary Dance Workshops and composes music for stage,film and expositions.


Anna Doneva

In 1999, she graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Ballet Pedagogy at Pancho Vladigerov National Academy of Music. In 2001 she finished her education in Laban Center London, where she received a Specialist Diploma for Dance Training – choreography, choreology, release and Cunningham dance techniques.
Since 2001 she has been working in the National School of Dance Art /NSDA/, where she teaches modern dance techniques and repertoire. She is a member of the team created the first Department of Modern Dance at the National School of Dance Art in 2004. She is also a member of the jury of the International Ballet Competition Baroque Sicily 2007, Modica (Italy) and teaches a class of modern dance techniques. In 2008 she was among the 17 choreographers out of 50, from 15 European countries, chosen to present their countries at the European Dance Platform in Frankfurt. Doneva is a representative for Bulgaria in Aerowaves European Dance Organization. She is a talented choreographer, expressed the richness and originality of her thought in a number of performances. .
She has been decorated with the award of the Ministry of Culture and the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers – Crystal Lira for “Production Team”. In 2007 she received Crystal Lira for the choreography of the musical Miss Saigon.


Nataliya Aleksandrovna Rzhevskaya

Honoured Art Worker of Ukraine, Director of the School of Choreography in Kharkov, founder and artistic director of the Children’s Ballet Theatre (Kharkov). She is a graduate of the Kiev State Choreographic School and the State Institute of Theatrical Arts in Moscow (Ballet-Master Faculty). She is author of staging and performance projects of the Children’s Ballet Theatre – “The Nutcracker”, “Chippolino”, “Cinderella”, “Snow White and the Seventh Dwarfs”, “The Adventures of Pinocchio”, “The Little Mermaid”, etc. She is the founder of Chrystal Shoe-2009 International Youth Competition, a pedagogue, trained a pleiad of notable dancers, laureates of a number of international competitions, working in many countries around the world.


Margarita Gradechlieva

Ballet dancer, modern dance pedagogue, choreographer.
Born on May 24, 1941 in Sofia.
Author-choreographer of dance performances in Ek Studio, Ballet Arabesk, Academia Philharmonia – Messina, Itally, opera performances – Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv, theatrical performances in the country.
She specialized Modern Dance in the International Academy, Cologne – Germany, London Contemporary Dance Trust – England, with Maurice Béjart – “The 20th Century Ballet” Brussels
She has been awarded for original choreography – modern dance at the International Competition in Cologne – Germany, the International Ballet Competition – Varna, the meeting of young ballet performers in Dobrich.
Since 2004, she is artistic director of Modern Dance at the National School of Dance Art – Sofia.
 

The Chairman shall be entitled to two votes.
All disputable issues shall be settled with majority by open ballot.


Art. 9 ELIMINATIONS

There will be no eliminations in the competition auditions. All participants are supposed to perform their full program. After the third audition, the best performers will be nominated at each level and the awards will be distributed. The panel of judges shall be entitled not to adjudge all the awards.


Art. 10 AWARDS

Group A (Level One)
First prize – Certificate and a trophy
Second prize - Certificate and a trophy
Third prize - Certificate and a trophy

Group B (Level Two)
First prize – Certificate and a purse of 1200 BGN
Second prize - Certificate and a purse of 1000 BGN
Third prize - Certificate and a purse of 800 BGN

Group C (Level Three)
First prize – Certificate and a purse of 1500 BGN
Second prize - Certificate and a purse of 1300 BGN
Third prize - Certificate and a purse of 1000 BGN

Group D (Level Four)
First prize – Certificate and a purse of 2000 BGN
Second prize - Certificate and a purse of 1800 BGN
Third prize - Certificate and a purse of 1500 BGN

Prize for the best pedagogical work – 2000 BGN
Prize for the best choreography - 2000 BGN

Awards are bestowed separately for girls and boys.


Art. 11 DANCE WEAR

Group A – Girls: Pink leotard, coloured maillot, a short transparent skirt of the same colour of the maillot . Pink ballet slippers. For the contemporary dance – ballet slippers or barefoot.

Group A – boys: Black cut leotard, white sleeveless T-shirt, white ballet slippers and socks. For the contemporary dance – ballet slippers or barefoot and a leotard with footless long pants. Ballet slippers – body colour.

Group B – Girls: Pink leotard, coloured maillot, and a tutu of the colour of the maillot. Pointe shoes. For the contemporary dance – ballet slippers, body colour or barefoot, full leotard.

Group B – Boys: Black cut leotard, white T-shirt, white ballet slippers and socks. For the contemporary dance – ballet slippers (body colour) or barefoot and a leotard with footless long pants.

Group C – girls: Classical dress – tutu. Pointe shoes, pink leotard. For the contemporary dance – at choreographer’s option.

Group C – boys: Classical ballet suit. Leotard and ballet slippers in a relevant colour. For the contemporary dance – at choreographer’s option.

Group D – Girls: Classical suit – tutu. Pink leotard and pointe shoes. Accessories for the head according to the performed variation.For the contemporary dance – a suit at choreographer’s option.

Group D – Boys: Classical ballet suit according to the style of the performed variation. For the contemporary dance – a suit at choreographer’s option.


Art. 12 FINANCIAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS

А Participation fee (EUR 70 or 140 BGN) should be paid to the bank account of Kalina Bogoeva Foundation in DSK Bank:

IBAN: BG98STSA93000013310703
BIC STSABGSF

All participants are supposed to cover their travel, accommodation and daily expenses for the whole duration of the competition themselves.


Art. 13 GENERAL CONDITIONS

1. The total number of all participants shall not exceed 70.

2. Applications for participation - Birth certificate digital copy (.jpg) and Participation form - shall have to be filled and submitted on Foundation Secretariate e-mail address not later than 20th June 2009.
3. All participants shall be entitled to one stage rehearsal for each audition. The duration of the rehearsal shall be 5 minutes.

4. Training class shall be provided to applicants.

5. To participation in the competition, under group A, shall be entitled only those, who can provide a certificate proving to have taken ballet classes for at least 4 years.

6. The criterion for determination of participant’s age group shall be the first day of holding of the competition. Should the participant’s date of birth is the first day of the competition, the participant is supposed to perform in the group having accomplished this age.

7. The decisions and the judges’ marks shall be final and binding.

8. Place of the contest: stage of the State Music Theatre Stefan Makedonski, Sofia