29 May 2014, Thursday

The International Ballet Prix "Benois de la Danse" was awarded for the 22nd time. The ceremony took place at the Bolshoi Theatre Historic Stage, where the idea to create a professional dance award originally appeared at some point. Yuri Grigorovich has been the permanent head of the jury ever since. This year he was accompanied by ladies only: the great Swedish dancer Ana Laguna, an etoile of Opera National de Paris Agnès Letestu (in France this title is never used with the prefix "ex"), Carla Fracci - a legendary Italian ballerina, and a People's Artist of the USSR Gabriela Komleva, representing the Mariinsky Theatre. The Prix was awarded in three nomination categories. An Argentinean dancer German Cornejo, who works at the American Ballet Theatre, was named the best male dancer. The jury evaluated a whole lot of his work presented in the previous season: solo in "Trilogy" and the part of Caliban in "Tempest", two ballets by A. Ratmansky, the part of Aminta in "Sylvia", choreographed by F. Ashton, and the leading part in "Cheri", choreographed by M. Clarke.
Mariko Kida, who performed the leading part in the world premiere of the ballet "Juliette and Romeo", choreographed by Mats Ek (Royal Swedish Ballet) and Polina Semionova, who performed the main parts in the ABT productions of "Trilogy", "Les Sylphides", "Theme with variations" and "Partita" to the music by J.S. Bach, were named the best female dancers.
Alexei Ratmansky, who was nominated for the ballet "Tempest" (the ABT) and "Opera" (La Scala) was named the best choreographer for the second time.
Brigitte Lefèvre, the legendary director of Paris Opera Ballet, who has remained in this position for an unprecedented two decades and now is about to leave it, received the honorary award "For Lifetime Achievement".