MANILA, Philippines - Ballet Philippines dancers Candice Adea and Jean Marc Cordero represented the country in the prestigious USA International Ballet Competition.
Adea fared well in the competition and advanced to the final stage. Cordero bowed out of the competition as a semi-finalist.
The duo performed Don Quixote pas de deux, which earned them a standing ovation. Their interpretation was described as “fiery,” and Adea’s performance in particular was hailed as “crisp” and “passionate.”
Held from June 12 to 27, 2010 in Thalia Mara Hall, Mississippi, the USA International Ballet Competition is known as the world’s most prestigious dance event, featuring a two-week competition where contestants vie for gold, silver and bronze medals, as well as scholarships and cash awards. The event is held only once every four years, with sister competitions held in Varna, Bulgaria and Moscow, Russia.
Each contestant undergoes a stringent selection process conducted by a jury of notable judges, based on specific criteria including artistry, technical skill and musicality, using a 10-point scale.
Adea and Cordero were among the company of highly talented dancers, including some whose names ring a bell in the dance circuit such as Andrei Pisarev of Ukraine (son of 1986 Gold Medalist Vadim Pisarev) and Esteban Hernandez of Mexico (brother of 2006 Junior Gold Medalist Isaac Hernandez).
They were joined by other dancers from South Korea, the US, Belarus, Mexico, Canada and Japan.
According to jury member Bruce Marks, this year’s competition was intense.
“For those who have done other ballet competitions, this seems to be one of the highest levels of dancers that we have seen,” he adds.
The competition concluded with Awards and Encore Galas after the third and final round.
Ballet Philippines opens its 41st season dubbed “Hero’s Journey” with September Gala to be staged from Sept. 3 to 5 at the CCP Main Theater. Its 41st season continues with “Crisostomo Ibarra” in October and “Peter Pan” in December, and culminates with a new production of “Don Quixote” in February.
For inquiries, call 551-1003, 832-6011 or 551-0221, visit http://balletphilippines.org.