The dancing star Vladimir Malakhov confessed that some dancers made him cry out of emotion during the sessions of the first International North Atlantic Dance Contest, driven by him in Cuba from September 14 to 18.
The star of Ukrainian origin expressed surprise at the quality of the 75 competitors and said that the very high level of dance forced him to expand his artistic proposals for the Caribbean country.
“When I saw so much quality I found it impossible to deliver a single award,” said the artist who was awarded in the past with the Benois de la Dance, among other awards of relevance.
Instead of a “Grand Vladimir Malakhov Award”, he granted two and created four special laurels which, in his opinion, were insufficient to recognize the quality of all good dancers and works in the contest, enjoyed in a sold-out Eddy Sunol Theater in the eastern city of Holguin.
The top winners of the competition were Cubans Saad Lisbeth, with her poignant portrayal of Edith Piaf in “Non”, choreographed by Osnel Delgado; and Carlos Carbonell with “Pasajera la lluvia”, by choreographer Nelson Reyes. In the contest dancers from Mexico, Venezuela, Uruguay and Cuba participated.
“I never imagined that the interest in the competition was so great and I found really spectacular dancers and an audience that does not want to miss any details,” said the current director of the Ballet of Tokyo, Japan.
As reported, the seats in the four days of competition were oversold and it was very difficult to get into the theater.
This spirit inspired Malakhov to include an Audience Award at the next edition of the contest, scheduled for September 2015. In this new day he will also deliver a wreath to the best company, because this year he was left with the wish to recognize some of 10 participants.
“The event began as a dance contest and became a wonderful festival,” he commented pleased to have created something beautiful in this little Island.
According to the experienced dancer, initiatives like hiss provide an opportunity to Cuban dancers of having a career in Cuba and after having danced in the most important theaters of the world he discovered that it is very important to have a home.
This dancer trained by the renowned Russian Bolshoi School was star of American Ballet Theatre (ABT) in the United States, and ran for 13 years and until some months ago the Opera Ballet in Berlin, Germany.
In the ABT, consolidated friendship with the Cuban José Manuel Carreño and in major festivals in the world he has been able to strengthen ties of affection with other Cuban artists.
Malakhov first performed in Cuba in the International Ballet Festival of Havana 2010, then decided that in any way h would get back to this country to give art.
Just a year ago, he fulfilled the promise in Holguin, due to some misunderstandings that forced him to turn his art project out of the capital.
“In Cuba you do not want to receive anything except love, here I come to deliver it and if Havana opens its arms to me, I’ll be there,” he said with his usual humbleness.
In late September, the Foundation that bears his name in Germany will create the “Taglioni Award” to recognize in 13 categories artists, companies and personnel involved in the dance production.
The creator explained that a number of European critics chose the nominees and will decide the modalities prizes as best company, director, emerging dancers, video and customes, among others.
The award will be a shoe of the famous nineteenth century diva Maria Taglioni, carved into pottery by KPM, one of the most prestigious European porcelain companies.
After the stay in Berlin, Malakhov will return to the capital of his native Ukraine to contribute in a new staging of Kiev ballet school. From there he will travel to China, where he will be judging a competition mid October and will fly to Puerto Rico, in order to dance “The Dying Swan” at an International Star Gala.
At 46 years old, the dancer inspires younger people with admirable flexibility and body control.
