Modern dance reigns again in Vitebsk

November 17, Vitebsk / Diana Kurilo - BELTA /. Modern dance is once again reigning in Vitebsk with the XXII International Festival of Modern Choreography (IFMC). The opening of one of the most prestigious festivals of choreographic art in the CIS will take place on November 18, the Center for Culture "Vitebsk" informed a BELTA correspondent. The main event of the festival is the modern choreography competition. By tradition, the international competition alternates with the national one. This year, Belarusian choreographers will compete. Out of 17 applicants, 9 collectives from Minsk, Grodno, and Vitebsk have been invited to Vitebsk. The jury of the competition is headed by its permanent chairman, People's Artist of the USSR and Belarus, choreographer, professor at the Belarusian Academy of Music, Valentin Elizaryev. The jury also includes such renowned choreographers as Ditmar Seyffert, honorary chairman of the International Dance Council CID-UNESCO, dean of the directing faculty at the Berlin University of Dramatic Arts and Dance, three-time winner of Russia's Golden Mask National Theatre Award, artistic director of "Excentrik-Ballet" Sergey Smirnov. Assisting the jury will be members of the expert council, headed by ballet critic, music theatre researcher, and member of the jury of Russia's Golden Mask National Theatre Award, Larisa Barykina. The competition performances will be evaluated in five nominations: "Best Production," "Performance Excellence," "Artistry," "Tradition and Innovation," and "Postscript." The winner in the latter nomination will be determined by the jury together with the members of the expert council. Along with the contestants' performances, audiences can look forward to encounters with foreign dance troupes and famous dancers. The opening concert will feature one of the brightest stars of the Latvian National Opera ballet, Ulvi Azizov, the Perm State Theatre "Ballet of Evgeny Panfilov," Sergey Smirnov's "Excentrik-Ballet," as well as troupes and artists from Poland, Ukraine, and Estonia. The capital of modern choreography could not bypass the internationally acclaimed project Cocoondance, currently at the peak of its global popularity, with its performance "Towards Meeting Your Enemy." The audience will see this performance staged by a Swiss choreographer. Premiere performances of new productions by the Perm State Theatre "Ballet of Evgeny Panfilov" and Sergey Smirnov's Yekaterinburg "Excentrik-Ballet" will also be held in Vitebsk during the festival. The festival program includes master classes and film screenings. For the first time, the festival organizers have decided to promote Belarusian contemporary choreography on the international stage and have planned meetings between Belarusian troupes and representatives of the Polish Association for International Cooperation in Culture and Art Artbale, the prestigious Düsseldorf International Dance Fair, and the Lithuanian Information and Contemporary Dance Centre. The festival will conclude on November 21. The International Festival of Modern Choreography in Vitebsk has been held since 1987. The founders of the festival are the Vitebsk Regional Executive Committee, the Vitebsk City Executive Committee, the Ministry of Culture, and the National Academic Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre. The Center for Culture "Vitebsk" acts as the organizer. -0-