To promote global exchange and cooperation in dance education, as well as to foster inclusive development, the 9th Beijing International Ballet Competition for Dance Schools and Dance Performance 2025 was grandly inaugurated on October 21 at the Beijing Dance Academy (BDA). The event was hosted by the Beijing Municipal Education Commission and organized by the BDA.
Leaders and guests from various organizations attended the opening ceremony, including representatives from the Ministry of Education, Beijing Municipal Education Commission, Xinhua News Agency, National Centre for the Performing Arts, China Conservatory of Music, Dancers Association of China, Beijing Federation of Literary and Art Circles, Beijing Overseas Talents Center, and Haidian District People’s Government and CPC Committee of Beijing Municipality. Additionally, international ballet experts who are serving as judges for this year’s competition, as well as renowned dance masters and top-tier dancers participating in the International Dance Master Workshops and World Dance Education Exchange Performance, also attended.
Wang Pan, member of the Education Work Committee of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the CPC and Vice Director of the Beijing Municipal Education Commission, delivered the opening speech and officially declared the event open. He stated that hosting such high-level international artistic exchange activities in Beijing not only enhances the city’s cultural soft power and international influence but also provides global dancers with an opportunity to experience the cultural charm of Beijing. It also allows citizens to engage closely with the splendor of world dance, fulfilling the mission of “integrating art into life and benefiting the public through exchange.” The Beijing Municipal Education Commission will continue to support the events and provide necessary guarantees, as well as assist the BDA in holding high-standard international competitions, contributing to the creation of an internationally recognized “Beijing Brand” in global dance education exchange.
On behalf of the event organizers, Liu Lan, President of the Organizing Committee and Secretary of the Party Committee of BDA, expressed sincere gratitude to the Beijing Municipal Education Commission for its support and warmly welcomed the participating institutions, competitors, and judges from around the world. She emphasized that the BDA, in line with its mission of “connecting the world through dance and promoting exchange through education,” provides a platform for fair competition and deep interaction for global dance talent. The Academy actively facilitates in-depth exchanges among dance groups and artists from diverse cultural and artistic backgrounds, fostering a bridge of emotional connection and mutual understanding between the peoples and countries through the art of dance, amidst the global context of cultural diversity.
The Beauty Beyond Words, the Gathering of Dance Enthusiasts
The opening performance of the 9th Beijing International Ballet Competition for Dance Schools and Dance Performance 2025, themed “Beauty Beyond Words,” highlighted a distinctive fusion of tradition and innovation, as well as a dialogue between Eastern and Western cultures. It featured various dance forms, including classical dance, folk dance, ballet, modern dance, and ballroom dance, showcasing not only an in-depth exploration of China’s fine traditional culture but also a bold exploration of contemporary dance arts. This performance represented the recent achievements of the BDA in terms of talent development and artistic creation.
Three Key Segments: Authoritative Judging Panel
During the press conference in the afternoon, Xu Rui, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of the BDA, introduced the event’s structure and key features. This year’s event is divided into three main segments: the International Ballet Competition in three categories (Group A, B, and C), targeting young dancers aged 13 to 24 and providing a platform for professional talent development and selection; the High-Level Dance Performance by 12 institutions from nine countries and regions, where teachers and students presented original or collaborative works, showcasing the latest developments in global dance education; the Master Workshops with nine top-tier instructors from seven countries providing high-quality professional education for competitors and dance enthusiasts. In addition, the event will feature the BDA Dance Forum and Ballet Teaching Seminars, which can further enhance the academic influence of the event.
The chair of the judging panel for this year’s competition is Nina Ananiashvili, the artistic director of the Georgian National Ballet and winner of four international awards. In her speech, she expressed that participating in and witnessing a competition specifically designed for young people is of great significance. She emphasized that, regardless of the competition outcomes, participating provides young dancers with valuable training and the opportunity to grow. Nina further praised the BDA for its long-standing commitment to offering platforms for young dancers, incorporating diverse ballet styles from Russia, France, and Denmark, thus laying a solid foundation for students’ performances and creative work. She hoped that the Academy would continue to foster more outstanding artistic talent and make new contributions to global ballet in the future.
Liu Lan, Secretary of the BDA Party Committee, presents appointment letters to the judges
Competitor representative Syrmanov Abilmansur (Kazakhstan) delivers a speech
Competitor representative An Takahashi (Japan) delivers a speech
Competitor representative Liu Yuxin (China) delivers a speech
More than 20 media outlets, including Xinhua News Agency, China News Service, Guang Ming Daily, China Daily, China Art News, Beijing Daily, and the Beijing News, attended the press conference and posed questions. When discussing the selection criteria, chair of the judging panel Nina Ananiashvili noted that judges focus not just on technical execution but also on the dancer’s ability to deliver an outstanding artistic performance. She emphasized that both technical skill and artistic expression are of paramount importance in the evaluation process, and the aim is to discover dancers who possess both technical prowess and artistic sensitivity. President Xu Rui further clarified the event’s core attributes, highlighting that the Academy, as a top dance institution, focuses on education and talent. He noted that the competition seeks to enhance academic exchange among international arts institutions while also identifying young dancers with the potential to develop into exceptional artists through various means, such as contests and master classes.
Accessible to All, Shared by All
Throughout the event, the Academy, in partnership with Haidian District, will organize activities where international dance masters and students will interact with the public in famous imperial parks and public parks in Beijing. Teachers, students, dance groups, and citizens will also be invited to join activities in the Academy and theaters. Meanwhile, the International Dance Master Workshops will be open to universities, and live streams of the event will allow a wider audience to participate, expanding the event’s cultural reach. These activities aim to enhance the influence of World Dance Education Alliance and offer valuable educational resources and cultural experiences to citizens, teachers and students in the capital while supporting Haidian’s efforts to build an international cultural hub. The event will continue to foster the development of an international dance education exchange platform.
Event Background
The “Beijing International Ballet Competition for Dance Schools and Dance Performance” was first initiated by the BDA in 2006 and is held biannually. Over the past eight editions, the competition has attracted more than 70 top-tier dance institutions from over 50 countries and regions, with more than 800 participants. Past winners, such as Maria Khoreva (first soloist of the Mariinsky Theatre) and Qiu Yunting (Principal Dancer at the National Ballet of China), have become key figures in the global ballet scene. The event has invited world-renowned artists, such as the Artistic Director of the Moscow Bolshoi Theatre and the Director of the Royal Ballet of the UK, to serve as judges. This competition has become an international platform for talent development, academic research, and cultural exchange, gaining significant recognition within the global dance community. In 2021, the event was included in the list of key tasks for the construction of Beijing as an international consumption center city, solidifying its role as a globally influential platform for dance arts exchange.
In October 2024, the BDA spearheaded the establishment of the “World Dance Education Alliance,” which now includes 70 dance education institutions and companies from across five continents. This event marks the inaugural edition since the establishment of the Alliance, with 114 participants from 21 countries and regions competing, alongside high-level master workshops and diverse dance performances, fully showcasing the cutting-edge achievements and developments in international dance education. Moving forward, the BDA will continue to host this international event with higher standards and a more open approach, contributing to the building of Beijing as a center for cultures and international exchanges, facilitating talent fostering and artistic innovation of international dance institutions, enhancing global ballet education exchanges and development, building an international dance and cultural brand, and becoming a signature event for Beijing cultural development!
Source: Beijing Dance Academy Official Website, News Edition No. 1879 (Issue No. 151, 2025)
