The Award is intended to celebrate the highest personal achievements of ballet soloists each year – the connection of virtuoso technique and artistry, regardless of styles, genres and trends of performances. Organizing Committee of the St. Petersburg International Ballet Award DANCE OPEN annually suggests nominees who participate in the DANCE OPEN Gala of ballet stars as well. The international jury secretly decides which Awards ballet dancers and ballerinas would get or decides that no one would get one or more Awards. One and the same participant could not get more than one Award at one year.

If the same number of jury members votes on the same soloist, than Jury Chairperson has one extra vote and can change the situation.

All the winners will be awarded with a crystal replica of a copy of the bronze cast of the foot of the great ballerina Anna Pavlova, which was created in 1913 by the sculptor B.O. Fredman-Klyuzel. The prototype of the Award is kept at the St. Petersburg State Museum of Theatre and Music.

The names of the winners will be published in St. Petersburg mass-media and on the official web-page of the Festival

Appeal of Natalia Makarova,
chairman of the jury of the "DANCE OPEN" ballet award.

Dear Friends!

It is very important to me, as well as for all the professionals and admirers of the art of ballet, that in 2011, the International DANCE OPEN Festival is celebrating its 10th Anniversary. I congratulate St. Petersburg and all the participants of this event! All of these events, that are taking place in St. Petersburg, are especially dear to my heart!

The Festival gives us a unique opportunity to look at the future of ballet, so to speak, and to understand, which trends there are and in which direction it will develop.
I am looking forward to meeting and working together with the internationally renowned jury members at the II International DANCE OPEN Award. Among them there are the Artistic Directors of the major ballet companies and well-known choreographers. It is always extremely difficult to choose who the best of the best is.

I am so pleased that the St. Petersburg DANCE OPEN Festival has developed so successfully and I am sure that the DANCE OPEN Ballet Award has already found its place in today’s cultural life. And in years to come the interest in this event will continue to grow.