Newly Awarded Fellow Of The Royal Academy Of Dance
– Dr Stanley Ho - Congratulates 2006 Ballet Medallists

Genée International Ballet Competition, Hong Kong 2006

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) last night staged a spectacular Final of the Genée International Ballet Competition at the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. The audience was brought to their feet when the panel of Judges, chaired by Dame Antoinette Sibley DBE, President of the RAD announced their decision to award 18-year-old Italian, Valentino Zucchetti a gold medal – a rarity in the history of the competition.

Silver medals were awarded to Ye Fei Fei, (18) from China; Gemma Graves (18) from Australia; Kostantyn Keshyshev (19) from the Ukraine and bronze medals went to Jessica Morgan, (18) from Australia, David Moore, (18) from the UK and Jia Yong Sun (18) from China.

The Sotheby’s Audience Award, voted for by the audience was also presented to Ye Fei Fei.

Dame Antoinette was effusive in her praise for all of the candidates;
“My fellow jurors [Madam Zhao Ruheng, National Ballet of China and John Meehan, Hong Kong] and I have watched in delight and admiration as the candidates have been put through their paces in the Semi-finals and tonight’s Final. Choosing winners is not always easy but they all deserve our congratulations, whether they are medallists or not.”

Each of the 12 Finalists performed their choice of both 19th and 20th Century Classical Repertoire variations as well as one of the specially commissioned variations choreographed by renowned young Hong Kong choreographer, Yuri Ng, himself a former Genée gold medalist.
Dame Antoinette also thanked Dr Stanley Ho, lead sponsor of the competition for his generous support and the city of Hong Kong for its hospitality and warmth over the course of the competition.

At a private Gala dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, sponsored by the Bank of East Asia for the candidates, their families and teachers and other sponsors, Dr Stanley Ho was awarded with a Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Dance, one of its highest honours.

Notes for Editors

To obtain images or for further information please contact the RAD Press Office

Sarah Ball / Melanie Adams
Tel: +44 (0)207 326 8044 / 8003
Fax: +44 (0)207 924 2311
Email pressoffice@rad.org.uk
www.geneeballetcompetition.com

The Genée International Ballet Competition was first staged in 1931 and is named in honour of Dame Adeline Genée, co-founder and first President of the Royal Academy of Dance. In 2002, the competition was held at the Sydney Opera House, the first time the competition had been held outside of London

Medal

The Royal Academy of Dance is a global organisation with 14,500 Members, a worldwide staff of 153 and 173 examiners. With offices in 82 countries and headquarters in London, it is the largest ballet examination and teacher training institution in the world.
Its mission is to promote knowledge, understanding and practice of dance internationally. It seeks to accomplish its mission through examining students of ballet, educating and training teachers of dance and promoting the study and performance of dance.

Sponsors

The Royal Academy of Dance would like to thank the following people and organisations for their generous support and/or sponsorship:

Dr Stanley Ho, Lead Sponsor
Mrs Ina Ho, Chair of Gala Committee and Sponsor of the 2006 Candidate Medals
Bank of East Asia, Sponsor of the Post Final Dinner
Sotheby's Hong Kong, sponsor of the 2006 Audience Award
TAL Apparel Limited
Renaissance Harbour View Hotel, official hotel for faculty and VIPs
Harbour View International House, official hotel for 2006 candidates
Working in partnership with the British Council, the Academy commissioned choreographer Yuri Ng
Tsinforn C Wong Memorial Scholarship