Genée International Ballet Competition 2008 –
Toronto, Canada
City of Toronto
Photo credit: City of Toronto
The Genée International Ballet Competition is one of the leading ballet competitions in the world, nurturing and showcasing the talent of young dancers on the cusp of their professional careers. Chaired by Dame Antoinette Sibley DBE, President of the Royal Academy of Dance, and named after the Academy's founder Dame Adeline Genée, the competition invites leading teachers and internationally renowned choreographers and artistic directors to coach, choreograph or judge the young dancers over a unique
week-long experience.

The competition culminates in a tense and exciting Final in which the finalists try to outshine each other to win over the hearts and minds of the both the Judges and the audience. The best of the best have the opportunity to win a coveted gold, silver or bronze medal and walk away with up to $10,000 prize money.

Many of the competitions former medallists have gone on to carve successful professional careers in companies like the Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet and the National Ballet of Canada. In fact Chan Hon Goh, Principal for the National Ballet of Canada, is a former medallist and loyal supporter of the competition and its contribution to the development of a young dancer.

The Competition is now held outside the UK every other year. The first venue chosen was the Sydney Opera House, Australia in 2002 and in 2004 the Competition travelled to Athens in the run up to the 2004 Olympics and in 2006 it was held in Hong Kong at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. Each overseas competition had sold-out.

The 2008 Genée International Ballet Competition will take place in Toronto, Canada, the first Canadian city to host the Genée, as it has become a culturally vibrant and diverse city with a strong dance community.
Toronto is home not only to Canada’s National Ballet School, the Canadian Opera Company and the National Ballet of Canada, but also to the new and stunning Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts which will provide a fitting venue for the Final of this
prestigious competition.

The Genée is an experience not to be missed, the dedication, passion and energy of the young performers is breath-taking and the Final in particular is a suspenseful, thrilling event that has the audience sitting on the edge of their seats.
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