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Mariinsky Ballet Company dancer Kim Ki-min wins top prize

Mariinsky Ballet Company dancer Kim Ki-min wins top prize

Posted May. 19, 2016 07:59,   

Updated May. 19, 2016 08:12

한국어

Ballerino Kim Ki-min sent a text message to his father early Wednesday morning, saying, "I won a prize." He has won top ballerino prize at the 2016 Benois de la Danse, known as the "Oscar of Ballet." It is the first time that a Korean ballerino received the top award.

The prize's organizing committee announced this at the award ceremony held in Moscow, Russia on Tuesday. Kim is a senior ballerino at Mariinsky Ballet Company. The International Dance Association Russia headquarters launched the award in 1991 and has since held award ceremonies annually.

The award screens top class dancers and choreographers active in global professional dance companies. The videos of works performed during the past year are screened to select candidates for dance and choreography, with final results announced on the ceremony event day.

Korean dancers who have won prizes in women dancing include Kang Su-jin, Korean National Ballet director, in 1999 and Kim Ju-won, professor at Sungshin Women's University, in 2006. Two Korean male dancers had been picked as candidates, Kim Hyun-woong in 2006 and Lee Dong-hoon in 2012, but failed to win prize. Among Asian male dancers, China's Wang Di took the top prize in 2007, with Kim Ki-min becoming the second Asian winner.

At the end of last year, Kim Ki-min was on the nominee list for La Bayadere as host dancer Solor performed by Paris Opera Ballet Company. Five other female and male dancers were also picked as nominees active in Paris Opera Ballet Company and New York City Ballet Company.

Kim Ki-min joined Mariinsky Ballet Company in 2011 as the first Asian ballerino and was promoted to senior dancer in just three years. After graduating junior high school, he entered Korea National University of Arts as talented dancer. In 2010, he won the silver medal in the junior male's division at the U.S.A. International Ballet Competition, and a gold in the junior male's division at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. His older brother Kim Ki-wan is also a leading dancer at the Korea National Ballet.

Kang Su-jin from the Korean National Ballet, Korea's first winner, said, "Kim Ki-min is masculine and has dynamic movements. He's also a mature compared to age." Professor Kim Ju-won who was appointed as judge in 2012 said, "The event has world renowned dancer-turned-judges. Kim Ki-min's winning the top prize proves that he is the world top dancer."

"Kim Ki-min is already star dancer at the Mariinsky Ballet Company. He has everything a dancer needs, such as the ability to express passion and lyricism, tactics, powerful stage presence and acting ability," Russian media said. "He is one of the greatest dancers for the new age."



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