During the Moscow International Ballet Competition, the editorial team of Voci dell’Opera decided to celebrate not only the prize winners, but also the artists who especially moved us with their talent, stage presence, and sincerity.

Alexey Orokhovsky and Yana Peneva represent the USA, but today both are associated with the Mariinsky Theatre, where they are soloists. At the competition, they chose an emphatically classical repertoire, striving to show the clarity of style and academic culture that the Mariinsky school brings.

We spoke with Auguste Marmus and Rachel Pimentel Quintão about what it means to step onto the stage of the Bolshoi Theatre, how a competition performance differs from a regular production, how to find a balance between technique and artistry, and which roles they dream of performing in the future.

Vladislav Bashmakov shared his impressions of the XV International Ballet Competition, his preparation for performing, the nerves before going on stage, and what helps an artist maintain confidence in performance.

XV International Ballet Competition in Moscow brings together young performers from different countries and schools, creating a space not only for professional competition but also for the exchange of experience, inspiration, and new encounters.

We spoke with teacher Marina Vezhnovets and her student Anastasia Yarmosh, representing Belarus, about the meaning of the competition, pre-performance jitters, the ability to immerse yourself in character, and the importance of not comparing yourself to others.

During the 15th International Ballet Competition, we spoke with Gulzhan Tutkibayeva — People’s Artist of the Republic of Kazakhstan, Professor, and Artistic Director of the Ballet Company of the Abay Kazakh National Opera and Ballet Theatre. In our conversation, she shared her first impressions of the participants, spoke about the criteria used by the jury, the role of artistry, and why a competition performance requires special concentration, inspiration, and inner maturity

During the first round of the competition, we spoke with Anna Bylkova — a participant from Russia and a student at the Moscow State Academy of Choreography. For young artists, a competition performance becomes a moment of maximum студенткой Московской государственной академии хореографии. Для молодых артистов конкурсное выступление становится моментом максимальной концентрации: за несколько минут нужно показать технику, образ, музыкальность, характер и умение собрать на сцене