The competition through the eyes of the participants: Ekaterina Pichkova, Crystal Huang and Zeinab Ntombifuthi Kone on the stage, excitement, and the atmosphere

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.

American contestants Ekaterina Pichkova and Crystal Huang shared their first impressions of Moscow and the Bolshoi Theatre stage, how they cope with nerves, why the competition is, above all, an opportunity to grow, and what roles they dream of performing in the future.

How do you feel on the legendary stage of the Bolshoi Theatre, at the most famous ballet competition? What does the International Ballet Competition mean to you personally?

Ekaterina Pichkova: I feel incredibly inspired by being in this great theater and seeing the participants, talented people, renowned artists, and teachers. Getting to know them, seeing them perform, teaching us, rooting for each other, and supporting each other—all of this is very close to my heart.

I've been so inspired these past few days. It gives me such a good energy: I want to perform, to show off, to talk to new people, to compliment them. It's a great joy for me to be here, and I'm so grateful to everyone who helped me get here.

Crystal Huang: Being here is my dream. Wherever I go, I sense history behind every wall, every building, every room. Just being here is inspiration and motivation for my dance journey and my career.

I'm so inspired and happy to be able to live this experience. I truly love everything here. I'm also happy to meet so many different dancers from all over the world. It's an amazing experience to be inspired by artists from different countries.

And, of course, the opportunity to dance on the legendary stage of the Bolshoi Theatre has always been a dream of mine. I can't believe I'll be able to step onto the same stage where so many great ballet dancers and competition winners of past years have danced. I can't wait to experience even more during this already incredible week.

How do you experience the unique aspects of the stage, especially the roll? Not all theaters and schools have it. How does that affect your performance?

Crystal Huang : This is my first time working on a stage with a roll. Honestly, when I first stepped onto it, I was a little nervous because everything you do feels like it's pulling you forward. Ballet is all about balance, including balance on pointe, and when there's a roll, that balance shifts a bit.

But over time, I began to adapt more and more. I'm truly grateful to have this experience. It's incredibly rewarding for any dancer, because there are so many stages around the world where you can skate, and the opportunity to try it here is amazing.

I think it's really important for us as dancers to be as adaptable as possible because you never know what conditions you'll encounter in the future. So I've definitely learned a lot about how to better adapt to the stage.

Ekaterina Pichkova: This stage is definitely different from the stage at a school in the US. This isn't my first time doing a stage with a skating rink, but it still feels very different. You train your whole life without a skating rink, and then suddenly you find yourself in such conditions. It's a bit challenging, but as Crystal said, it's a very special experience, and I'm truly grateful for the opportunity to try my hand here.

This can happen anywhere: you never know where you'll have to dance — on a sloping stage or on a flat one. As a dancer, you have to be able to adapt. So I'm very grateful for this opportunity.

How do you find balance in a competitive situation? You've made it through the first round, and now you know the second is coming, and the anxiety is building. How do you stay calm?

Crystal Huang: I always come back to the reason I participate in this competition and dance in general. I do it for myself and because I love dance. Dance originally started because people were so happy that they wanted to dance.

I'm grateful for the opportunity to be back on stage. It's a privilege to dance on the Bolshoi Theatre stage once again. I'm quite calm, because I see this entire week as a new, unique experience, a kind of vacation and learning experience—the best vacation of my life.

Ekaterina Pichkova: I'm very similar to Kristal. I'm very happy, excited, and grateful to have made it to the second round. I'm thrilled to be back on this legendary stage, and I want to share my joy with the audience, convey it to them, and hope they feel it along with me.

I don't want to get too excited because this is such a joyful opportunity. I think it's important to just enjoy this moment with the people you know, love, and meet here, and just be, experiencing it all.

Do you have a dream role, ballet or role that you would like to perform in the future?

Ekaterina Pichkova : One of my dream ballets is "The Legend of Love." I really love the idea of this ballet; its choreography is legendary and very unique. I don't think it's quite classical ballet; in a way, it has its own technique. There's a great story to tell, and I'd love to have the opportunity to dance in such a unique ballet.

Crystal Huang: I want to dance Kitri in Don Quixote. I think it would be so much fun. It's a complex ballet, long, in three acts, but I saw it at San Francisco Ballet last year and was very inspired. I really love the acting aspect of the role.

The second option is Swan Lake. I would like to dance both the Black and White Swan, Odette-Odile, because I like the change of character: first you have to be slow and lyrical, and then you become evil.

Do you often participate in competitions? Do you think competitions are beneficial for everyone?

Ekaterina Pichkova: Personally, I've participated in a lot of competitions. I've been participating in YAGP since I was eleven years old, reaching international semifinals, national stages in the USA, and international finals.

This is a great opportunity for me to grow, practice on different stages, become a stronger artist, and learn to convey my dance to different audiences. Audiences in the US may differ from audiences in Europe; they may like different things, and judges may give different feedback.

I think it's really important to learn to adapt to different styles and showcase the different sides of ballet. For me, it's the opportunity to grow that makes me want to participate in competitions. I don't think it's a must for everyone, but it can be a great opportunity for many. It's always good to try.

Crystal Huang: I think so too. I started competing at the age of three. My first solo was at three, in various styles, not just ballet. Actually, I started studying ballet more seriously later. For example, I started participating in YAGP at the age of nine.

I love competitions because before each one, we prepare different solo and group numbers, and I grow a lot in the process. It's not about the final result, the award, or the fame, but the process. When I look back, I think: this is why I participated in this competition; look how much I've grown since then.

Yes, you can win a trophy and feel the joy of the moment, but the most important thing is what you learned and what you took away from this experience and process. We rehearse, rehearse, rehearse, and that's how we get better.

That's why I think contests are incredibly beneficial, especially if you're in the right mindset and aren't just participating for the glory. If you're doing it for inspiration, motivation, and enjoyment, a contest can be a wonderful experience for anyone.

For both participants, the competition was not only a challenge but also an important experience in stage adaptation, communication, and inner growth. Ekaterina Pichkova dreams of dancing "The Legend of Love," while Crystal Huang dreams of dancing Kitri in "Don Quixote" and Odette-Odile in "Swan Lake."

And both agree on one thing: the competition is important not only for the result, but also for the journey that helps the artist become stronger.

South African representative Zeinab Ntombifuthi Kone has come to Moscow for the first time and has already experienced the special atmosphere of the competition: meeting artists from different countries, seeing the high level of the jury, and feeling the excitement of being at the Bolshoi Theatre.

Zeinab spoke about her first impressions of the capital, how she copes with nerves before going on stage, and why it is especially important for her to represent her country and the African continent at an international competition of this level.

Is this your first visit to Moscow?

Yes, it is.

And how do you like the city?

It is a very beautiful city. From the little I have seen, it is really lovely. I do not think there will be much opportunity for long walks, because there are many rehearsals now, but if I have short breaks, I will try to find time to see some sights.

How do you feel about the overall atmosphere of the competition?

The atmosphere is amazing. There are so many incredible dancers, an amazing jury, and simply being at the Bolshoi Theatre feels surreal.

How do you think this competition will influence your life and career?

This is such a global and well-known competition, so I definitely think it will have a positive impact. Being the only African participant in this competition is an incredible feeling: representing my country and so many people.

Do you have any ritual that helps you calm down before going on stage?

Before going on stage, I always check the ribbons on my pointe shoes to make sure they are secure. Then I take a couple of deep breaths to calm my nerves. I just go out and enjoy it.

What is the most important and inspiring thing for you during a performance?

When I dance, I simply try to connect with the audience and truly create the character I am portraying in my variation. I hope to tell a story through my dance in a way that the audience can understand.

What would you wish yourself in the next round?

In the next round, I will simply do everything I can, and the rest is up to the jury. But yes, my dream is to have the opportunity to dance on the historic stage of the Bolshoi Theatre. It would be amazing.

We're wishing a very good luck for participants in the second round of the competition!

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Interviewed by: Nina Teseyko / Yanina Nachkebiya

Photo: Stanislav Ivanov