A photo contest was held at the Beijing Tianqiao Theatre on Dec 28, 2014. A total of 189 entries by eight photographers capture the moments of ballet dancers performing in the first China International Ballet Season staged in Beijing in 2013.

During the season, 14 ballets and 37 performances were given by notable dancers from all over the world. Driven by the aesthetic appeal of ballet and wishing to encourage the appreciation of the high art among the Chinese, the organizing committee launched its first photo contest.

Since November 2013, thousands of works were submitted, from which the jury selected 189 to enter the first round. After three rounds of evaluation, nine works stood out and won awards, including one top prize, two prizes for the most creative, two for the best visual effects and three honorable mentions. The special award went to photographer Chen Li’s work featuring singers from the Rudra Béjart School in Lausanne.

The jury was composed of Xie Hailong, a member of the Chinese Photographers Association, Liang Wenchuan, associate editor of Chinese Photography and other managers from the Tianqiao Theatre. The jury granted the top prize to photographer Wang Chongwei, for his superb skill in capturing the moving image and color design.

The jury commented that the prize winners embody both photography techniques and artistic taste. The second China International Ballet season will be held at the Beijing Tianqiao Theatre in the next year.