Ailian competition celebrates rising ballet generation

The fifth edition of Ailian Youth Grand Prix came to a close with an awards ceremony and gala performance at Beijing's Tianqiao Theater on Aug 3, celebrating a new generation of ballet talent. The event was livestreamed across multiple platforms, allowing audiences nationwide to join the celebration both online and in person.

Founded in 2022, the Ailian Youth Grand Prix is named after Dai Ailian (1916-2006), widely regarded as "the mother of Chinese dance".

The fifth edition, launched in April, held preliminary rounds in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province; Chengdu, Sichuan province; Hainan province; Beijing; and through an online division.

More than 800 young dancers entered this year's competition. Following rigorous evaluations by 11 leading Chinese ballet experts in the preliminary rounds, nearly 500 contestants advanced to the finals, where an international jury of eight renowned ballet artists from China, Poland, the United Kingdom, and Germany selected 110 award winners.

The evening's gala featured performances by this year's prize winners, who showcased their technical skill and artistic expression while reflecting the vitality and potential of China's emerging ballet generation.

Since its inception, the competition has promoted arts education through an international platform for young dancers. By fostering cultural exchange and discovering promising talent, the competition continues to support ballet education and nurture the country's s next generation of ballet artists.