The First Winners of the 19th International Dance Festival-Competition “Aušrinė žvaigždė” Announced

On May 14, the professional jury selected the first winners of the 19th International Dance Festival-Competition “Aušrinė žvaigždė”.

This year’s jury consists of Vira Matviejeva (Ukraine) – choreographer and dance teacher, president of the NGO “Amateurs Dance Association”, director of festivals, competitions, and educational programmes for dancers and dance ensemble leaders, and member of the UNESCO International Dance Council (CID-UNESCO); Darius Berulis (Lithuania) – associate professor, member of Šeiko Dance Theatre, former ballet dancer of the Klaipėda State Musical Theatre, and head of the Dance Department at the Klaipėda Faculty of the Lithuanian Academy of Music and Theatre; and May Jean Teo (Malaysia) – ballerina, gold medal winner of the international dance competition “The Crown” in Melbourne, Australia, and soloist of the Kaunas State Musical Theatre ballet company.

This year, the remotely organized competition featured dance groups from Ukraine, Estonia, Denmark, Czech Republic, and Georgia.

Folk Dance

In the 13–16 age category, the choreographic ensemble Tseruli (director Temur Janashvili) won three first places in stage, folkloric, and stylized folk dance categories.

In the MIX age group for stage folk dance, first place was awarded to the exemplary choreographic collective Zadorinka (leaders Olena Bodnyanska and Rymma Garmashevska) and the choreographic ensemble Aisi (director Nino Tugushi).

In the MIX folkloric dance category, first and second places were awarded to the folk dance group Barvinok (leaders Olena Bodnyanska and Rymma Garmashevska). First place was also won by the choreographic ensemble Aisi.

In the MIX stylized folk dance category, first place went to the choreographic ensemble Aisi. In the 17–25 age category, the dance group Neposedy (director Liina Baranova) stood out with an excellent performance.

Contemporary Dance

In the 13–16 age category, first place was awarded to the dance group Neposedy (director Liina Baranova).

In the 17–25 age category, soloist Viktorija Papiš from the Czech Republic won second place for her solo performance, while third place went to Alexsandra Tolgsaya Nielsen of Fusion Kreativt Studie (director Svetlana Koldsoe).

The full programme of the 19th International Dance Festival-Competition “Aušrinė žvaigždė” is available at:
Šiauliai Cultural Center Program Page