Kazakh ballet dancer won a gold medal at the Dance Olympus Competition

Kazakh ballet dancer Riza Kanatkyzy won a gold medal at the International Dance Olympus Competition in Berlin, Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Culture reports. Another Kazakh dancer, Zarina Baikenova, won a bronze medal. Riza Kanatkyzy was awarded gold in the Folk Dance category. The dancer performed Kazakh and Chinese folk dances choreographed by Anuar Sadykova, First Kazakh President prize winner. According to Ms. Sadykova, “it is very gratifying that a Kazakh national dance was performed at this high-profile dance event”. Riza Kanatkyzy is in her second senior year at the Seleznev Choreography School in Almaty. Dance Olympus International Competition is one of the most prestigious choreography contests. In 2005 it was included in the Association of the International Ballet Contests and in the UNESCO International Dance Council. The festival’s schedule includes dance contests, workshops with qualified teachers, joint performances of the contestants and prominent ballet stars. The jury includes distinguished cultural figures, dance teachers, acting dancers, mass media, etc. The jury of the contest defines winners in several categories and selects participants of the gala performance.