08 August 2013 | 13:00

Kazakhstan ballet dancers win prizes in New York

Assel Kumarova and Azamat Askarov. Photo courtesy of the contest official website

Ballet dancers from Kazakhstan Assel Kumarova, Serik Nakyspekov and Azamat Askarov took part in Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition (VKIBC) in New York, USA, Tengrinews.kz reports. Assel Kumarova, a student of the Kazakh National Academy of Arts named after T.K. Zhurgenov, won a bronze prize of the female seniors competition. Alumnus of Kazakhstan's Choreographic School Serik Nakyspekov became the contest's laureate and was offered a 2013-2014 season contract by Columbia Classical Ballet Company, but refused to sign it as he intended to continue his career in Kazakhstan. Famous ballet dancers Finnish ballet star and artistic director of Boston Ballet Mikko Nissinen, people’s artist of Russia, world ballet star and director-choreographer Andris Liepa and Canadian ballet star Deborah Hess evaluated the participants of the competition. Boston International Ballet Competition, now known as Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition, was first held in 2011 by Valentina Kozlova to provide students and professional dancers aged 13 with to 25 an opportunity to perform and compete in a positive and encouraging atmosphere before a distinguished panel of international judges. VKIBC awards professional contracts, scholarships, monetary and other special prizes to competitors. The competition wants to bring magic into ballet, "open doors" and unite the far reaches of the dance world with an innovative competition for talented students and young professionals. VKIBC is an initiative of the Dance Conservatory Performance Project (DCPP), a not for profit dance organization created to foster classical dance and disseminate its education, both as a traditional expression and an evolving performing art form.

Ballet dancers from Kazakhstan Assel Kumarova, Serik Nakyspekov and Azamat Askarov took part in Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition (VKIBC) in New York, USA, Tengrinews.kz reports. Assel Kumarova, a student of the Kazakh National Academy of Arts named after T.K. Zhurgenov, won a bronze prize of the female seniors competition. Alumnus of Kazakhstan's Choreographic School Serik Nakyspekov became the contest's laureate and was offered a 2013-2014 season contract by Columbia Classical Ballet Company, but refused to sign it as he intended to continue his career in Kazakhstan. Famous ballet dancers Finnish ballet star and artistic director of Boston Ballet Mikko Nissinen, people’s artist of Russia, world ballet star and director-choreographer Andris Liepa and Canadian ballet star Deborah Hess evaluated the participants of the competition. Boston International Ballet Competition, now known as Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition, was first held in 2011 by Valentina Kozlova to provide students and professional dancers aged 13 with to 25 an opportunity to perform and compete in a positive and encouraging atmosphere before a distinguished panel of international judges. VKIBC awards professional contracts, scholarships, monetary and other special prizes to competitors. The competition wants to bring magic into ballet, "open doors" and unite the far reaches of the dance world with an innovative competition for talented students and young professionals. VKIBC is an initiative of the Dance Conservatory Performance Project (DCPP), a not for profit dance organization created to foster classical dance and disseminate its education, both as a traditional expression and an evolving performing art form.