ABU DHABI: Students of Fantasia Ballet, Abu Dhabi, won second place in the Character Academics category at the International Junior Dance Festival in Bulgaria recently. The troupe was the only one to represent the Middle East in the contest which saw entries from around the globe. It comprised eight teenagers of mixed nationalities, including an Emirati. Its winning performance, called Sirtaki, was a modern interpretation of Greek mythology.
They also bagged the ‘One of a kind’ award from sponsors. “It was a big challenge to participate in this prestigious tournament because we mostly worked after school hours. But the students put in more than five hours a day for nearly two months and their effort paid off,” said Svetlana Al Neyadi, founder of Fantasia Ballet, who accompanied her students to Bulgaria.
Long term goals
Established in 2016, the Junior Dance Festival is an annual two-week event which includes ballet masterclasses and dance competitions in various categories.
Sri Lankan Thiasha Samadhi Karunasekara, 15, who was part of the UAE team, said though the practice routines were intense, they helped develop team spirit and time management. “The whole experience has been an opportunity to express myself through dance and enjoy with friends,” she said.
Her teammate Svetlana, who has been a ballerina since the age of four, said that her long term aim was to turn ballet into a popular art form in the UAE.
“I want to inspire children to take up ballet and represent the country at international platforms,” she said.
Fantasia Ballet is the premier ballet school in the UAE established in 1998. It previously represented the country in international festivals in the Ukraine and USA.
