Among the most prestigious series of events on the international dance scene, the ballet competition named after one of the most outstanding ballet dancers of the 20th century has been held since 1994. The event carries particular significance because Rudolf Nureyev himself performed for the last time at the Opera House in Budapest, while the competition itself was created at his request and based on his original intentions. Held five times so far, the ballet competition has met with extraordinary success among the international dance profession. Over the years, a total of more than 340 young dancers from 28 countries have participated. On each occasion, the jury has comprised leading ballet artists, choreographers and dance historians on the international dance scene. Its most recent president was Maya Plisetskaya, recognised as one of the greatest ballerinas of all time, and the list of stars who have taken part in its work so far includes Eva Evdokimova, Ninel Kurgapkina, Igor Youskevitch, Alexander Grant, Tamara Nijinsky, Ekaterina Maximova, Heinz Spoerli, Karl Musil, Iván Nagy, Mária Aradi, Zsuzsa Kun, Gábor Keveházi, Gyula Harangozó and György Szakály. Winners and other laureates of past competitions are now well-known soloists in the world’s great ballet companies, and appear as frequent guests in the most important ballet centres around the globe. To name but a few dancers from an impressive roll call, past winners have included Johan Kobborg, Denis Matvienko, Aidar Akhmetov, Simon and April Ball, Joaquín De Luz, Andrei Batalov, Lukáš Slavický, Leonid Sarafanov, Andrei Pisarev, Anastasia Lomachenkova, Anton Ploom and – among the Hungarians – Aleszja Popova, Alexandra Kozmér, Tamás Nagy and Lili Felméry. The rounds of the forthcoming competition are public; the quarter-finals take place on 19–20 March 2013 in the new Theatre Hall of the Hungarian Dance Academy, while the semi-finals and final will be held in the Festival Theatre of the Palace of Arts on 21 and 22 March 2013 respectively. The gala awards evening takes place at the Vígszínház Theatre.

Presented by: