Flagship Royal Academy of Dance ballet competition returns to the UK

For the first time in its 82 year history, the Royal Academy of Dance’s (RAD) annual Genée International Ballet Competition will take place in Scotland where the Theatre Royal Glasgow will host the ballet showcase from 20-29 September, 2013. With dance floors supplied by Harlequin, this year’s event will be presented by RAD working in partnership with Scottish Ballet and the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. Since its inaugural appearance as the Adeline Genée Gold Medal in 1931, it has evolved into one of the world's most prestigious classical ballet competitions. The Genée International Ballet Competition 2013 will welcome candidates from Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Japan, Mexico, South Africa, Spain, USA and the UK. These young dancers will be aiming to impress a panel of world-famous judges including Prima Ballerina and RAD President Darcey Bussell CBE, Director of The Royal Ballet Kevin O’Hare and Scottish Ballet Artistic Director Christopher Hampson. The RAD will also be presenting Creative Spaces – a series of events, classes and practical and theoretical workshops. Visitors can take a body conditioning workshop with RAD’s Director of Education Dr Anne Hogan, listen to talks by Christopher Hampson or Kevin O’Hare or have Darcey Bussell’s eponymous photographic book signed by the ballerina herself. From Cape Town to Sydney and Athens to Wellington, the competition has grown into a global phenomenon since first held outside London in 2002. Now, for the first time in Scotland, all eyes will be on Glasgow as the best young ballet dancers in the world compete for the coveted gold medal. For tickets for the Genée Semi-finals on 26 and 27 September at the New Athenaeum Theatre, call +44(0)141 332 5057 or visit the RCS website https://boxoffice.rcs.ac.uk For tickets for the Genée Final on 29 September at the Theatre Royal Glasgow, call 0844 871 7615 (or +44 20 7126 5456 from outside the UK) or visit the ATG Tickets website http://www.atgtickets.com

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