Azernews.Az

By Laman Ismayilova

The opening ceremony of the 2nd International Dance Competition named after Gamar Almaszade was held at the Heydar Aliyev Palace on June 25.

The contest, organized jointly by the Ministry of Culture and Baku Choreography Academy, featured a video about Gamar Almaszade's creativity, Azertac reported.

Speaking at the ceremony, Azerbaijani Culture and Tourism Minister Abulfas Garayev said that the international competition named after one of the creators of Azerbaijan ballet school, the first female ballet master Gamar Almaszade was organized for the second time. He stressed that the competition takes a special place among the international cultural events hosted by Azerbaijan.

The dance competition aims to promote national and classical dance legends, as well as modern dance trends, recognition of young talents, the development of dance and singing skills, raising the level of professional education in the relevant field, etc.

In his speech, Abulfas Garayev stressed that this year's contest is timed to the 100th anniversary of the Azerbaijan Democratic Republic.

The Minister also spoke about Azerbaijan's first ballerina.

"It is no accident that the contest is named after Gamar Almaszade. The People's Artist of the USSR, the talented performer of national dances, prominent ballerina Gamar Almaszade created unique images, combining classical choreography traditions and national dances," he said.

"At present, her followers are working in our country and I am glad that they are participating as the jury in this competition. Azerbaijani dance school represents our country internationally and it will be the same in the future," he concluded.

Choreographic composition "The rhythm of life", the composition of modern composition of bachelors and college students of Baku Choreography Academy, "Mugam" choreographic composition, presented by Honored Teacher Pellumb Aqilliyay's symphony of Gara Garayev.

Then the international jury of the contest was presented. The jury chaired by People's Artist of Russia, professor, laureate of state awards, founder and artistic director of the Moscow State Ballet Theater "Russian ballet" Vyacheslav Gordeyev included People's Artist of Azerbaijan Rafiga Akhundova, Roza Jalilova, Afag Malikova, People's Artist of Ukraine, Professor, Acting Head of the Ukrainian Academy of Sciences, Slobojan Ukrainian State Academic Song and Dance Ensemble and chief ballet master Boris Kolokukenko, the director and art director of the Stara Zagora Opera House, the head of the Bulgarian Ballet Association, chairman of UNESCO National Committee on Dance of Bulgaria Silvija Tomova, the Honored Artist of Estonia, artistic director of the Dance Open Festival in St. Petersburg, member of UNESCO International Dance Council Vasily Medvedev, prima ballerina and artistic director of the Israeli Ballet, permanent member of the International Chamber of Choir in Israel Nina Gershman, Azerbaijan and Russia's Honored Artist Vitaliy Akhundov.

The ballet masters from U.S., Bulgaria, Spain, Israel, Kazakhstan, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine and Japan are taking part in the competition. According to the results of the competition, the first three winners, degree laureates and Grand Prix winner will be awarded in each category. Certificates will be given to contest participants and their teachers.

The dance festival will last until June 27.

Gamar Almaszade appeared in the ballet and became the first Azerbaijani ballerina.

The Maiden Tower was composed specifically for Gamar by her husband, Afrasiyab Badalbeyli. At the age of 25, she performed the lead role in the ballet.

The ballet managed to attract a large audience. Yong ballerina conquered the hearts of all who have ever seen her on stage.

Almaszade had the kind of talent that appears once every hundred, no, thousand years. However, there's no easy path to success. She had to overcome many hurdles and difficulties.

When she was a young girl, the idea of becoming a ballerina was scandalous. Her father could not accept the fact that his daughter was performing onstage at the theater.

Despite her father's objections, Gamar became Azerbaijan's first world-class ballerina.

After graduating from the choreographic school in 1930, Gamar Almaszade began working at the Azerbaijan State Opera and Ballet Theatre.

To meet her father's expectations, she also enrolled in a teachers' college. In 1932, she left for Moscow to continue her ballet education but soon returned to Baku after being chosen to perform a secondary role in Reinhold Glière's opera Shakh-Senem.

In 1937, she founded the Azerbaijan State Folk Song and Dance Ensemble affiliated with the Azerbaijan State Philharmonic Society. Guided by composer Uzeyir Hajibeyli, she organized research expeditions to various parts of Azerbaijan to film and document folk dance performances and to enrich the repertoire of her ensemble.

Gamar Almaszade also taught her first choreography class. During her career, she toured France, India, and Nepal.

In 1970, she was invited to Baghdad by Iraq's Ministry of Culture to promote Iraqi folk dance culture and founded the Iraq Folk Dance Ensemble. She retired from ballet in the 1950s, but remained an instructor at the School of Choreography until the late 1990s.

The ballet star left the stage at 35 with the hope that the viewer must remember her young.

Unfortunately, Azerbaijani ballet star died on April 7, 2006. She made a great contribution to the development of ballet art in Azerbaijan.

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Laman Ismayilova is AzerNews’ staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Lam_Ismayilova

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