Artists of the Astana Opera returned from China with a victory: Principal Soloist Dias Kurmangazy and Soloist, young choreographer Sultanbek Gumar received awards at the First International Ballet Artists Competition in Liaoning (Shenyang).

The competition brought together more than 400 participants from 10 countries, with a jury comprising 20 renowned masters of the global stage. Dias Kurmangazy was awarded the prize for Best Performance, while Sultanbek Gumar received recognition for Best Choreography.

On the Shenyang stage, Dias Kurmangazy, together with his partner Kamila Shakhmanova, performed excerpts from Tchaikovsky’s The Nutcracker, Riccardo Drigo’s The Talisman, as well as the piece Ansau, choreographed by Sultanbek Gumar. The latter became the highlight of the program, with the jury commending its originality of movement, musicality, and contrast with the more conventional pieces presented by other contestants. The classical repertoire was rehearsed under the guidance of Honored Worker of Kazakhstan, coach-repetiteur Rustem Seitbekov.

The musical foundation of Ansau was the composition of the same name by the ethno-folk ensemble Kassak. According to the choreographer, this music served as a powerful impulse that inspired the production within a short timeframe.

These awards represent a significant contribution to the international recognition of Kazakhstan’s ballet school. For Astana Opera, participation in such competitions is an opportunity to demonstrate the high standard of training, foster creative ties with leading representatives of world ballet, and inspire the next generation of dancers in Kazakhstan.