Newly Awarded Fellow Of The Royal Academy Of Dance – Dr Stanley Ho - Congratulates 2006 Ballet Medalists

The Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) last night staged a spectacular Final of the Genée International Ballet Competition at the Lyric Theatre, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts. The audience was brought to their feet when the panel of Judges, chaired by Dame Antoinette Sibley DBE , President of the RAD announced their decision to award 18-year-old Italian, Valentino Zucchetti a gold medal – a rarity in the history of the competition.

Silver medals were awarded to Ye Fei Fei, (18) from China; Gemma Graves (18) from Australia; Kostantyn Keshyshev (19) from the Ukraine and bronze medals went to Jessica Morgan, (18) from Australia, David Moore, (18) from the UK and Jia Yong Sun (18) from China. The Sotheby's Audience Award, voted for by the audience was also presented to Ye Fei Fei.

Dame Antoinette was effusive in her praise for all of the candidates;

“My fellow jurors (Madam Zhao Ruheng, National Ballet of China and John Meehan, Hong Kong) and I have watched in delight and admiration as the candidates have been put through their paces in the Semi-finals and tonight's Final. Choosing winners is not always easy but they all deserve our congratulations, whether they are medallists or not.”

Each of the 12 Finalists performed their choice of both 19th and 20th Century Classical Repertoire variations as well as one of the specially commissioned variations choreographed by renowned young Hong Kong choreographer, Yuri Ng, himself a former Genée gold medallist.

Dame Antoinette also thanked Dr Stanley Ho, lead sponsor of the competition for his generous support and the city of Hong Kong for its hospitality and warmth over the course of the competition.

At a private Gala dinner at the Grand Hyatt Hotel, sponsored by the Bank of East Asia for the candidates, their families and teachers and other sponsors, Dr Stanley Ho was awarded with a Fellowship of the Royal Academy of Dance, one of its highest honours.