Genée 2012 comes to a glorious close!

The 2012 Genée International Ballet Competition came to a stunning climax on Saturday 15 December at the St James Theatre, Wellington, New Zealand, by serving up two Gold and three Silver medals. New Zealand had much to be proud of, not only for hosting such a successful competition but because their young dancers scooped three out of the five medals – in the male category: gold for 15-year-old Aurelian Child-de-Brocas (trained by Hilary Kaplan and Archibald McKenzie), and in the female category: silver for 17-year-old Kaena Ahern (trained by Melinda Palmer) and 16-year-old Ariana Hond (trained by Melinda Palmer, Heather Palmer and Allan Barry), who also won the Audience Choice Award.

Gold medallists Montana Rubin and Aurelian Child-de-Brocas. Photo by Evan Li

A gold medal was also awarded to15-year-old Australian female candidate, Montana Rubin (trained by Mark Reily and Peta Frith), and a silver medal to 17-year-old Australian male candidate, Harry Davis (trained by Janne Blanch, Susan Massey and Steven McTaggart).

The 2012 judging panel was chaired by David McAllister, Artistic Director of The Australian Ballet and completed by Li Cunxin, Artistic Director designate of Queensland Ballet and Christopher Hampson, Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet.

David McAllister said, ‘It has been ten years since I judged the competition in Sydney, and I think it has really evolved in that time. The standard of the candidates was wonderfully good and the whole week has been a complete joy.’

The 2012 medallists are:

Females
Gold: Montana Rubin, 15 years old, Australian. Trained by Mark Reily and Peta Frith
Silver: Kaena Ahern, 17 years old, New Zealander. Trained by Melinda Palmer.
Ariana Hond, 16 years old, New Zealander. Trained by Melinda Palmer, Heather Palmer and Allan Barry.

Males
Gold: Aurelian Child-de-Brocas, 15 years old, New Zealander. Trained by Hilary Kaplan and Archibald McKenzie
Silver: Harry Davis, 17 years old, Australian. Trained by Janne Blanch, Susan Massey and Steven McTaggart

No bronze medals were awarded.

The Audience Award was sponsored by TORY & KO jewellers, who awarded an exclusively designed jewelled tiara to winner Ariana Hond.

Silver medallists Kaena Ahern, Harry Davis and Ariana Hond. Photo by Evan Li

Read the full press release.