Maria Noel Riccetto first dancer of the Ballet Nacional Sodre (BNS) received a nomination for the Prix Benois de la Danse, one of the most prestigious ballet awards.

Founded by the International Dance Association in Moscow in 1992, the award is considered the “Ballet Oscar” and takes place each year. The members of the jury change every year and consists of only top ballet personalities.

Statuettes are given to the winners in the categories of lifelong achievement, ballerina, danseur, choreographer, composer and designer.

The nomination was announced by Julio Bocca, BNS director, jury in this edition and winner of the prize in 1992.

The idea for the Benois de la Danse was initiated in Moscow and the founders succeeded in obtaining the patronage of UNESCO in the autumn of 1991. Its scheduling at the end of April is meant to coincide with the birthday of the great historian and stage designer Alexandre Benois (1870–1960) for whom it is named.

French sculptor Igor Ustinov designed the statuette of the Benois de la Danse award in 1992.

Riccetto, who was nominated by her role as Tatiana in the ballet Onegin, said that being nominated is “already an award”.

The BNS announced its 2017 season that will start on March 23 with a rendition of Boris Eifman’s Russian Hamlet.

Source: El Observador, Marca País