Press releases

MINSK, 20 October (BelTA) – The Belarusian couple of Yelena Podolskaya and Sergei Mikel won the Grand Prix at the 7th Makhmud Esambayev International Solo Dance Festival that took place in the Russian city of Grozny on 15 to 19 October, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Culture Ministry.

The main prize was awarded by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov.

The total of 96 dancers from seven countries and 19 regions of Chechnya gathered in Grozny to pay tribute to the memory of prominent dancer Makhmud Esambayev and present the Chechen culture via the art of dance. The list of participants included soloists of professional dance companies and independent dancers aged between 16 and 35. The competition featured two rounds. The dancers competed in the nominations Contemporary Dance and Folk Dance.

Belarus’ Yelena Podolskaya and Sergei Mikel proved to be the best in the nomination Contemporary Dance and won the Grand Prix of the festival.

Young Belarusian dancer Sabina Munasypova also got a prize. Among the winners were dancers from Tajikistan, Moscow, Moscow Oblast, Russia’s Republic of Kalmykia, Kaluga Oblast, Krasnodar Krai, Chechnya, and Crimea.