Competitions as a contradiction of ballet ideals

[Solor]

1

[Leigh Witchel]

No offense taken, Solor.

I'm of two minds about them. I don't think there is much benefit to them artistically. I also don't think that what makes a medal winner is what makes an artist.

On the other hand, the practical part of me acknowledges that people seem to love competitions and they raise exposure both for individual dancers who didn't come from the main academies and for ballet in general.

In short, I don't like 'em, but I think they're here to stay and we ought to try and steer them in a good direction (raising exposure) rather than a bad one (turning the art into a sport).

[Mel Johnson]

I've said it before, and I'll say it again, with pianist Artur Rubinstein, whose granddaughter I had the pleasure to teach, "Competitions are for horses."