School of Dance and KNIGA Students Soar at 2025 Valentina Kozlova

Current students of the School of Dance and KNIGA elevated the reputation of Korean ballet by achieving outstanding results at the 2025 Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition.

Ryu Hui-jeong (4^th year, BA) and Park Chae-eun (4^th year, BA) won Gold Medals in the Senior Division Group 2 and Group 1 for females, respectively. In the male category, Koo Hyunmo (4^th year, BA) won Silver in the Senior Division Group 2. Meanwhile, Cho Seowoo won the Gold Medal in the Student Division for females.

Ryu Da-young (KNIGA) earned both the Gold and Grand Prix in the Youth Division for females, while Park Na-eun (KNIGA) took the Gold in the Pre-Youth Division for females. Notably, Ryu achieved the distinction of earning two top honors at this competition.

Kim Sohyun (4^th year, BA) won the Gold Medal in Division III Solo for females. Lee Sumin (4^th year, BA) and Park Jinsu (4^th year, BA) shared the Bronze Medal in Division III Solo for females. Jo Jeong-ik (3^rd year, BA) earned Gold, Eom Seonwoo (4^th year, BA) Silver, and Heo Gyeol (4^th year, BA) Bronze, all in Division III Solo for males.

The Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition, which succeeded the Boston International Ballet Competition in 2011, was rebranded as an international ballet competition after being named for ballerina Valentina Kozlova, former principal dancer of the Bolshoi Ballet, in New York in 2013.

This year, over 100 ballet dancers from 13 countries competed, vying not only for awards in various categories but also for scholarships, company contracts, and opportunities to debut at the world-class international gala concerts over three rounds of intense competition.

Charles Jude, a renowned French ballet dancer, served as president of the jury. In total, thirty jury members participated, including Nina Ananiashvili (Director of the State Ballet of Georgia), Nikolai Tsiskaridze (Principal of Vaganova Ballet Academy), and Mikko Nissinen (Artistic Director of Boston Ballet). Two K-Arts emeritus professors, Kim Sun-hee and Jeon Mi-sook, also served on the jury for the Classical and Contemporary Divisions, respectively.

Valentina Kozlova, the founder of the competition, commented, “All the jury agree that Korea’s ballet and contemporary dance have consolidated their status at a globally representative level. It is impressive how young dancers from KNIGA have already achieved a level of excellence despite their age, demonstrating clean, elegant, and exceptional technique while their delicate expressions still stand out.”