Rules

XIX Russian Open Ballet Competition

 ARABESQUE–2026

named after Ekaterina Maximova

April 15 – 26, 2026

Ministry of Culture of Russian Federation,

Union of Theatrical Workers of Russia,

Ministry of Culture of Perm Region,

Department of Culture and Youth Policy of Perm Administration,

Perm Tchaikovsky Opera and Ballet Theatre

present

XIX Russian Open Ballet Competition ARABESQUE–2026

named after Ekaterina Maximova

in the city of Perm, Russia

from April 15 to April 26, 2026.

Artistic Director and Chairman of the Jury is

Vladimir Vasiliev

 

Competition Jury is formed by the artistic director.

All performances are open to the public.

         Please see Competition Rules and Regulations in Chapter 1.

         Within round II the competition of choreographers and contemporary dancers is held, Rules and Regulations of which can be found in Chapter 2.

 

Chapter 1. Competition Regulations

Application Requirements

1. Ballet dancers and students of ballet schools, Russian or foreign, may take part in the competition. Grand Prix and first prize winners of previous "Arabesque" competitions are not admitted to the competition.
2. Competitors admitted to round II become participants of the competition of contemporary dancers automatically. In such a case the choreographer of the contemporary piece is considered a participant of choreographers competition only if he/she applied for contemporary choreography competition (Chapter 2). If the competitor is not admitted to round II, but his or her contemporary piece was applied for the competition, the dancer and the choreographer may continue their participation in contemporary choreography competition by notifying the management of the competition before the beginning of round II.
3. 3. The competition includes two age groups: Juniors and Seniors:

Juniors – boys and girls aged 13 to 17, i.e. those who haven’t turned 18 at the time of the beginning of the competition;

Seniors – men and women aged 18 to 25, i.e. those who haven’t turned 26 at the time of the beginning of the competition.

In each age group dancers may perform either as soloists or in couples.

4. To participate in the competition, the candidates are required to apply by 10 February 2026 to the management of the Competition.

The application should include the following documents (download application form):

1) completed application form (find attached Appendix 1);

2) performance program (find attached Appendix 2).

Please attach the following:

- Audio recordings of performances in .wav or .mp3 formats (.wma is not accepted);

- A light plot of the contemporary piece (a list of necessary lighting positions not exceeding 5, with the exact timing of the light cues) (download light plot form);

- Necessary props description.

3) copies of the passport pages containing the passport number, photo, personal data, date and place of issue and issuing authority;

4) one portrait photo and one photo in full-length dance pose for the Competition catalogue. Applicants should submit photos digitally, in good quality: jpg format, size no less than 1 Mb, graphic resolution no less than 300 dpi;

5) a short curriculum vitae;

6) repertoire (a list of the roles performed);

7) a copy of the dance education certificate or private class attendance certificate.

The application should be filled in online on the website arabesque-perm.ru with all the necessary documents attached, or e-mailed to arabesque@inbox.ru or posted to following address: Ballet Competition "Arabesque-2026", Opera and Ballet Theatre, 25a Petropavlovskaya St., Perm 614000, Russia.

Participants, who do not speak Russian, fill in the application form in English.

The management of the Competition assures that they will confirm the receipt of the application within a week from the day the application is received, on the website, by e-mail or phone indicated in the application form.

The application is considered as admitted only if it contains all the documents listed above and meets all the requirements.

The management of the competition retains the right to reject applications if any documents or information are missing, or if the application is received later than 10 February 2026 (regardless of the date of filling in the form or sending the application).

5. On the day of arrival, the competitors must check the program of their performances in each round at the management office, and must not change it during the Competition period.

 

Rules and Regulations

1. Participants may perform in one of the two categories: soloists (boys and girls in juniors-group, men and women in seniors-group) or couples (in a couple dancers may belong to different age groups). Each competitor is rated individually, irrespectively of whether he/she performs as a soloist or in a couple. A competitor may perform with a non-competing partner.

    The competitor indicates his or her category in their application, and cannot change a category during the competition period (perform as a soloist in one round and appear in a couple in another round). A competitor is allowed to change the couple’s category for the soloist’s category, if their partner is not able to compete anymore, at the special permission of the Jury.

    When performing contemporary choreography, competitors in couples may appear solo, and soloists may perform in couples with other participants or non-competing partners.

2. The competition is held in three rounds and performed on the theatre stage (12 m wide, 10 m deep, without a slope).
3. Pieces performed in one of the rounds must not be the same as performed in the others.
4. The order of performances of each competitor is determined by random draw and maintained until the end of the competition.
5. For the couples the order of performances is determined by the number of the female competitor. If the female partner is out of the competition, the number of the male competitor is used from that moment on.
6. For competitors performing variations the break between performances must not be less than 15 minutes. The break between the performance of classical and contemporary choreography must not be less than 50 minutes.
7. Participants of round III and prize-winners are obliged to perform free-of-charge in two final dance galas with the program determined by the Jury.
8. If one of the partners in a couple does not pass to rounds II or III, he/she must perform as a partner of the other competitor in rounds II and III and also at the final gala performances.
9. Members of the Jury do not have the right to rehearse with their pupils during the course of competition, to rate them during the scoring process, and to rate the pieces they had choreographed.
10. In case competitors haven’t sent their audio recordings beforehand, they must bring them to the theatre sound engineer immediately after the random draw. Competitors must have backup audio recordings of their performances. Recordings should be made using professional equipment.
11. Participants must talk beforehand to the stage manager to get his approval of the light plot of the contemporary piece (a list of necessary lighting positions not exceeding 5) and the props.
12. Accepted applicants will be notified of the date of their arrival in Perm by the competition management not later than 30 days before the beginning of the Competition.

Financial Terms

1. On the day of arrival the participant is obliged to pay the admission fee of 1,500 rubles for Russian participants and 3,000 rubles for foreign participants.

Russian participants studying at Russian ballet institutions are exempted from the admission fee.

Should a participant withdraw from the competition, the documents and admission fee shall not be returned.

 

2. Travel

Participants are expected to cover their own travelling expenses to Perm and back.

If the participant proceeds to round III, the competition management will reimburse the cost of economy class tickets (in rubles) for the travel to Perm and back of the participant, his or her partner and the coach (if more than one coach comes with the competitor, only one coach is reimbursed). To foreign participants the reimbursement is given in rubles with the collected income tax subtracted (30% according to the tax legislation of the Russian Federation).

         To have their travel expenses reimbursed, participants should submit the original of travel documents to the accounting department of the theatre (including the round-trip tickets and tickets/boarding passes for the way back which should be sent to the theatre by post). If electronic tickets are used, participants should keep and bring the original boarding passes.

3. Accommodation

         Participants are expected to cover their own accommodation costs (the payment may be made in installments).

If the participant proceeds to round III, the competition management will reimburse the hotel expenses (the cost of economy-class room) of the participant, his or her partner and one coach from registration day until the end of the competition. To foreign participants the reimbursement is given in rubles with the collected income tax subtracted (30% according to the tax legislation of the Russian Federation).

To have their accommodation expenses reimbursed, participants should submit the receipts confirming the payment for accommodation to the accounting department of the theatre.

4. Meals

         The competition management is in charge of providing the meals to the participants and their partners only for the period of their participation.

If a non-competing partner does not perform in a couple with a competitor in all the rounds, his or her meals are provided only during the rounds he/she does perform in.

5. Participants who do not advance to rounds II and III, and also their partners and coaches, may stay in Perm until the end of the competition at their own expense or at the expense of their sponsoring organization.
6. Prize-winners of the contemporary choreography competition and dancers of the piece that wins a prize for the best choreography are granted the same financial terms as finalists (see clauses 2, 3, 4).
7. The competition management provides the competitors with the rehearsal studios and with one stage rehearsal before each round.
8. The competition management does not provide the participants, their partners and coaches with any kind of insurance.
9. The competition management does not provide the participants with the stage costumes, makeup, footwear and music scores. Participants must bring their stage costumes, ballet shoes, makeup and everything else they need.
10. During the course of the competition classical and contemporary dance masterclasses are planned to be held.
11. The competition management retains the right to invite the prize-winners and owners of the competition certificates to participate in events.
12. The competition management retains the right to broadcast all competition events, to shoot films, make video recordings and further spread them without paying royalties to the participants and their partners. Filming and photography during the competition is allowed only to the accredited specialists.

In case of incomprehension of the present rules interpretation, the identical Russian text is considered to be valid.

 

Performance program

 

ROUND I

CLASSICAL CHOREOGRAPHY

Couples: one pas de deux by choreographers of the XIX-XXI centuries.

Soloists: two variations by choreographers of the XIX-XXI centuries.

 

ROUND II (SEMI-FINALS)  

 

1. CLASSICAL CHOREOGRAPHY

Couples: each dancer in a couple performs as a soloist one variation by choreographers of the XIX-XXI centuries.

Soloists: one variation by choreographers of the XIX-XXI centuries.

 

2. CONTEMPORARY CHOREOGRAPHY

Couples and soloists must perform one piece of contemporary choreography (modern or jazz dance or a piece of a free or any other style dance) to the music of any composer, staged not earlier than 2020 if the piece is not applied for choreographers’ competition. In case the piece is applied for the competition, it must be staged not earlier than 2024.

The performing time must not exceed 4 minutes (please mind that the Jury monitor the exact timing of the performed pieces).

 

ROUND III (FINALS)

CLASSICAL CHOREOGRAPHY

Couples: one pas de deux by choreographers of the XIX-XXI centuries.

Soloists: two variations by choreographers of the XIX-XXI centuries.

 

All the pieces are allowed to be performed only if the participant has the permission to perform the piece given by the owners of the author’s right to the piece (including the author’s heirs).

 

Chapter 2. Regulations of the Competition of Choreographers and Contemporary Dancers

         Competition of choreographers and contemporary dancers is held within round II of “Arabesque-2026”. The number of performances participating in the Contemporary choreography competition can be no more than 70. After taking the specified number of performances of contemporary choreography, applications are closed.

 

Application Requirements

1. Ballet dancers and students of ballet schools, Russian or foreign, may take part in the competition of contemporary dancers. They must perform contemporary piece staged not earlier than 2020.
2. Choreographers of contemporary or jazz dance or free or any other style of dance may take part in the choreographers’ competition. The piece must be staged not earlier than 2024.

         The piece submitted for choreographers’ competition may be performed by dancers who are not participating in the competition of contemporary dancers.

         The piece must be created for either one or two dancers.

Choreographer may present no more than two pieces for the competition, provided that they will be performed by different dancers (competing or non-competing). If one and the same dancer performs several pieces, then only in one of them he/she can apply as the participant of competition of contemporary dancers.

3. The participants of the main competition who proceed to round II become participants of the competition of contemporary dancers automatically. The choreographer of the contemporary piece is considered a participant of choreographers’ competition only if he/she applied (download application form for choreographer) for it. If the competitor is not admitted to round II, but the contemporary piece was applied for the competition, the dancer and the choreographer may continue their participation in contemporary choreography competition by notifying the management of the competition before the beginning of round II.
4. Admission to the competition of contemporary dancers for participants aged 13 to 25, i.e. those who haven’t turned 26 at the time of the beginning of the competition.

There are no age restrictions for choreographers.

5. To participate in the competition of choreographers and contemporary dancers, the candidates are requested to apply by 10 February 2026 to the management of the competition.

The application should include the following documents:

1) completed application form (find attached Appendix 3 for dancers and Appendix 4 for choreographers). (Download application form of competition of choreographers and contemporary dancers)

Please attach the following:

- Audio recordings of performances in .wav or .mp3 formats (.wma is not accepted);

- A light plot of the contemporary piece (a list of necessary lighting positions not exceeding 5, with the exact timing of the light cues. (download the light plot form)

- Necessary props description;

2) copies of the passport pages containing the passport number, photo, personal data, date and place of issue and issuing authority;

3) one portrait photo (for the dancer and for the choreographer) and one photo in full-length dance pose (only for competing dancer) for the competition catalogue. Applicants should submit photos digitally, in good quality: jpg format, size no less than 1 Mb, graphic resolution no less than 300 dpi;

4) a short curriculum vitae;

5) a copy of the dance education certificate or private class attendance certificate.

6) If a choreographer does not take part in the competition of choreographers he/she should only give their permission of the performance of their piece by the competing dancer. In such a case a choreographer does not apply for the competition.

The application is to be filled in online on the website arabesque-perm.ru with all the necessary documents attached, or e-mailed to arabesque@inbox.ru or posted to following address: Ballet Competition "Arabesque-2026", Opera and Ballet Theatre, 25a Petropavlovskaya St., Perm 614000, Russia.

 

Participants, who do not speak Russian, fill in the application form in English.

The management of the competition assures that they will confirm the receipt of the application within a week from the day the application is received, by e-mail or phone indicated in the application form.

The application is considered as admitted only if it contains all the documents listed above and meets all the requirements.

The management of the competition retains the right to reject applications if any documents or information are missing, or if the application is received later than on 10 February 2026 (regardless of the date of filling the form or sending the application).

6. On the day of arrival participants must check the program of their performance at the Management office, and must not change it.

Rules and Regulations

1. In the competition of contemporary choreography both competing dancers and choreographers are rated.

Each participant is rated individually, irrespectively of whether he/she performs as a soloist or in a couple.

In the choreographers’ competition the piece is rated as one whole, irrespectively of the number of choreographers who created it.

Non-competing dancers are not rated.

2. The competition is held on the theatre stage (12 m wide, 10 m deep, without a slope).
3. The order of performances of each competitor is determined by random draw. Random draw is held among contemporary dancers. Choreographers’ pieces are viewed in the order of dancers’ numbers.
4. For the couples the order of performances is determined by the number of the female competitor.
5. Prize-winners of the competition of contemporary dancers as well as performers of winning pieces are obliged to perform free-of-charge in two final dance galas with the program determined by the Jury.

If one of the dancers in a couple is not a prize-winner, he/she must perform as a partner of the other competitor in the final gala performances.

6. Choreographers-members of the Jury do not have the right to rehearse with their pupils during the course of the competition, to rate them during the scoring process, and to rate the pieces they have choreographed.
7. In case competitors haven’t sent their audio recordings beforehand, they must bring them to the theatre sound engineer immediately after the random draw. Competitors must have backup audio recordings of their performances. Recordings should be made using professional equipment.
8. Participants must talk beforehand to the stage manager to get his approval of the light plot of the contemporary piece (a list of necessary lighting positions not exceeding 5) and the props.
9. Accepted applicants will be notified of the date of their arrival in Perm by the competition management not later than 30 days before the beginning of contemporary choreography competition.

• Financial Terms

1. On the day of arrival each competing dancer and each choreographer applying for the competition is obliged to pay an admission fee of 1,500 rubles for Russian participants and 3,000 rubles for foreign participants.

Russian participants studying at Russian ballet institutions are exempted from the admission fee.

Should a participant withdraw from the competition, the documents and admission fee shall not be returned.

 

2. Travel

Participants are expected to cover their own travelling expenses to Perm and back.

If a dancer becomes a prize-winner of contemporary choreography competition, the competition management will reimburse the cost of economy class tickets (in rubles) for the travel to Perm and back of the participant, his or her partner.

If a choreographer becomes a prize-winner, the competition management will reimburse the cost of economy class tickets (in rubles) for the travel to Perm and back of the choreographer and dancers of the winning piece.

To foreign participants the reimbursement is given in rubles with the collected income tax subtracted (30% according to the tax legislation of the Russian Federation).

To have their travel expenses reimbursed, participants should submit the original of travel documents to the accounting department of the theatre (including the round-trip tickets and tickets/boarding passes for the way back which should be sent to the theatre by post). If electronic tickets are used, participants should keep and bring the original boarding passes.

3. Accommodation

Participants are expected to cover their own accommodation costs (the payment may be made in installments).

If a dancer becomes a prize-winner of contemporary choreography competition, the competition management will reimburse the hotel expenses (the cost of economy-class room) of the participant, his or her partner.

If a choreographer becomes a prize-winner, the competition management will reimburse the hotel expenses (the cost of economy-class room) of the choreographer and dancers of the winning piece from registration day until the end of the competition.

To foreign participants the reimbursement is given in rubles with the collected income tax subtracted (30% according to the tax legislation of the Russian Federation).

To have their accommodation expenses reimbursed, participants should submit the receipts confirming the payment for accommodation to the accounting department of the theatre.

4. Meals

The competition management is in charge of providing the meals of the participants and their partners only for the period of their participation.

5. The competition management provides the competitors with the rehearsal studios and with one stage rehearsal.
6. The competition management does not provide the competitors, their partners and coaches with any kind of insurance.
7. The competition management does not provide the competitors with the stage costumes, makeup, footwear and music scores. The competitors must bring their stage costumes, ballet shoes, makeup and everything else they need.
8. During the course of the competition classical and contemporary dance masterclasses are planned to be held.
9. The competition management retains the right to invite the prize-winners and owners of the competition certificates to participate in events.
10. The competition management retains the right to broadcast all competition events, to shoot films, make video recordings and further spread them without paying royalties to the participants and their partners. Filming and photography during the competition is allowed only to the accredited specialists.

In case of incomprehension of the present rules interpretation, the identical Russian text is considered to be valid.

 Performance program of the competition of choreographers and contemporary dancers

 

ROUND II

 

2. CONTEMPORARY CHOREOGRAPHY

Couples and soloists must perform one piece of contemporary choreography (modern or jazz dance or a piece of a free or any other style dance) to the music of any composer, staged not earlier than 2020 if the piece is not applied for the choreographers competition. In case that the piece is applied for the competition, it must be staged not earlier than 2024.

The performing time must not exceed 4 minutes (please mind that the Jury monitor the exact timing of the performed pieces).

 

All the pieces are allowed to perform only if the participant has the permission to perform the piece given by the owners of the author’s right to the piece (including the author’s heirs).

 

Chapter 3. Awards of the competition

AWARDS

EKATERINA MAXIMOVA AWARD (Grand Prix)

A cash prize of RUB 300,000 and the title of Laureate of International Competition is given to the best competitor.

JUNIORS:

TWO FIRST AWARDS (one female and one male). A cash prize of RUB 100,000 each, medals and the titles of Laureates of International Competition.

TWO SECOND AWARDS (one female and one male). A cash prize of RUB 70,000 each, medals and the titles of Laureates of International Competition.

TWO THIRD AWARDS (one female and one male). A cash prize of RUB 50,000 each, medals and the titles of Laureates of International Competition.

SENIORS:

TWO FIRST AWARDS (one female and one male). A cash prize of RUB 200,000 each, medals and the titles of Laureates of International Competition.

TWO SECOND AWARDS (one female and one male). A cash prize of RUB 150,000 each, medals and the titles of Laureates of International Competition.

TWO THIRD AWARDS (one female and one male). A cash prize of RUB 100,000 each, medals and the titles of Laureates of International Competition.

PRESS JURY AWARD. A cash prize of RUB 50,000.

The finalists unawarded with the above mentioned prizes and also the best non-competing partners and the best coach will be presented with the competition certificates and monetary awards.

 

PRIZES AND AWARDS.

COMPETITION OF CHOREOGRAPHERS AND

CONTEMPORARY DANCERS

FIRST AWARD to a ballet master. A cash prize of RUB 150,000, a medal and the title of Laureate of International Competition.

SECOND AWARD to a ballet master. A cash prize of RUB 100,000, a medal and the title of Laureate of International Competition.

THIRD AWARD to a ballet master. A cash prize of RUB 70,000, a medal and the title of Laureate of International Competition.

FIRST AWARD to a contemporary dancer. A cash prize of RUB 100,000, a medal and the title of Laureate of International Competition.

SECOND AWARD to a contemporary dancer. A cash prize of RUB 70,000, a medal and the title of Laureate of International Competition.

THIRD AWARD to a contemporary dancer. A cash prize of RUB 50,000, a medal and the title of Laureate of International Competition.

 

SPECIAL AWARDS

EKATERINA MAXIMOVA AND VLADIMIR VASILIEV AWARD. A cash prize of RUB 150,000 to the best couple.

GALINA ULANOVA AWARD. A cash prize of RUB 60,000 and a commemorative medal for spirituality of dance.

GEORGE ZORITCH AWARD. A cash prize of RUB 60,000 and a commemorative medal to the best female or male dancers for technical precision and performance artistry.

UNION OF THEARICAL WORKERS OF RUSSIA PRIZE

NATALIA DUDINSKAYA AWARD. A prize established by the couple of Margarita Kullik and Vladimir Kim for the "Fidelity to the Traditions of Russian Ballet School".

ANDREY KIBANOV THEATRICAL MANUFACTORY AWARD

DIAGHILEV HOUSE AWARD “The Promise of Russia”

The monetary payments are received by the winners in rubles with the collected income tax subtracted according to the tax legislation of the Russian Federation.

 

THE JURY RESERVES THE RIGHT:

- not to award all the prizes;

- to divide one prize among the contestants;

- to extend the prize in any of the said nominations, in the event that some prize is not awarded, using the remaining funds.

 

State and public organizations, firms and individuals will be able to grant other special prizes according to their choice and in agreement with the management of the competition. 

 

CONTACT INFORMATION:

Director of the Competition   Elena Zavershinskaya

Тel: +7 (342) 212-71-24

E-mail: arabesque@inbox.ru 

Website: www.arabesque-perm.ru

The Reception of the General Director of Perm Opera and Ballet Theatre:

Тel: +7 (342) 212-54-16