On 23 and 24 May 2026, our young dancers performed at the Golden Bee International Dance Festival-Competition in Geneva and returned to the Academy with three medals: one gold and two silver. Classical ballet, consistent work, and the signature of a school built on excellence.
The Results
Gold Medal — Group Composition: Les Oiseaux
Performed by Eliane Ostrovsky, Natalia Savoretti, Maria Lada-Gola, Éliane Beslac, and Sophia Batrel. The five dancers have trained together at Ballet Academy Vladimir Ippolitov - BAVI - for five years, and rehearsed Les Oiseaux over twelve months of weekly preparation. The piece — a classical ensemble work demanding precise unison, clean lines, and shared musicality — reflects the level of group cohesion the dancers have built together.
Silver Medal — Classical Solo: La Perle
Performed by Maria Lada-Gola, age 10, who has been studying classical ballet for six years — her entire dancing life — all of them at BAVI. La Perle is a demanding classical variation requiring crystalline footwork and a refined upper-body line, qualities Maria has developed through consistent daily training since her very first plié.
Silver Medal — Classical Solo: Variation of Armida
Performed by Natalia Savoretti, age 12, who joined BAVI two years ago and has trained classically with us since. The Variation of Armida calls for both technical authority and dramatic maturity — a rare combination at her age, and a measure of how far focused, serious training can take a dancer in a short time.
A Tribute to Polina Smirnova
The Academy expresses its sincere gratitude to Polina Smirnova, who prepared these three works with the dancers. Her artistic rigour, attention to detail, and care for each student lie at the heart of these results. She is part of the wider pedagogical team at Ballet Academy Vladimir Ippolitov whose combined work ensures that every dancer receives the foundation, the corrections, and the artistic guidance needed to progress year after year. Thank you, Polina.
An International Jury of the Highest Standing
To be evaluated by a jury of this calibre is, in itself, a formation.
The Academy thanks the jury of the Golden Bee Open Stage Edition 2026 for their attentive and demanding gaze:
Kateryna Shalkina — President of the Jury. Former principal dancer of the Béjart Ballet Lausanne for over fifteen years, invited by Maurice Béjart himself in 2003. Trained at the Kiev State Ballet School and the Béjart Rudra School, she has performed on the stages of the Paris Opera, La Scala in Milan, and the Bolshoi Theatre, and was awarded the Étoile au Ballet 2000 prize.
Ornella Capece — Principal dancer of the Grand Théâtre de Genève for nearly ten years, where she performed in more than 400 ballets and contemporary creations under choreographers including Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Jiří Kylián, Benjamin Millepied, and Andonis Foniadakis. Trained at the Hamburg Ballett Schule under John Neumeier.
Gennadi Medved — Former dancer at the Bolshoi Opera and Ballet Theatre of Minsk, the Bolshoi Opera of Warsaw, the Polish Dance Theatre in Poznan, and the Friedrichstadt-Palast Berlin. Graduate of the Belarusian National Ballet School and the Royal Academy of Dance, London.
The Academy also thanks the organising team, Guzel Usmanova Gobet, Founder, and Sabina Meyer, Master of Ceremonies, for delivering a professional-grade competition that gives young dancers in Switzerland a meaningful stage on which to be measured.
To win three medals before such a panel confirms the path our Academy has chosen: demanding pedagogy, refined classical technique, and respect for the tradition of the great Russian and European schools.
Enrolment Open for the Next Season
The progress of these five dancers is the result of consistent work, year after year, on the studio floor — long before any medal. At Ballet Academy Vladimir Ippolitov, every student begins somewhere: the first plié, the first barre, the first variation. With the right support and guidance, every dancer who wishes to step onto the stage can find their place there.
Ballet Academy Vladimir Ippolitov is now open for enrolment for the next season, welcoming dancers of all ages and all levels — from beginners to pre-professional students — who wish to study classical ballet seriously in Geneva.
To discover our programmes and book a trial class, visit www.ballet-academy.ch.
Bravo, Eliane. Bravo, Natalia. Bravo, Maria. Bravo, Éliane. Bravo, Sophia. The Academy is proud of you.
Vladimir Ippolitov
Founder and Artistic Director, Ballet Academy Vladimir Ippolitov Founder and Artistic Director, World Ballet Stars Gala
www.ballet-academy.ch | www.starsballet.ch
Competition: www.golden-bee.ch
Photography: Tomek Gola / Gola.pro
