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Pinoy Abroad
Pinay ballerina wins top prize at Helsinki intl competition
Candice Adea, a principal dancer of Ballet Philippines, won first prize in the senior women’s division of the Helsinki International Ballet Competition, one of the world's most prestigious ballet competitions. 
According to a news release on Ballet Philippines' website, the competition drew 69 dancers from 28 countries, including the United States, China, Japan, Finland, Canada, Italy, and Cuba, among others.
Candice Adea and partner Jean Marc Cordero Photo from Sakari Viika/Ballet.ph
Jean Marc Cordero, also a principal dancer of Ballet Philippines and Adea's partner, was a semi-finalist. He won a Special Jury Award for Best in Pas de Deux Technique (partnering). Ballet Philippines said Adea is the most successful Filipina in international ballet competitions, having the most wins and special prizes. She is the first Filipino to be awarded first prize in a top tier international ballet competition (composed of competitions in Varna, Bulgaria; Jackson, MI, USA; and Moscow, Russia). Adea now joins the list of Filipino ballet dancers who have received international recognition.
The competition’s prizes amount to over 55,000 euros. In addition, the judges may grant one or more choreography prizes, worth a total of 6,000 euros. The jury may also at their discretion award prizes not mentioned in the competition rules.
The Helsinki International Ballet Competition belongs to the cycle of International Ballet Competitions held under the auspices of the Federation of International Ballet Competitions (FIBC) in Jackson, MI (USA), Moscow, Russia, and Varna, Bulgaria.
Multi-awarded ballerina In 2010, Adea won a silver medal at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Michigan, touted as the Olympics of ballet. The following year, she won special awards at the Boston International Ballet Competition (the Maris Liepa award for artistry) and the third prize at the Seoul International Dance Competition. With her partner Cordero, she also won the lead role in a Russian Ballet Performance in Boston.
Coach and mentor
In the recently concluded Helsinki competition, Victor Ursabia, Ballet Philippines’ ballet master and CCP Dance School Director, was the pair’s coach and mentor.
In the finals, Adea performed Diana and Acteon pas de deux with Cordero for classical and Aku (choreographed by Alden Lugnasin) in contemporary. Bloggers raved about the performances of Adea, a crowd favorite.
One blog — “Pointe Til You Drop” — said: “Magical was no other than my early favorite, Candice Adea. Again. She danced her Diana and Actéon variation with such technical purity, exquisite expression and warmth." "I think most of the audience has already fallen in love with her! Adea and her now non-competing partner had also one of the scariest over-head lifts, which had one of my back-stage friends praying for their safety! If Ms. Adea doesn’t place high, I should be very surprised,” the blogger added. - VVP, GMA News
