Coromandel Ballerina Vida Polakov Wins Genée Gold

New Zealand ballerina Vida Polakov, 16, has danced her way to gold at the Genée International Ballet Competition, one of the world’s most prestigious classical ballet competitions.

Simply called “the Genée”, the competition, which has been running since 1931, attracts the finest young dancers trained in the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus from around the world. This year, it was held in Antwerp, Belgium.

Polakov’s father Maarten van Es said he was “still shaking” with happiness over his daughter’s achievement.

“I am extremely happy for her, not many girls get to live their dream the way Vida is doing and she has danced in front of Queen Mathilde of Belgium and her daughter, I still find it hard to believe,” Van Es said.

Polakov, who, only two years ago was living in Coroglen and attending Mercury Bay Area School in the Coromandel, is now training fulltime with the Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy in Sydney.

Original article by Jill Cleave, Stuff, October 11, 2014.

Image taken from documentary by Ruth Germon.