Candide Adea Tops Ballet Competition

Candice Adea, principal dancer of Ballet Philippines, was the big winner at this year’s Helsinki International Ballet Competition when she scooped the first prize in the Senior Women’s Division.

Her partner, Jean Marc Cordero – another principal dancer of Ballet Philippines – won the Special Jury Award for Best in Pas de Deux Technique. He was also a semi-finalist in the Men’s Senior Division.

The prestigious competition, held at the Helsinki Opera House, attracted 69 dancers from 28 countries including the US, China and Japan.

Elsewhere, the Gloria Grand Prix went to China’s Yun Wang who won seven of the ballet competitions.

Given the high standard of dancing and stiffness of the competition, the Senior Men's category didn't have a First Prize winner - Cuba's Rodrigo Almarales and China's Ruichen Sun shared second place.

Candice Adea and Jean Marc Cordero will next return to the stage in their native Philippines when they appear in Ballet Philippines’ Songs on July 6-8 at the CCP Main Theater. They will premiere a pas de deux by Augustus Damian III.