The Third international ballet contest “Sara-Nora Prima” just concluded in Burgas. In the 17-28 age category, Sofia Opera ballet dancers Samuel Pedro Pereira and Rumelina Dilcheva won Second place (men) and Third place (women), respectively. Rumelina also received an award from the National opera of Burgas: a tour with a main role performance. The prizes were presented by prof. Alexandar Tekeliev, director of the National opera of Burgas.

Members of the international jury were prima ballerina Marta Petkova: artistic director of the Sofia Opera ballet; premiere lead dancer Nikola Hadzhitanev and prima ballerina prof. Masha Ilieva, Sofia Opera ballet tutor. Marta Petkova presented three prizes: an invitation to join the Sofia Opera ballet troupe with a one-year contract (Shinichiro Ebe, Serbia), a participation in a Sofia Opera performance for Emili Ilieva and a two-weeks long internship at the Sofia Opera for Ela Selin Ozkan (Germany) and Darta Balode (Latvia).

More than 150 ballet dancers from 19 different countries participated in the Third international contest “Sara Nora Prima” and III Sara-Nora Master 2025 International Ballet Academy. The contest is created by Sara-Nora Krasteva: prima ballerina and long year tutor of the Sofia Opera ballet.

We congratulate our awarded ballet dancers and wish them many more successes!