One of the greatest dancers in the world, Ukrainian Vladimir Malakhov, is presiding over the first International North Atlantic Dance Competition underway in the eastern city of Holguín with the participation of Latin American and Caribbean dancers.

The world star will present the competition’s best dancer, whether he or she is a classical, neoclassical or contemporary dancer, with the Vladimir Malakhov Grand Prix and one thousand Euros. Participants from Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia and Cuba are competing for the coveted award and also for a Grand Prix of Choreography, granted by Maricel Godoy, director of the Holguín based company Codanza, which will include the winning piece in its repertoire. As part of the event, Malakhov gave a master class on choreographic creation and dance technique over the weekend.

Malakhov was trained at the Bolshoi Ballet School, was a star with the American Ballet Theater in the United States, and directed the Berlin Opera Ballet in Germany until recently. The world dance star performed in Cuba for the first time at Havana’s International Ballet Festival in 2010, and decided to return to the island to give his art. A year ago he kept his promise which he is now extending to benefit Latin American and Caribbean dance.