Polina Kadiyska (1989–2012)

 

Aspiring 22-year-old ballet dancer Polina Kadiyska was the victim of a hit-and-run accident in March in Philadelphia, where she had attended The Rock School for Dance Education since 2009. The immensely talented young Bulgarian dancer trained at the National School of Dance Art in Sofia, Bulgaria and received a bronze medal from the “Anastas Petrov,” National Ballet Competition, considered a springboard for new Bulgarian talents. Her awards also include third place in the First International Ballet Competition Baroque Sicily in Italy; finalist, International Dance Festival Ballet, Tanzolimp, Berlin; and first place for Ensemble, Ballet Festival, Fivizzano, Italy.

 

I was pleased to meet her at the Youth America Grand Prix 2009 competition when she was a finalist. She performed with a style and artistry I recognized as a fellow dancer trained in Bulgaria—there is a touch of elegance that makes the dancing pure and true to its style.

 

The competition brought her a scholarship to The Rock School. I was elated to see this tall, beautiful Bulgarian girl so charged with energy and passion, well on her way to following her dreams. A friend of hers whom I spoke to a few days ago remarked that Polina was such a happy girl, alive and always on the go, open-minded and headstrong, with incredible emotion as well as determination and a strong character. She had an improvisational talent that is rare to find in today’s ballet world, and we mourn the loss of such a promising young artist. —Momchil Mladenov

 

 

 

Images Courtesy the Rock School.

 

You can also view videos of Polina on Youtube.

 

La Esmeralda

 

 

An audition video: