"Ak-Kuu - 2012" international dance competition kicked off in the National Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet here on Tuesday.

According to the director-choreographer of opera and ballet theater Maldybaeva Sydykov, the competition involved children aged 8 to 16 years old from Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Russia, Turkey and Uzbekistan. In total, the festival will be attended by more than 80 dancers.

"The main purpose of the competition is to strengthen cultural relations with other countries. As a result of the contest winners will be awarded the Grand Prix of them. Six prizes will be provided to categories of classical and folk dances," Sydykov said.

He also stressed that members of the Kyrgyz Republic have a good chance of winning.

"Ballet in Kyrgyzstan is not so strong as in the Soviet Union, but our dancers from the middle group have good performance and can win prizes," said the choreographer.

As the representative of the School of Russian Ballet Vaganova Academic Maria Gribanova, kyrgyzskih Ballet she sees is not the first time and already love the setting in their performance. "I saw the contest in Kyrgyzstan in Almaty and I really enjoyed it. Today I have the best expectations for this contest. Now of course too early to talk about favorites, but I think that Kyrgyzstan has all chances to be among them," Gribanova said.

The competition will have four rounds, which will end on Friday.

The event is held under the auspices of the Office of the President of Kyrgyzstan, in cooperation with the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Bishkek choreographic School.