Posted: 05 March 2010
Ilona Copen, founder of the New York International Ballet Competition and Past President of the International Dance Committee of the International Theatre Institute and President Emeritus, died in February.
Neville Shulman, CBE President of the International Dance Committee of International Theatre Institute Founder of the Award for Excellence in Dance for the British Centre of ITI, said:
"Ilona was completely devoted to dance and to dancers and had very many friends and colleagues throughout the world who will share in our loss. Ilona was the Founder and guiding spirit of the New York International Ballet Competition and many young dancers and choreographers owe their start in the dance world to her guidance and inspiration. Ilona was strong minded, feisty in the best sense and was always prepared to tackle anything and anyone if that would further the cause of dance. I was lucky to be a good friend and colleague and we worked well toge ther. She was a great lady of dance and will be greatly missed."
Jack Anderson details the highlights of Ilona's working life,
"Ms. Copen was president of the International Dance Committee of the International Theater Institute from 1995 to 2008; she organized the closing ceremony of its 30th World Congress in Tampico, Mexico, in 2004, and produced four celebrations of International Dance Day for Unesco in Paris." New York Times, 22 Feb.10
