KOTA KINABALU: Malaysia made ballet history when a Sabahan ballerina won silver in the ballet solo category at Dance World Cup (DWC) 2025 finals in Spain earlier this month.
Ivana Iman Mohammad Ezral became the first Malaysian to break into the top three when the 10-year-old stunned judges with her fun, fresh and graceful moves during the finals held in Burgos, Spain.
She competed against elite dancers from ballet powerhouses such as Germany, Romania, Bulgaria, China and the United Kingdom.
Her mother Dr Natassia Sarah Mohd Danny said Ivana Iman is the first Malaysian to win the second highest prize in the ballet solo category in the DWC finals.
She added that according to a judge, Ivana Iman’s triumph was not just a personal win but a national milestone.
Her silver medal and score of 89.3% was just 0.7% shy of the gold winner from England.
“To see such poise, technical excellence and storytelling at her age, from a country not historically known for classical ballet, is nothing short of extraordinary,” Dr Natassia Sarah recalled the judge as saying.
The DWC, often referred to as the Olympics of youth dance, sees over 120,000 dancers from more than 70 countries competing through rigorous qualifiers, with only the top dancers advancing to the finals.
The classical ballet solo is one of the most competitive categories, judged by former principal dancers and internationally renowned choreographers.
Ivana Iman’s achievement represents a breakthrough for Malaysia in global performing arts and positions her as a rising figure in the international ballet scene, her mother said.
Prior to this, the eldest of four siblings had joined her first international competition at the Dance World Cup 2024 grand finals in Prague, the Czech Republic.
Ivana Iman finished seventh in the soloist (any style ballet) category with a score of 89.4% against competitors from 52 other countries.
Dr Natassia Sarah also paid tribute to her husband and Ivana Iman’s father, Mohammad Ezral Ansari, for being the support system behind their daughter’s victory.
“He is the superhero who juggles all her training and needs,” she added.
She also thanked all the sponsors, including Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor and the Sabah government, Kota Kinabalu MP Datuk Chan Fong Hin and Papar MP Datuk Armizan Mohd Ali for supporting and assisting Ivana Iman’s journey.
"All these sponsors greatly helped with tickets and accommodation to compete in Spain,” she said.
