Ballet Competitions: American
American competitions fulfill an important role in requiring potential enrollees to prepare a variation for a definite deadline. Although scholarships and cash grants are important, the interaction with other contestants, the classes offered by the competitions and the showcase performances by the contestants, are just as valuable. On the personal level, contestants learn the value of facing their performing fears and anxieties. Whatever the cost for travel, entrance fee or costume, the event is worthwhile.
Most important, the contestant, parents and teacher should not place too much emphasis on the outcome or evaluation of the student. Remember that the result is based upon the level of the competition and the other entrants and is no guarantee of future professional employment. Juries and judges can be mistaken in rejecting or awarding contestants. As in an audition, the award of a scholarship, apprenticeship or contract comes from the intuition, experience and sometimes, the fantasy, of the judge. None of those reasons should deter a young dancer from entering a competition, nor should losing signal the absence of talent (some dancers are late bloomers), nor should parents accept the result as a signal to withdraw support for classes or assume a career can be assured from the result. With all this in mind, competing is still an important milestone in a student's life.
Some of the more important American trials are: Youth America Grand Prix (YGAP, held in New York City) awards annual scholarships to students 6-19 years old to schools abroad and in the U.S. Early trials are held within the country and in South America. Contact: http://www.yagp.org.
New York International Ballet Competition will take place June 4-24, 2007. The first two weeks are in-house preparation, with finals in a public competition, June 20-24, 2007 at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center. Deadline for submissions is June 17, 2007. Contact: http://www.nyibc.org.
Oldest competition, begun in 1979, the USA International Ballet Competition, takes place every four years in Jackson, Mississippi. Deadline is February 3, 2006 for June, 2007 competition. The Jackson competition offers medals and summer scholarships. A 2-week school with classes in technique, pointe, variations, jazz and modern dance attracts many students. Apply for school program and more information: http://www.usaibc.com.
The newest competition, the third American Ballet Competition, will take place in June in Miami, Florida, at the New World School of the Arts. ABC gives cash awards and scholarships to American and European institutions and offers master classes with a distinguished faculty. ABC plans to offer this competition in other American cities. Contact: http://www.americanballetcompetition.com or e-mail: ABCompetition@aol.com.