American Ballet Competition, 2006
What: American Ballet Competition
Where: At New World School of the Arts, Dance Division, Miami
When: June 9-11, 2006
They came from the USA, France, Mexico, Panama and Ecuador, 80 young dancers seeking awards and scholarships. ABC's location in Miami, offered an easier access to candidates from the South as well as the countries south of our border. Founded by Katherine Kersten and Kee Juan Han (North Carolina School of the Arts), just 3 years ago, this competition provides classes under the direction of Gilbert Mayer, former member of the Paris Opéra Ballet. "Our mission," says Kersten "is not only to provide an opportunity to win cash awards or scholarships, we provide access to classes by Mayer, a world-recognized master, and to his coaching."
In addition to cash awards, summer scholarships were offered winners by Interlochen Arts Camp, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Austin Academy, Milwaukee Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet NY, Cincinnati Ballet's Otto M. Budig Academy, Academy of Colorado Ballet, Boston Ballet School, North Carolina School of the Arts, Victor Ullate Ballet in Madrid, Spain, and an academic year scholarship to Purchase College, NY.
Winners and their schools in the three divisions, ages 11-12; 13-15; and 16-19 were: Division I: 1st place female, Emily Orillac (12), from Acadamia de Danza Steps in Panama; best male dancer, Esteban Hernandez (11), Centro de Danza Clasica de Jalisco in Zapopan, Mexico; 2nd place female, Suzi Roberts (12), Costal Dance Centre in Murrells Inlet, SC; 3rd place female, Dawn Gierling (12), Melbourne Ballet Center, Melbourne, FL; Encouragement Award, Arielle Martin, (11), Ballet Academy Central Florida, Orlando; Encouragement Award, Alex Babayev (12), Academy of International Ballet, Media, PA.
Division II: 1st place female: Nora McGinley-Hence (13), Academy of International Ballet, Media, PA; best male dancer, Jeffrey Cirio (15), Art of Classical Ballet, Pompano Beach, FL; 2nd place female, Kaitlyn Potts (15), Dancesensations Dance Center, Alexandria, PA; 3rd place female, Leah Burge (14), Art of Classical Ballet, Pompano Beach, FL; encouragement award: Juliana Saenz (13), International Ballet Academy, Plantation, FL; encouragement award, Gustavo Echevarria (13), Jalisco Centro de Danza Clasica in Zapopan, Mexico; other awards went to: Caitlin Birt, (14), Orlando Ballet School, Orlando, FL; Nathan Chaney (14), Art of Classical Ballet in Pompano Beach, FL; Steven Loch (15), The Ballet Conservatory in Lewisville, TX; and Christopher Revels (14), Orlando Ballet School, Orlando, FL.
Division III: 1st place female: Krista Ellinger (18), Art of Classical Ballet in Pompano Beach, FL; 1st place male: John Mark Giragosian (17), Maryland Youth Ballet, Bethesda, MD; 2nd place female: Shelby Ratchford (16), Orlando Ballet School in Orlando; 2nd place male Rhodes Elliott (17), North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC; 3rd place female, Grace-Anne Powers (16), Art of Classical Ballet in Pompano Beach; 3rd place male, William Moore, Jr., (18), Columbia Ballet School, SC; Alexander McFarlin (17), School of Nashville Ballet, TN; and encouragement award: Caroline Betancourt (16), Miami Conservatory of Ballet, FL.