In His Honor
This year at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, there was something new. The Edward Stierle Contemporary Showcase gave participants who were eliminated in Round I the opportunity to present contemporary pieces in Rounds II and III.
How did this come about? In 1986, Edward Stierle, an extraordinary young dancer, won the junior gold, but more than that, he won the attention of Robert Joffrey, who put him into his company immediately. Stierle blazed through roles that were dramatic, funny, or supremely classical - and he was a gifted choreographer, as well. Tragically, he died of complications from AIDS in 1991.
In his honor, his parents, Bill and Rose Stierle, along with Karlen Bain, who was executive director of USA IBC in the 1980s, came forward to support a new program that would honor his memory.