Medalists at NYIBC Competition
Hosted by Bebe Neuwirth, Broadway/TV star and including a posthumous medal to Fernando Bujones, eight awards were given to the winners of the competition in which 48 dancers from 18 countries participated: Brazil, Japan, China, Dominican Republic, Cuba, USA (10), Korea, Lithuania, Finland, Estonia, Canada, Chinese Taipei, Costa Rica, Venezuela, Paraguay, Philippines, Ukraine and Uzbekistan.
A 2-week learning period for 3 given pas de deuxs, began with an orientation period on June 3. The contestants, 17-24 years of age, took classes with Fabrice Herrault, formerly with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet; Roni Mahler, Artistic Associate of Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley; Washington; Winthrop Corey, director of Mobile Ballet; Deborah Wingert, formerly with New York City Ballet; and Victoria Mazzarelli, formerly with BallettFrankfurt and recipient of the first Gold Medal at NYIBC in 1984. The students showed excellent discipline, concentration and courtesy and were beautifully costumed for their stage performances, of the pas de deuxs and their contemporary choices.
Pas de deuxs for judgement were: "Coppélia," taught and coached by Deborah Wingert; "Divertimento," choreographed and coached by Victoria Mazzarelli; and the "black swan" pas de deux, variations and coda from "Swan Lake," taught and coached by Winthrop Corey. The dancers also performed the contemporary solos they brought with them.
The finals resulted in a Gold Medal for (Ms) Eun Ji Ha (Korea); (no award was made to a male dancer); Silver Medal to (Ms) Na Eun Kim (Korea) and Karina Gonzalez (Venezuela); Silver, to (Mr.) Wu Husheng (China); Bronze, (Ms) Seung-Won Shin (Korea) and (Mr.) Kwi Sub Park (Korea). The Igor Youskevitch Award of a one-year contract with American Ballet Theatre went to (Mr.) Wu Husheng (China). The Lefkowitz Award for Artistic Achievement went to Ricardo Graziano (Brazil), (Mr.) Young-Do Lee (Korea) and (Mr.) Jung Young Jae (Korea).
The 2007 jury was chaired by Valentina Kozlova, president (Director, Ballet Conservatory of NY); Kathryn Bennetts (Director, Royal Ballet of Flanders); Claude Bessy (former Director, Paris Opéra Ballet School); Dinna Bjorn (Director, Finnish National Ballet); Yoko Morishita (Asso. Director, Matsuyama Ballet, Japan); Ashley Page, (Artistic Director, Scottish Ballet); Krysztof Pastor (Resident Choreographer, Dutch National Ballet); Igal Perry (Director, Peridance Company and School) and Mauricio Wainrot (Artistic Director, Ballet Contemporaneo, Argentina).
The NYIBC was founded by Ilona Copen and Igor Youskevitch 24 years ago. Eleanor D'Antuono, former principal dancer with ABT, has been NYIBC's Artistic Director.
According to Jeong-Yeun Yang, Korean Cultural Service NY, the contestants were current students or alumni from the Korean National University of the Arts in Seoul, School of Dance. The school has l00% government support funded by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism with the current visit to NY, privately funded. According to Yang, "Many young Koreans, who are interested in dance and professional dancers, are gaining more popularity, although there aren't enough professional ballet companies that can accommodate the dance students." The school performs in the US every year. For more information, contact www.koreanculture.org.