Semi-finalists named for USA International Ballet Competition. See who they are
USA International Ballet Competition Jury Chairman John Meehan along with Co-Chair Lauren Anderson, and Executive Director Mona Nicholas announced the names of semi-finalists Wednesday who have been chosen to advance to Round II of the competition beginning Thursday, June 15.
Round II will feature contemporary choreography during three sessions continuing through Saturday.
Approximately half of the competitors were chosen by jurors from a total of 99 dancers from 16 countries who performed in the Round I classical performances. “We were able to select almost exactly half of the competitors from Round I, but we had to stay up late to do it,” Anderson said during an 8:30 a.m. Wednesday called press conference at the Arts Center of Mississippi.
The eliminated competitors will still have the opportunity to perform their contemporary dances during a special presentation at the Belhaven University Center for the Arts on Riverside Drive, at 2 p.m. Saturday, June 17. Meehan said this event is “very unique” for Jackson’s USA IBC Competition. “That doesn’t happen anywhere else,” he said.
“It is very exciting to come to a competition this big and actually feel very safe,” Anderson added. She said the event can be scary for competitors from other countries because, “You are competing against the top in the world.” But she praised everyone in Jackson for being “very warm” and taking good care of the dancers.
Nicholas said that visitors from 21 nations are attending the event, which concludes Saturday, June 24. Finalists will be announced Sunday, June 18, with Round III taking place June 19-21. Medalists and other winners will be revealed at the Awards Gala Friday, June 23, and perform the repertoire selections of the jurors. The two-week competition concludes Saturday, June 24, with the C Spire Encore Gala of performances by medalists.
Full USA IBC Schedule: Full schedule for USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson June 10-24. See details
Advancing to Round II are semi-finalists:
Junior Females:
No. 3 Isabella Howard, United States;
No. 6 Claire Wessells, United States;
No. 12 Mengxuan Yan, China;
No. 14 Tessa Rivadulla, United States;
No. 18 Kallie Green, United States;
No. 19 Isabella Meier, United States;
No. 20 Melanie McIntire, United States;
No. 21 Giovanna Gomes, Brazil;
No. 22 Anya Donaghy, United States;
No.24 Kennedy Kahler, United States;
No. 26 Miharu Kikuchi, Japan;
No. 28 Julie Joyner, United States.
Junior Males:
No. 31 Ethan Maas, United States;
No .33 Max Berg, United States;
No. 35 Corbin Holloway, United States;
No. 37 Alexei Orohovosky, United States;
No. 38 Zihan Kong, China;
No. 39 Parker Rozzano-Keefe, United States;
No. 41 Simon Tischler, United States;
No. 43 Kangwon Lee, Republic of Korea;
No. 44 Pavel Kulev, United States;
No. 46 Zander Magolnick, United States;
No. 49 Leonidas Adarmes, United States
Senior Females
No. 51 Yunju Lee, Republic of Korea;
No. 52 Yuiko Honda, Japan;
No. 55 Ahn Eugine, Republic of Korea;
No. 56 Yeonsoo Kim, Republic of Korea;
No. 57 Minjoo Kim, Republic of Korea;
No. 58 Nao Nokubo, Japan;
No. 60 Rieko Hatato, Japan;
No. 61 Ayumi Akao, Japan;
No. 64 Hyunsea Kim, Republic of Korea;
No. 68 Larissa Luna, Brazil;
No. 71 Sayako Toku, Japan;
No. 72 Minami Higashikawa, Japan;
No. 75 Sumi Ichikawa, United States;
No. 77 Xinyue Zhao, China
Senior Males
No. 78 Alejandro Gonzalez, Venezuela;
No. 79 Miguel Wansing Lorrio, Germany;
No. 80 Seyong Kim, Republic of Korea;
No. 81 Taeheyon Lee, Republic of Korea;
No. 82 Kwon Dohyun, Republic of Korea;
No. 93 John Abenanty, United States;
No. 96 Ryo Sasaki, Japan;
No. 98 Munkhjin Ulziijargal, Mongolia;
No. 102 Chongzheng Guan, China;
No. 104 Nicholas Patterson, United States;
No. 105 Aapo Kokkonen, Japan;
No. 107 Keita Fujishima, Japan;
No. 109 Yuval Cohen, Israel
The USA IBC is a quadrennial Olympic-style ballet competition in which top dancers vie for gold, silver and bronze medals; cash awards; company contracts; and scholarships.
The event is designated as the official international ballet competition in the United States by a Joint Resolution of Congress. Presented under the auspices of the International Dance Committee, International Theatre Institute of UNESCO, the USA IBC is held every four years in Jackson, in the tradition of sister competitions in Varna, Bulgaria; Helsinki, Finland; and Moscow, Russia.
Thursday, June 15 – Saturday, June 17, 7:30 p.m. daily
Thalia Mara Hall $25 - $35
Semi-finalists return to the stage to demonstrate their artistry and athleticism as they present a contemporary piece and vie for a coveted spot in the finals.
Edward Stierle Contemporary Showcase
Saturday, June 17, 2 p.m.
Belhaven University Center for the Arts (Riverside Drive) $15
This performance showcases the contemporary repertoires and talents of the competitors eliminated after the classical first round.
Round III - Classical and Contemporary
Monday, June 19 – Wednesday, June 21, 7:30 p.m. daily
Thalia Mara Hall $35 - $55 Finalists perform new classical and contemporary pieces with the goal of being awarded a medal and cash prizes.
Awards Gala
Friday, June 23, 7:30 p.m.
Thalia Mara Hall $55
Featuring music by the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, the Awards Gala is the highly anticipated presentation of awards and medals. Audience members will enjoy Jury-selected performances by the winners.
Entergy Grand Prix Ball
Friday, June 23, 10 p.m.
Jackson Convention Complex $100
Join us after the Awards Ceremony at the Jackson Convention Complex for the Grand Prix Ball to celebrate the dancers’ accomplishments while dancing to the soulful sounds of The Chill.
C Spire Encore GalaSaturday, June 24, 7:30 p.m.
Thalia Mara Hall $20 - $65
This article originally appeared on Mississippi Clarion Ledger: Semi-finalists named for USA International Ballet Competition Jackson MS
