Metropolitan Classical Ballet Press Releases

The winners will proceed to the finals in New York City April 15 - 18th. The closing night gala will be held at New York's City Center on Monday, April 18 at 7:30 p.m. Semi-finalists from Japan, China, and Brazil, as well as from seven other cities in the U.S. will be among the competitors.

Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the only student ballet competition in America, which awards scholarships to the leading dance schools in the U.S. and abroad. The competition is held annually in New York City and is open to dance students of all nationalities 9-19 years old.

This is the first year in which Metropolitan Ballet
Academy students have entered a major ballet competition. Director Yelena Borisova, former soloist with the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet in Russia, was elated. "I am so proud and happy, not only for my students, but for our academy. It is the training by our entire excellent faculty who helped bring the students to their success: Alexander Vetrov, Paul Mejia, Marina Goshko, Maria Kudyakova, Olga Pavlova and Maria Terezia Balogh."

The Metropolitan Ballet Academy faculty will be joined by Marianna Ryzhkina, Bolshoi principal, for the summer intensive program scheduled for July 6 - 30. The program is open to students of all ages. It is not necessary to be a member of the Metropolitan Ballet Academy in order to participate. Class sizes are limited so early registration is recommended.

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Media Note: Further information, interviews and photos may be obtained by contacting Deborah Barr at (817) 465-4644.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 3, 2005

ARLINGTON, Texas - Metropolitan Ballet Academy director, Yelena Borisova, announced today that several students who competed in the Youth American Grand Prix semi-finals in Irving, Texas last weekend were among the top winners. In the senior division classical ballet category, Emma Wheatcroft-Pardue (age 18) won first place, Brittany Bollinger age (18) won third place, and Natasha Ashton (age 17) placed among the top twelve. In the junior division classical ballet category, Amanda Faas (age 14) was the second place winner.

Ms. Pardue's winning performance piece was the variation of Nikiya from La Bayadère, Act II, choreography by Marius Petipa and her teacher was Alexander Vetrov. She also performed Nikiya pas de deux from La Bayadère, Act III, with non-competing partner, Yevgeni Anfinogenov. Ms. Bollinger's winning piece was a variation from Paquita, choreography by Marius Petipa. Ms. Ashton also danced a variation form Paquita. Amanda Faas performed the Aurora variation from Sleeping Beauty, Act. I, choreography by Marius Petipa. Yelena Borisova was the teacher of Ms. Bollinger, Ms. Ashton and Ms. Faas.