Applications for the 2018 USA International Ballet Competition open soon

11 September 2017

Want to compete in the USA next year?

2014 Bronze Medalist Aaron Smyth and Cara Marie Gary perform "Rendez-Vous," winning the choreographic award for Nicholas Blanc. Photo: Richard Finkelstein.

Applications for the 2018 USA International Ballet Competition (IBC) in Jackson, Missouri, open October 2 2017. The USA ICB is the third oldest ballet competition in the world.

The 2018 competition sees expanded age limits, with the junior division open to ages 14-18 and the senior division 19-28.

Australian-born John Meehan, who danced as a principal with the Australian Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, is 2018 USA IBC jury chairman. Joining him in Jackson June 10-23 will be jurors Nina Ananiashvili, Ashley Wheater, André Lewis, Trinidad Vives, Feng Ying, Xiomara Reyes, Stanton Welch, Marcia Haydee, Hae Shik Kim, and Yuri Fateev.

Coinciding with the two-week competition, the USA International Dance School will offer pre-professional ballet students (ages 12-20) daily classes with renowned teachers. Full competition and dance school information, including online applications, can be found at usaibc.com.