30 AUSSIE FINALISTS IN NEW YORK!
The final round of the youth America Grand Prix, the world's largest ballet competition, begins today. More than 1000 finalists are now New York, preparing to present their solos and participate in class work and coaching. As is always the case, the organisers have attracted an amazing array of judges and/or talent scouts from all over the world -- more than 60 are listed on the website. (Among them are Lisa Pavane, the artistic director of the Australian Ballet School, Garry Trinder, the AD of the NZ School of Dance and Australian Gary Norman, formerly of the Royal Ballet School.)
The finalists are competing for scholarships and places in international schools and professional companies.
THIRTY young dancers from Australia qualified to compete in the finals. Their names are listed below. Wish them luck and check this website for updates!
SENIOR
BRISBANE
Madison Ayton (senior) Annette Roselli Dance Academy
Abby Morgan (senior) Classical Coaching Australia
Joshua Jack Price (senior) Amanda Bollinger Dance Academy
Thomas Diley (senior) Queensland Ballet Academy
Amy Ronnfeldt (junior) Kimberley Woodger Dance Academy
Lily Carbone (junior) Classical Coaching Australia
Dominie Lythgoe (junior) Classical Coaching Australia
Ella Pukallus (junior) Anne Fraser School of Dance
Alfie Shacklock (junior) The Dance Centre Peregian Springs
Matthew Maxwell (junior) Annette Roselli Dance Academy
Kenzie Bly Andrews (pre-competitive) Beverly Prange Dance Centre and Claudia Dean Coaching
MELBOURNE
Ashlee Crow (senior) Australian Conservatoire of Ballet
Heidi Freeman (senior) KC's School of Dance
Isabella Wager (senior) Jane Moore Academy of Ballet
SYDNEY
Rose Dalton (senior) Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy
Sophie Smith (senior) Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy
Alexandra Walton (senior) The Teresa Johnson Ballet School and Classical Ballet 121
Jessi Seymour (senior) Alegria Dance Studios
Tyla Steinbach T(senior) Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy
Hugo Dumapit (senior) The McDonald College
Alexander Koulos (senior) The McDonald College
Alexander Smith (senior) Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy
Cameron Holmes (senior) Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy
Phoebe Kilminster (junior) Joanne Grance School of Dance
Asia-Rose Blowfield (junior) Mount Eden Ballet Academy, NZ.
Phoebe Anderssen (junior) The Conlan College
Audrey Freeman (junior) Tanya Pearson Classical Coaching Academy
Jordan Micallef (junior) The McDonald College
Tom Soepono (junior) The Dance Spot
Stella Orvad (pre-competitive) Joanne Grance School of Dance
NOTE: Not all these qualifiers took up the offer to compete.