June 30, 2006

Dreams were fulfilled and careers were launched as the USA International Ballet Competition came to a close during its last round of competition with more than 20 dancers receiving medals, scholarships, contracts and cash awards. Award winners are listed below.

SENIOR DIVISION

Men's Gold Medal - Daniil Simkin, Germany
Also the winner of a custom tunic from Tutus Divine

Women's Gold Medal - Misa Kuranaga, Japan
Also the winner of a custom tutu from Tutu.Com

Men's Silver Medal - Brooklyn Mack, USA

Women's Silver Medal - Jurgita Dronina, Lithuania

Men's Bronze Medal - Joseph Gatti, USA, and Masayoshi Onuki, Japan

Women's Bronze Medal - Yui Yonezawa, Japan

Best Couple - Davit Karapetyan, Armenia, and Vanessa Zahorian (NCP)

JUNIOR DIVISION

Men's Gold Medal - Isaac Hernandez, Mexico
Also the winner of a custom tunic from Tutus Divine

Men's Silver Medal - Denys Cherevychko, Ukraine

Women's Silver Medal - Sae-Eun Park, South Korea
Also the winner of a custom tutu from Tutu.Com

Men's Bronze Medal - Jeffrey Cirio, USA

Women's Bronze Medal - Kayo Sasabe, Japan, and Christine Shevchenko, USA

Best Couple - Mathias Dingman, USA, and Sasha De Sola, USA

SPECIAL AWARDS

Choreography Award - Ben Iida for "September"

Robert Joffrey Award of Merit - Marija Kicevska, Macedonia

Jury Award of Encouragement
Male: Ryo Izawa (Junior, Japan) and Zherlin Ndudi (Senior, Ukraine)
Female: Francesca Dugarte (Junior, Venezuela) and Caitlin Valentine (Senior, USA)

Ballet International Award - Isaac Hernandez, Mexico

The Heinz Bosl-Ballet Foundation “Great Hope Prize 2006” - Toshiro M. Abbley, USA

Two one-season contracts to Miami City Ballet were presented to Elena Kazakova (junior female, Russia) and Carolyn Rose Ramsay (senior female, Canada).

Two one-season contracts to Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley were presented to Yui Yonezawa (senior female, Japan) and Amy Marie Briones (junior female, USA).

The Peggy Mize Fund for the IBC presented every finalist in Round III with a cash award of $700 to help defray travel expenses. These awards were offered through the Community Foundation of Greater Jackson, and the fund is named in honor of the late Peggy Mize of Jackson.

“With every USA IBC, we see an intense level of skill and artistry among dancers,” said Sue Lobrano, executive director, USA IBC. “We’re known for setting the benchmark for world-class competition, and our international jury did a great job selecting winners for 2006.”

To celebrate the presentation of the USA IBC honors, the BellSouth Awards Gala will be held Saturday, July 1 at 7 p.m. This event will be followed by the Capezio Encore Gala, a performance featuring the medal winners on Sunday, July 2 at 7:30 p.m.

“By competing in the USA IBC, many of these dancers will launch successful careers on the path to fulfilling their dreams,” said Bruce Marks, USA IBC jury chairman. “Whether or not dancers go away with a medal, we truly believe that the process is the prize at the Jackson competition.”