A highlight of your Dance School experience is attending the Opening Ceremonies, Awards Gala and nightly classical and contemporary performances of the USA International Ballet Competition.
Dancers from the acclaimed Joffrey Ballet are guest performers in the Gertrude C. Ford Opening Ceremony Sunday, June 10. The ceremony includes the Parade of Nations by USA IBC competitors who represent from 20 to 30 different nations.
Round I, the all-classical round, is June 11-14. Performances spotlight timeless variations such as Paquita, Coppélia, Flames of Paris, Don Quixote Grand Pas de Deux and Esméralda Grand Pas de Deux. Competitors who make the scoring cut proceed to Round II, the contemporary Round.
In Round II semi-finalists perform contemporary choreography they have chosen to showcase their strengths. The three contemporary sessions include evening performances June 16 and 17 and a matinee June 17. Jury scoring determines finalists who proceed to Round III.
In Round III, June 19-21, finalists perform classical variations and contemporary selections that are different from those they have presented in earlier rounds. Variations range from Grand Pas Classique and Raymonda to Le Corsaire Pas de Deux, Medora and the Slave, to Nutcracker Grand Pas de Deux. Jurors determine medalists and other prize winners based on Round III performances and select the pieces that winners will perform at the Awards Gala, Friday, June 22.
Competitors who are eliminated following Rounds I and II have the opportunity to present their contemporary works in the Edward Stierle Contemporary Showcase Monday, June 18, at Belhaven University Center for the Arts. Eliminated competitors also participate in a choreography workshop that culminates in a performance at the Awards Gala.
All of the performances are included in your tuition, giving you a preview of ballet’s rising stars—the next Daniil Simkin, Gisele Bethea, Brooklyn Mack or Nina Ananiashvili. The unique opportunity to see the best as you learn from the best is available to you as a student in the USA IBC Dance School.
