Orlando Ballet School students recently returned with an impressive list of awards from two international dance competitions: the American Dance Competition in Daytona Beach, Fla. and the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Finals in New York, NY. The Orlando Ballet School itself received special award recognition as the “Outstanding School of the Decade” at the American Dance Competition, a leading youth scholarship ballet competition.
“As the Director of Orlando Ballet School, I am very grateful to have our team receive the Ten Years of Excellence–School of the Decade recognition from American Dance Competition,” said Dierdre Miles Burger. She continued, “At Orlando Ballet School we are fortunate to have the most knowledgeable, dedicated, and nurturing ballet faculty and staff. Their care, along with the diligence of our students, has resulted in consistent good work and we are thrilled to be honored in this way.”
American Dance Competition Award Winners
Alexis Workowski
4th Place, Pre-Competitive
Chloe Misseldine
2nd Place, Junior Women Classical
Angelina Broad
3rd Place, Junior Women Classical
3rd Place, Junior Women Contemporary
Cara Berl
4th Place, Senior Women Classical
Valentin Batista
1st Place, Senior Men Classical
4th Place, Senior Men Contemporary
Cooper Everson
5th Place, Senior Men Contemporary
Kethleen Mazza
Jury Recognition for Outstanding Work
in Round 1 (Classroom Round)
Top 25% placements in their age categories:
Sarah Pfeiffer, Phoenix Elmer, Natalia Sanchez, Grace Shoemaker, Emma Wilck,
Vania Valdez, Kethleen Mazza, Emily McAllister, Jaslyn Peralta
Youth American Grand Prix Finals
Seven of the 12 Orlando Ballet School students who qualified competed in the Youth America Grand Prix Finals, the world’s largest global network of dance, in New York, NY. Narrowed down from 8,000 students worldwide, Orlando Ballet School students had a solid showing amongst the field of 600 who competed in New York. Five soloists and one Pas De Deux couple included: Shayna Mayes, Gabrielle Vogel, Bella Kirby, Eliana Vogel, Phoenix Elmer, Maggie Chadbourne and Boris Ceballos.
Orlando Ballet School Recognitions
Maggie Chadbourne (14) and Boris Ceballos (18) placed 3rd in the contemporary Pas De Deux category with their piece Within choreographed by Orlando Ballet Company’s Telmo Moreiro.
Bella Kirby (junior category) and Eliana Vogel (senior category) placed in the top 20% and were selected to compete in the final round presented at Brooklyn Academy of Music.
Shayna Mayes placed in the top 12 in the pre-competitive division.
