Washington School of Ballet Pronounced Best School at World's Largest Student Dance Competition

By: Mar. 03, 2015
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WASHINGTON, D.C. - The Washington School of Ballet teachers and students competed against hundreds of participants in the regionals of the world's largest international student dance competition held in Pittsburg, February 13-15. TWSB won 'Best School', an honor reflecting numerous individual competition winners. The distinction is one that TWSB has received in past years at regionals. The school's Director, Kee Juan Han, won 'Outstanding Teacher'- an honor awarded to an instructor whose students show excellent training and consistent quality in execution. The mission of The Washington Ballet includes growing the next generation of dancers through its school, The Washington School of Ballet. "We're proud of the accomplishments of our students and we are honored to have received this recognition at YAGP regionals," says Managing Director, Arthur Espinoza, Jr.

Students from the school also earned several citations. Stefan Goncalvez took home Senior Grand Prix -awarded to the overall best performer for classical and contemporary dance in the Senior Division.

The following students were also awarded:

Senior Men, Classical Division, First: Lang Ma (Alan)
Senior Women, Classical Division, First: Ao Wang
Senior Women, Classical Division, Second: Wendy Guo
Junior Women, Classical Division, Second, Level 7: Emily Hester
First Place, Pas De Deux Division, Grand Pas Classique: Lang Ma (Alan) and Ao Wang Second Place, Division Le Corsaire: Wendy Guo and Stefan Goncalvez

Top 12, Junior Classical Division, Level 7: Katie Lee ranked
Top 12, Senior Classical Division: Brianna Sosa (level 7), Kelly Williams, Yuka Yamamoto, Ayumi Miyazaki and Kanjin Ota
Top 24, Senior Women Division: Maya Harr
Best Ensemble Piece - Choreographed by Mimmo Miccolis?

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The Washington School of Ballet has qualified to compete in the finals at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York City April 10-15.

About The Washington Ballet

Originally founded as The Washington School of Ballet in 1944 by legendary ballet pioneer Mary Day and incorporated as a professional company in 1976, The Washington Ballet (TWB) is one of the pre-eminent ballet organizations in the United States. TWB built an international reputation presenting bold works by choreographers from around the world, including Choo-San Goh, Christopher Wheeldon, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp and Nacho Duato, as well as Neoclassical masterworks and fresh staging of 19th century classics. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Septime Webre and Executive Director Peter M. Branch, TWB has embraced a three-part mission: ensuring excellence in its professional performance company; growing the next generation of dancers through its Washington School of Ballet; and serving the community in which it resides through robust community engagement programs. For more information, visit www.washingtonballet.org.

About the Youth America Grand Prix: YAGP is the world's largest and one of the most prestigious international student dance competitions, awarding $250,000 in scholarships each year to dance schools within the United States and internationally. It includes ballet and contemporary dance styles of performance and is open to dance students 8-19 years old. YAGP's mission is to support and develop world-class dancers of all ethnic, economic, and geographic backgrounds by providing scholarship auditions and educational and performance opportunities, and serving as the global network of dance, connecting students, teachers, schools, dancers, dance companies and audiences.

About The Washington School of Ballet: Co-founded in 1944 by the late Mary Day and Lisa Gardiner, The Washington School of Ballet (TWSB) is recognized nationally and internationally for its classical training and dedication to excellence in dance and dance education. The school trains more than 700 students each year at its Northwest Campus studios on Wisconsin Avenue, Northwest and an additional 350 students at its Southeast Campus housed at The Town Hall Education, Arts and Recreation Center (THEARC). The Athenaeum in Alexandria, Virginia, provides a third campus for the school, serving 50 more young students.

The Washington School of Ballet curriculum includes pre-ballet, boys' classes, and a graded program for children through young adulthood, many of whom wish to pursue dance as a career. The school also offers a Professional Training Program that brings together especially talented students from around the world for intensive training under The Washington School of Ballet's renowned faculty. All three campuses share a syllabus, formulated by School Director Kee Juan Han, to ensure the same high caliber training at each location. Both the Northwest and Southeast campuses also offer comprehensive adult programs.

For more information, visit www.washingtonballet.org.



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