Kozlova International Ballet Competition to Honor Arthur Mitchell

The 7th Annual Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition, rewarding excellence in both classical and modern dance, will take place June 6-10 at Symphony Space, 95th Street and Broadway, NYC.

Semi-finals were held in Posadas, Argentina, September 2016, and March 2017, at the theater of the Hermitage Museum, St. Petersburg, Russia, and NYC will see Competition Rounds, followed by the Finals, announcements of Awards, and Gala Performance, an evening of dances by medalists, guests, and presentation of an award to Arthur Mitchell.

With its commitment to "Preserving the Past, Discovering the Future," and recognizing those who have made major contributions to the world of dance, VKIBC is proud to honor Mr. Mitchell, a breaker of barriers as former principal dancer with New York City Ballet and founder of Dance Theater of Harlem.

Valentina Kozlova, former Principal Dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet and New York City Ballet, founded the Kozlova International Ballet Competition in 2010 with a dedication to creating a positive atmosphere and allowing dancers the opportunity of developing their technique, artistry and understanding of their art. Over 100 talented young dancers from countries around the globe, from Russia to Brazil, will be in New York to dance before Kozlova's remarkable panel of judges. The Competition is held over four days, culminating in an announcement of the prizes, which include medals, monetary awards, scholarships and contracts to companies around the world.

The Competition is divided into four divisions:
Youth ages 11-12
Student ages 13-14
Junior ages 15-17
Senior ages 18-25

SCHEDULE:

Tuesday, June 6
11:15 AM - 12:45 PM - Opening Ceremony followed by Student Round
1 - 3 PM Junior Round
4 - 7:30 PM Senior Round

Wednesday, June 7
12noon - 1:15 PM - Youth Round 1:30 - 2:50 PM Junior Round, Classical and Contemporary
4 - 4:50 PM Senior Classical Round 5 - 6 PM Senior Contemporary

Thursday, June 8 (All Contemporary Dance Day)
2 - 5:15 PM
6:15 - 9:30 PM

Friday, June 9 -FINALS
2:30 - 3:20 PM Student Finals
3:35 - 4:25 PM Junior Finals
4:40 - 6:00 PM Senior Classical Finals
6:15 - 7:15 PM Senior Contemporary Finals

Saturday, June 10
6 - 6:30 PM Awards Presentation
7 PM Gala Performance and Award to Arthur Mitchell

JUDGES for 2017:

ANDRIS LIEPA (Russia) will return as Chairman of the Judges -People's Artist of Russia, former principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, guest with NYCB, ABT

Judges: (in alphabetical order by country)

- NINA MIREILLE BUISSON (France) International contemporary dance choreographer -- CAROLINE LLORCA (France) Specialist in Petipa repertory and Vaganova teaching method
- CHARLES JUDE (France) Former principal dancer of the Paris Opera Ballet, director of the Ballet de l'Opera de Bordeaux since 1996
- NINA ANANIASHVILI (Georgia) Renowned prima ballerina with Bolshoi Ballet, ABT, NYCB, Royal Danish Ballet, and more; currently artistic director of State Ballet of Georgia IVAN CAVALLARI (Italy) Artistic Dirctor, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens
- ALBERTO PRETTO (Italy) Dancer with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, fashion designer/founder of dancewear line Albypretty TURSYNBEK NURALIYEV (Kazakhstan) Artistic Director of Astana Opera AIVARS LEIMANIS (Latvia) Artistic Director of Latvian National Ballet since 1993
- PATRICIA AULESTIA (Mexico) Teacher, researcher, choreographer, founder/director of the National Ballet of Ecuador
- OLGA GUARDIA DE SMOAK (Panama) President of the New Orleans International Ballet Conference, Artistic Advisor to the Ministry of Culture of the Republic of Panama
- NIKOLAI TSISKARIDZE (Russia) Former principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet; currently director of the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg
- SERGEI SOLOVIEV (Russia) Former member of Bolshoi Ballet, since 1997 teacher at Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris
- SUN HEE KIM (South Korea) Professor at Korea National University of Arts/School of Dance
- JEON MI SOOK (South Korea) Faculty of Korea National University of Arts, freelance choreographer
- JELKO YURESHA (United Kingdom) Former principal dancer with English National Ballet (previously London Festival Ballet) VICTORIA MORGAN (USA) Artistic Director of Cincinnati Ballet
- RADENKO PAVLOVICH (USA) Artistic Director of Columbia Classical Ballet, South Carolina
- MARGO SAPPINGTON (USA) Former dancer with Joffrey Ballet, dancer/choreographer of Broadway shows, freelance choreographer
- PETER STARK (USA) Associate Director of Boston Ballet II and Head of Men's Program at the Boston Ballet School

Visit www.vkibc.org for more.