Kozlova's Dance Conservatory's Annual Gala Set for 6/19

On the heels of the Kozlova International Ballet Competition is the Annual Gala of Kozlova's Dance Conservatory, her school located in midtown Manhattan. The young dancers will celebrate both classical and contemporary works at the performance, which will include excerpts from the classics, La Sylphide, La Bayadere, Le Corsair, and others, as well as contemporary dances and an except from Margo Sappington's sassy "For Ella." Friday June 19th at 7 PM at Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway.

The Kozlova Dance Conservatory, founded 13 years ago, maintains a high quality of training and coaching. Moscow native Kozlova was trained at the Bolshoi School and rose to the rank of principal dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet. She defected in Los Angeles while touring with the Bolshoi, wishing to have the opportunity to work with western choreographers. Kozlova subsequently guested with companies around the world, starred in Broadway's "On Your Toes," and joined New York City Ballet as principal dancer, remaining with the Company for 13 years. The Kozlova style of teaching is based on the Vaganova training she received at the Bolshoi with the fleetness of the Balanchine technique.

The evening will feature several medalists from the Kozlova International Ballet Competition, which took place at Symphony Space May 26-30. Nikita Boris and partner Justin Valentine, both dancing for the U.S., will repeat their charming duet from "La Fille Mal Gardee." Nikita, 14 years old, was awarded the Gold Medal in the Classical Student Division and a Silver Medal in the Contemporary Dance Competition. She was also offered a scholarship to the Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts and a Houston Ballet Summer Program 2016 Scholarship. The 16-year old Justin was awarded a Bronze Medal in the Classical Junior Division, a Tulsa Ballet Summer Intensive Scholarship, and a scholarship to the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et Danse in Paris.

Also appearing is Revital Naroditski, from Ashdod Israel, dancing the pas de deux from La Sylphide with Justin Valentine. Revital received a Silver Medal in the Classical Junior Division, a Bronze Medal for her contemporary choreography, a Bronze Medal for her performance in the Contemporary Competition, and a scholarship to the Conservatoire National Superieur de Musique et Danse in Paris.

The dancers joined approximately 180 others from 22 countries around the world to dance for medals, company contracts and scholarships before two distinguished panels - one for classical and one for contemporary - that included Andris Liepa, Nina Ananiashvili, Frank Andersen, Septime Webre, Tracy Inman, Lawrence Rhodes, Sergei Soloviev, Jacqulyn Buglisi, and more.

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