Teen dancers descend on Massachusetts to compete within the ‘American Idol’ of ballet
Arts
Greater than 400 younger ballet dancers from the Northeast gathered in Massachusetts with the hopes of successful a prestigious scholarship on the Youth America Grand Prix auditions.
WORCESTER, Mass. (AP) — Some would possibly name it the “American Idol” of ballet dancing.
Greater than 400 younger ballet dancers from the Northeast gathered in Massachusetts with the hopes of successful a prestigious scholarship on the Youth America Grand Prix auditions. The four-day competitors at a historic theater in Worcester, Massachusetts, can be one of many locations the place future ballet stars are scouted and go on to carry out on the American Ballet Theatre, the Paris Opera Ballet and the New York Metropolis Ballet.
“I like performing for individuals and changing into like a personality after I dance,” mentioned Karli Wilkinson, a 15-year-old from Dighton, Massachusetts, who was warming up beneath the watchful eye of her mom, Ashley Wilkinson. Her make-up and brown costume was meant to evoke a desert theme from one other planet since her efficiency can be to the music from the film “Dune.”
“I don’t actually take into consideration how many individuals are within the viewers,” she added. “I don’t get too nervous. I principally get excited.”
Wearing colourful outfits and their hair usually tied in buns, the dancers ages 9 to 19 mingled about as they waited to take the stage. One after one other in rapid-fire succession, they had been known as out by their quantity and carried out solos lasting a number of minutes.
“It’s superb to see all of the arduous work that these children do. Dance is commonly considered a sport that possibly is mild. However these children work so, so arduous each day, placing in 20, 30 hours per week,”mentioned Ana Canelos, of North Falmouth. She known as it a “magnificent” alternative to see her 16-year-old and 10-year-old daughters carry out together with others.
“To compete with simply the caliber of people who’re right here, it’s superb,” she added.
Organizers mentioned about 1,200 dancers will likely be chosen from the 32 auditions held within the U.S. and the 14 worldwide to compete within the finals in April in Tampa, Florida. Hundreds of scholarships will likely be provided on the auditions and likewise the finals. The scholarships present alternatives for short-term, summer time, or year-round examine at main dance faculties and packages worldwide.
“It’s an unbelievable alternative for these dancers to be seen by the administrators of faculties and firms in the united statesand overseas,” mentioned Racheal Nye, the director of faculty and studio firm on the Oklahoma Metropolis Ballet.
Over the previous 25 years, Youth America Grand Prix has awarded $5 million in scholarships to the world’s main dance faculties, with about $450,000 now given out annually.
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