|
|
|
||
|
||||
RCB News – Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Leverett and RCB dancers take top honors at International Competition ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Jamey Leverett, artistic director Rochester City Ballet (RCB), and RCB dancers Jim Nowakowski and Brittany Shinay took home top honors yesterday at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Finals in New York City. They were among 650 dancers representing more than 150 ballet schools that spanned 20 countries and six continents. Leverett, Nowakowski and Shinay represented the Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance Education, the official training school of RCB. Out of more than 300 teachers from around the world including Japan, China, Greece, and South Africa, Leverett, of Webster, was awarded Most Outstanding Teacher, presented by Dance Magazine. Jim Nowakowski, of Webster, was awarded Gold Medal first place honors in the senior men division. Nowakowski and Shinay, of Pittsford, also took home Gold Medal first place honors in the small ensemble division for their ensemble piece Symbion, choreographed by Leverett. “We are ecstatic!” said Kathy Ertsgaard, executive director
for both RCB and the Draper Center for Dance Education. “To receive
these outstanding international awards is such an extreme honor and is
truly a testament to the exceptional talent that we have within the Rochester
City Ballet and the Draper Center for Dance Education.” Shinay performed her contemporary solo, Kissing You, and a classical variation solo from the ballet Raymonda. She also advanced to the senior women division finals out of 92 competitors. Rochester City Ballet dancers Jordan Drew, of Penfield, and Gabriel Davidsson, of Brighton, also received high honors at the Regional Semi-Finals and traveled to NYC to represent the Draper Center for Dance Education and performed in the YAGP Finals this past weekend as well. For more information visit www.yagp.org. The Rochester City Ballet (RCB), founded in 1987, is a non-profit, educational corporation. The company presents a full season of quality dance to diverse audiences and helps keep the arts alive by presenting performances to educate and entertain adults and children at community events and special RCB performances. The RCB has created at least 20 new ballets including Firebird, Don Quixote, Cinderella and the annual Nutcracker. FOR MORE INFORMATION Contact: ###
|
