Kirov Academy in Washington Tapped for Outstanding School Award
Runqiao Du Lauded as Outstanding Choreographer
Washington, DC –
The Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) organization has awarded 10 dancers and its chief choreographer at the Kirov Academy in Washington with prestigious awards, Kirov Academy announced on Wednesday. The dance competition was held in New York City (SUNY Purchase) from February 17th to 18th.
“I am pleased to share the results of the Kirov Academy today. We returned 10 days ago from Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), one of the most prestigious international ballet competitions in the world, with so many victories,” says Pamela Gonzales de Cordova Kirov Executive Director.
“After an incredible year of seeing these students work their hearts out, we won the following awards, she said:
- OUTSTANDING SCHOOL AWARD – Mr. Runqiao Du, Mme. Marianna Rozanova, Mme. Valeriia Ivlieva, Mr. Vladimir Djouloukhadze;
2. OUTSTANDING CHOREOGRAPHER AWARD – Mr. Runqiao Du;
3. GRAND PRIX AWARD – Ha Nhi Tran (one of the highest awards for a ballet dancer);
4. 1ST PLACE IN ENSEMBLE – Nora Yun Schaefer, Kimberly Weng, Ava Joseph, Clare Tan, Andrea, Sandoval, Christine Tsao, Emily Stephens, Ariel Keung, Tiffany Son, Zoe Loo, Kasumi, Nunomura, Lilly Higginbotham, Stephanie Drenckhahn Alvarado, Sadie Sanson, Isabella Becchi;
5. 2ND PLACE IN PAS DE DEUX – Alexander Nicolosi and Hanhi Tran;
6. 3RD PLACE SENIOR AGE DIVISION CLASSICAL CATEGORY – Garrett Frierson;
7. 1ST PLACE IN JUNIOR AGE DIVISION CLASSICAL CATEGORY – Zoe Loo;
8. 2ND PLACE IN JUNIOR AGE DIVISION CONTEMPORARY CATEGORY – Zoe Loo;
9. 2ND PLACE IN PRE-COMPETITIVE AGE DIVISION CONTEMPORARY CATEGORY – Yui Hayashi;
10 TOP 12TH PLACE IN PRE-COMPETITIVE AGE DIVISION CLASSICAL CATEGORY – Yui Hayashi.
“Some of these students will enter the YAPG finals competition in April. We are soliciting donations to assist them in traveling to New York, hotel expenses and food, and we would be most grateful if friends of Kirov could help these students go to the finals,” Ms. Cordova says.
“As you might know, YAGP is the ‘Harvard of ballet,’ and if our kids win this, we’ve won the Olympics,” according to Tatiana Moon, President and Chair of Kirov Academy.
Youth America Grand Prix is the world’s largest global network of dance. It fulfills its mission of dance education through scholarship auditions, master classes, alumni services, educational and outreach activities, performances and films.
