FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, January 21, 2019
Contact: Christina Fanney
Email: office@ibacary.com
Phone: 919-303-7200
CARY, NORTH CAROLINA: Parker Garrison, a student at International Ballet Academy (IBA) in Cary, NC has been selected to compete at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne ballet competition. Garrison, a 15-year-old dancer who has trained in classical ballet at IBA since he was 10-years-old, will travel to Lausanne, Switzerland to compete February 3-10, 2019. IBA faculty member Nadia Pavlenko will accompany Garrison and support him at the competition.
The Prix de Lausanne is an international competition open to young dancers of all nationalities aged 15 to 18 who are not yet professionals. This year there were 363 applicants and 80 were selected or invited to compete. Only eight dancers were accepted from the United States, including only three boys. Garrison was the only American boy who received an invitation to the Prix de Lausanne based on his performance at the 2018 Youth America Grand Prix New York Finals.
Prix de Lausanne’s mission is to reveal the potential of exceptionally talented young dancers from around the globe by having them perform before a jury of world-renowned dance personalities. Dancers are judged by a jury of nine internationally renowned dance personalities, representing different countries and a broad palette of ballet styles. Twenty candidates will reach the finals and between six and eight of the winners are awarded scholarships or apprenticeships by one of the Prix de Lausanne partner schools. All candidates take part in an audition class viewed by school and company directors, exposing them to a wide array of potential opportunities. More information about the Prix de Lausanne can be found on their website: https://www.prixdelausanne.org/.
In addition to Pavlenko, IBA faculty members Maxim Ponomarenko and Rossana Gahagan have been preparing Parker for the competition since September 2018. The preparation required for a competition of this calibre is extensive, requiring Parker to take ballet technique classes twice a day in addition to rehearsals of the required classical and contemporary solos he will perform in Lausanne. Garrison trains six days a week and has persisted through this challenging schedule, despite recovering from an injury that required surgery in November.
IBA studio director Christina de Matteis Fannéy says, “We are very proud to have Parker represent International Ballet Academy at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne. That Parker is the first student from the Triangle area to be selected for the Prix de Lausanne is a testament to his work ethic, dedication, and perseverance, and to the quality of training we provide at International Ballet Academy.”
About International Ballet Academy
International Ballet Academy (IBA), is a professionally established ballet academy dedicated to providing exceptional instruction in ballet technique, pointe, partnering, variations, men’s class, jazz, pilates, and pre-school dance.
Under the artistic direction of our faculty, IBA’s mission is to produce high caliber dancers that will be prepared to tackle the stylistic complexities of the repertoire of the ballet companies of the 21st Century. From the Children’s Division to the Pre-Professional, students at IBA will discover a nurturing environment that will contribute to their development and ability to succeed both inside and outside the dance studio.
At International Ballet Academy, each student will be surrounded by opportunities for artistic expression and will be valued as an individual with unique artistic potential and talent.
Visit IBA online: https://ibacary.com/