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Celebrating Talent, Passion, and Legacy: Highlights from Youth Ballet Competitions, Casanova, and the Loss of Lynne Taylor-Corbett

Ready to see what you missed in the world of ballet this week?


First, over 400 young dancers recently gathered in Worcester to compete for scholarships and career-launching opportunities with renowned companies, marking 25 years of the prestigious competition. Meanwhile, Colorado Ballet brings the sensual story of Casanova to life with Kenneth Tindall’s choreography and Kerry Muzzey’s evocative score, immersing audiences in the passion and intrigue of 18th-century Venice. Amid these dynamic events, the dance community mourns the passing of Lynne Taylor-Corbett, the Tony nominated choreographer and director known for her emotionally resonant works that bridged ballet and Broadway, leaving an indelible mark on the art form.


Ready to step out onto the stage? All you have to do is scroll!

 
Dancer Ethan Ross performs at the Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at the Hanover Theater in Worcester, Mass. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty via Boston.com
Dancer Ethan Ross performs at the Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition, Friday, Jan. 17, 2025, at the Hanover Theater in Worcester, Mass. AP Photo/Robert F. Bukaty via Boston.com

More than 400 young ballet dancers from the Northeast gathered in Worcester, Massachusetts, for the Youth America Grand Prix, a prestigious competition offering scholarships and opportunities to perform with renowned ballet companies like the American Ballet Theatre and the Paris Opera Ballet. Over its 25-year history, the competition has awarded $5 million in scholarships, with judges and directors scouting future stars from a global pool of talented dancers.

 
Photo Credit: eyeonannapolis.net
Photo Credit: eyeonannapolis.net

The Ballet Theatre of Maryland and Full Circle Dance Company will premiere Ground and Sky, a collaborative performance blending ballet, modern dance, and live improvisational music, on February 2, 2025, at the Gordon Center for the Performing Arts in Owings Mills, Maryland. Featuring professional and student dancers alongside live musicians, the production explores themes of gravity and flight, celebrating artistic innovation and community collaboration.

 
Photo Credit: Colorado Ballet
Photo Credit: Colorado Ballet

Colorado Ballet’s production of Casanova, running January 31–February 9 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, offers dancers a chance to portray real historical figures, including the titular Venetian playboy, in an earthy and sensual story set in 18th-century Venice. Featuring choreography by Kenneth Tindall and music by Kerry Muzzey, the ballet explores Casanova’s adventurous life with elaborate costumes, risqué themes, and emotionally charged performances that highlight the dancers' versatility and depth.

 
The choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett at a rehearsal for her New York Ballet production of “Seven Deadly Sins” in 2011. In addition to working in ballet, she choreographed for Broadway and Hollywood. Credit: Andrea Mohin/The New York Times
The choreographer Lynne Taylor-Corbett at a rehearsal for her New York Ballet production of “Seven Deadly Sins” in 2011. In addition to working in ballet, she choreographed for Broadway and Hollywood. Credit: Andrea Mohin/The New York Times

Lynne Taylor-Corbett, a Tony-nominated choreographer and director known for her work with New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and Broadway musicals like Swing!, passed away on January 12 at age 78. Celebrated for blending theatricality and emotion in her ballets, such as Seven Deadly Sins and Great Galloping Gottschalk, she left a legacy of making dance accessible, vibrant, and deeply human.

 
American Ballet Theatre soloist Sun Mi Park and new Mariinsky Ballet soloist Min Chul Jeon with K-Arts students in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations. Photo by Youngmo Choe, courtesy K-Global Ballet Institute. Via Pointe.
American Ballet Theatre soloist Sun Mi Park and new Mariinsky Ballet soloist Min Chul Jeon with K-Arts students in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations. Photo by Youngmo Choe, courtesy K-Global Ballet Institute. Via Pointe.

Seoul’s K-Arts has risen as a premier ballet training institution, producing graduates who shine in top global companies, including Paris Opéra Ballet étoile Sae Eun Park and Mariinsky Ballet principal Kimin Kim. At the Global Ballet Star Gala, alumni celebrated the legacy of Professor Sun Hee Kim, whose transformative impact on Korean ballet continues through her new initiative, the Seoul Ballet Forum, aimed at fostering global collaboration and innovation in the art form.


 

ABT’s In-Studio Faculty Spotlight Classes offer adult ballet dancers the chance to train with esteemed ABT faculty at the company’s studios in NYC, featuring a new instructor each month. Upcoming sessions include Craig Salstein in February and Rubén Martín in March, with classes designed for ages 18+ at $30 per 90-minute session, requiring advance registration.

 

If You’re Around This Weekend


On Sunday, Jan. 26, at 2 p.m., the New World Symphony presents The Chamber Cello at the New World Center in Miami Beach, a program honoring the legacy of Terezín’s artists and exploring themes of repression and resilience. Highlights include the premiere of Orlando Jacinto García’s prohibido, featuring choreography by Ariel Rose, as well as works by Chen Yi, Paul Desenne, and Brahms, with tickets available for $20-$40. Purchase here.

 

If You Feel Like Watching


Join The Royal Ballet School for International Choreographers’ Day as Year 11 students Isaac and Kanoko take you behind the scenes to share their creative process and insights into the pieces they choreographed for the Frederick Ashton Emerging Choreographer performance.

 

If You Feel Like Listening


Raymond Rodriguez, Dean of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, sits down with the Ballet Help Desk to provide an overview of the school’s advanced levels, graduate program, and pathways to the main company, highlighting its unique approach to post-graduate training. He also discusses support for dancers, including relocation tips, program structure, performance opportunities, health initiatives, and insights into auditions and placement decisions.

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