If you want to know the repertory for this year's New York International Ballet Competition,
you won't hear it from us. In fact not even the participants will know the program until they
arrive in New York on June 6th because NYIBC is one competition dancers cannot
prepare for in advance. Its unique format was conceived by Richard Thomas and founder Ilona
Copen after Thomas had attended a prominent competition and saw dancers performing variations of
their choice that always showcased their particular strengths. He was disappointed. Wouldn't
their relative skills be better gauged and their artistry more constructively challenged if the
dancers were to execute precisely the same variations learned just prior to performing them?
As a result of Copen's vision and hard work, twenty-four couples from around the world will be
competing on a very level stage at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall in June. This
follows two intensive weeks of classes and rehearsals given by teachers and coaches chosen for
their expertise in the variations selected for NYIBC by it's Artistic Board. Held roughly every
three years, it's the eighth NYIBC event since the competition was established in 1983.
Participating couples this year represent twenty countries, including Argentina, Australia,
Brazil, Chile, China, Cyprus, El Salvador, Japan, Kazakhstan, Korea, Latvia, and the U.S. An
equally international panel of nine judges will rate individual dancers on Technique,
Musicality, Interpretation, Partnering, and Cleanliness of Execution. Individuals who advance
will continue to perform with their partners, who may or may not themselves advance. While NYIBC
may award gold, silver and bonze medals, not all medals are necessarily awarded every year.
Copen stresses that the competition is not about pitting one dancer against another so much as
evaluating how well each dancer appears to be realizing his or her own technical and artistic
potential. "It's an opportunity to grow as an artist and be seen as a performer," says Copen.
"There's no telling which dancers will be snapped up by company directors attending NYIBC in
scouting mode, whether they medal or are eliminated in the first round."
NYIBC also organizes the annual week-long New York Dance program open to teachers and
their advanced students who wish to attend classes at participating studios and evening ballet
performances. It coincides with NYIBC performances so participants may watch class, meet the
judges, and attend performances those years when the competition is held. For information on
NYIBC and New York Dance 2007, visit
<http://nyibc.org/>
