McLean Woman Wins BalletNova Young Choreographers Competition

Annalise Ajmani of McLean has won first place in the 2013 BalletNova Young Choreographers Competition.

Ajmani received a $500 cash scholarship and the opportunity to set her choreography on BalletNova’s Diamond Summer Intensive Performance Workshop dancers (presented at the August performance); free tuition to BalletNova Diamond Summer Intensive and an engraved trophy sculpture of a dancer

Second-place winner was Renee Lamarque of Falls Church, who received a $250 scholarship.

Third-place winner Molly Sternberg, who lives in the Alexandria area of Fairfax County, received a $100 scholarship.

The goal of the BNYCC is to provide young dancer/choreographers dancers between ages 14 and 18 with an opportunity to stretch artistically by developing their art beyond performing, to showcase their work and offer performance opportunities for local young dancers. This opportunity is usually only offered to choreographers older than 18. There are very few programs in the country to address the needs of this younger constituency.

This year choreographer and dancer Rasta Thomas of Bad Boys of Dance joined the judging panel, along with Carolyn Carattini, Royal Academy of Dance; Tauna Hunter, dance chair at Mercyhurst College; and Marilyn York, founder and artistic director of Dancin’ Unlimited. After the finalists were chosen by the judges, the public voted for their favorite choreographer via Facebook and YouTube, with the popular vote counting 20 percent toward the total score.

Finalists performed at the “Shining a Spotlight on Dance” Gala for BalletNova on March 16, where the winners were announced.

The competition was open to residents of Northern Virginia: Fairfax, Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William counties, and the cities of Alexandria, Falls Church and Fairfax. Anyone interested in applying for the 2014 BalletNova Young Choreographers Competition can contact BalletNova at info@BalletNova.org. Applications will be available in August.