WORLD-RENOWNED DANCERS SET FOR U.S. PREMIERE OF THE VIENNA INTERNATIONAL BALLET EXPERIENCE IN MISSOULA NEXT WEEK
Celebrated Dancers and Legends to Converge in Missoula for the Vienna International Ballet Experience
(Missoula, Mont.) – The Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre announced today several of the world-renowned dancers registered for competition at the Vienna International Ballet Experience (VI
BE) January 12th – 16th in Missoula. It is the first time this prestigious international competition has been held in the United States, making it even more remarkable that Missoula will be hosting the events.
The multi-day competition and dance festival is under the direction of Gregor Hatala from Vienna and is hosted by the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre and Destination Missoula.
“While there will be something for everyone through our open competition from Native American dancing to hip-hop, I predict sparks will fly at the men’s ballet competition – it is going to be one of the most exciting athletic events Missoula has ever hosted. We’re thrilled to be bringing this caliber of competition to Montana and hope people around the state join us for this once-in-a-lifetime cultural opportunity,” said Charlene Campbell Carey, VIBE USA executive director and artistic director of the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre.
In a highly anticipated return to Montana, Cincinnati Ballet principal dancer, Patric Palkens, originally from Lewistown will be returning to his home state in hopes of capturing top honors at VIBE. A large contingent of young dancers from Lewistown are planning to make the trek to Missoula to cheer him on as well as compete in their own age brackets.
Patric was a principal dancer with the Orlando Ballet and spent a year with the Salzburg Ballet in Austria under the direction of Peter Breuer before joining the Cincinnati Ballet in 2011. In Cincinnati, he rose quickly through the ranks as Soloist in 2012. Competing in VIBE USA is an exciting homecoming for Palkens, who traveled the globe with the Rocky Mountain Ballet as a young dancer.
BATTLE TO WATCH!
However, Palkens will face intense competition from two other top dancers in the category and in the world, namely Jorge Barani of Cuba (left) who is currently guesting internationally, and Andile Ndlovu of South Africa (right) who is with the Washington Ballet and guests internationally. Ndlovu will be presenting a Zulu dance from South Africa at the Gala.
INTERNATIONAL STARS TO WATCH
12-year-old Antonio Casalinho of Portugal (right) will be performing under the direction of renowned Cuban-born ballerina Annarella Sanchez. Casalinho is a rising international star and one to watch!
International award-winning dancers Byul Yun and Hee Won Cho of Seoul, South Korea will perform in the Pas de Deux competition. Must-see featured dancers at the VIBE USA Gala as well!
Aidan Carberry, featured in photo below, a Hip Hop competitor and choreographer who began dancing at the age of 12 will be joining us from Los Angeles. He will be competing but also sharing his thoughts on Hip Hop as a catalyst for conflict resolution as part of “The Art of Diplomacy,” a VIBE-USA related conference hosted by the Mansfield Center.
NEW ADDITION TO THE ALL-STAR JURY
Hae Shik Kim – Founding Dean of the Korean National University of Arts, School of Dance. Hae Shik Kim was educated at Ewha Woman’s University in Seoul and The Royal Ballet Upper School in London.
Ms. Kim was prima ballerin
a with the Korean National Ballet Company and danced with the Zurich Opera Ballet in Switzerland and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montreal.
The participation of the South Korean delegation in VIBE USA is another step toward strengthening the cultural exchange between the South Korean performing arts community and the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre.
FEMALE STAR POWER
Maria Sasha Khan, who was born in Pray, Montana, will be returning to the Treasure State as a member of the VIBE judges panel and will perform during the final VIBE Gala on July 16th at the Wilma Theater. Khan is currently the highest rank dancer at the Ekaterinburg Opera and Ballet Theatre, one of the oldest opera theatres in Russia as well as one of the most storied ballet companies in the world. Her return to Montana as a member of the Vienna International Ballet Experience, USA jury in Missoula is an exciting full circle moment for the Montana arts community.
IN THIS PHOTO: Maria Sascha Khan is a principal dancer of the Ekaterinburg State Ballet. She has worked with the world’s top ballet companies, choreographers and artists of our time.
Patricia Wilde
Legendary Prima Ballerina Patricia Wilde is the senior member of the VIBE USA presentation and will be available for a book cover signing of “Wilde Times,” a book set for release in June 2016. The book details the rise of the New York City Ballet featuring the experiences of Wilde and George Balanchine including a U.S. State Department tour in Russia during Cold War. The book’s author, Joel Lobenthal, will also be participating in the Mansfield Center’s “The Art of Diplomacy” on Friday January 15th.
Wilde was Prima Ballerina with the Ballets Russe de Monte Carlo, The Marquis de Cuevas, New York City Ballet, Director of the Harkness Ballet School, The American Ballet Theatre School, Ballet Mistress for American Ballet Theatre, and Artistic Director of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Wilde was the 2014 recipient of the lifetime achievement Dance Magazine Award and is a member of Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre’s Advisory Board. She also toured with the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre to China in 2008. Wilde is VIBE USA executive director, Charlene Campbell Carey’s mentor and will serve on the VIBE USA jury.
Salish Kootenai Dancers
Kya Rae Arthur, Louie Plant and Clara Charlie are among the dancers who will be performing at the official VIBA USA Welcome Ceremony featuring Governor Bullock on January 12th. They will also be competing and have joined Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre on international tours. Arthur, Plant and Charlie will also be featured in the Gala.
***GALA TICKETS***
Available for purchase online at The Wilma
ABOUT THE VIENNA INTERNATIONAL BALLET EXPERIENCE
The jury includes legendary and the leaders of some of the most renowned dance schools around the world. From January 12th through the 16th, the top professional dancers from around the globe will gather in Missoula along with Emmy-winning filmmakers, international diplomats, thought leaders and policy makers. In conjunction with the international juried dance competition will be a film festival as well as a day-long forum on the role of arts and culture in international diplomacy, hosted by the Mansfield Center.
VIBE USA is hosted by the Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre in partnership with Destination Missoula, The Washington Foundation, The University of Montana, The Mansfield Center, Central and Southwest Asia Studies Center, The Silver Foundation, the Wilma Theater, the Missoulian, the Missoula Independent, and the Plum Creek Foundation. Please check http://www.rmbt.org for updates to the schedule.
