NGB dancers to compete in 2015 Prix de Lausanne

Congratulations to Next Generation Ballet (NGB) New Artists Jarod Curley and Peter Weil, who were two of only seven males from the United States to be accepted into the world’s most prestigious dance competition, the Prix de Lausanne.

The two dancers head to Lausanne, Switzerland this weekend for the competition, which will be Feb. 2 - 7, 2015.

Peter Weil

Peter Weil, 18, from Philadelphia, began his dance training at the Metropolitan Ballet Academy.

“My mom told me it would help me with my soccer skills,” said Weil.

At the age of 12, his soccer and dance schedules began to conflict and he had to choose. He chose dance.

He has performed as a guest artist with the Pennsylvania Ballet, including roles as Oliver Percy in the Carnival of the Animals, and as the Prince in the Nutcracker at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C. Before joining NGB in the summer of 2014, he spent two years as a trainee with the Boston Ballet where he had opportunities to perform with the company.

"I appreciate the level of training we get for men’s work [with NGB at the Patel Conservatory]. He [Stark] really knows what we need to do,” said Weil. “This year I’m working on the fluidity of my dancing and cleaning it up to be more professional. It’s a good finishing year for me.”

Curley, 16, from Frederick, Md. began his dance training with Frederick School of Classical Ballet and went on to study at CityDance Conservatory with Lorraine Spiegler. He’s performed principal roles in NGB's Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. He’s also attended the School of American Ballet’s summer intensive on full merit scholarship and participated in the choreography workshop under the direction of New York City Ballet company member, Silas Farley.

Prior to coming to NGB in the summer of 2013, Curley had been offered full scholarships to American Ballet Theatre and Bolshoi Ballet’s summer programs.

Jarod Curley

“I almost wasn’t going to audition [for NGB] because I already had other opportunities,” said Curley.

At the NGB audition, he felt an instant connection with artistic director Peter Stark.

“It was awesome working with him just in the audition class. When I got in the car, I said to my mother, ‘There’s no way I can go anywhere else,’” said Curley.

Curley’s family moved to Tampa in 2013. He and his younger siblings homeschool, and both his sister Ava and brother Winston enjoy many classes in dance, music and theater at the Patel Conservatory.

A total of 70 dancers from 18 countries were selected to compete at this year’s Prix de Lausanne. All dancers will participate in master classes and receive scholarship opportunities with renowned ballet schools worldwide.

“I’m really excited to go to Switzerland. I’m hoping to get into a company, so I’m excited about the job opportunities,” said Weil.

NGB alumni who have competed in the Prix de Lausanne include Hannah Bettes (“Audience Favorite” and 2nd place Prix de Lausanne 2011, company member Boston Ballet), William Dugan (Hamburg Ballet School), Tanner Bleck (San Francisco Ballet School) and Olivia Gusti (Ballet West Trainee).

Congratulations and best of luck to Peter and Jarod!

NGB students among elite dancers accepted to Prix de Lausanne

Congratulations to Next Generation Ballet (NGB) New Artists Tanner Bleck and Olivia Gusti, who will compete in the world’s most prestigious dance competition, the Prix de Lausanne.

Approximately 60 dancers are selected from hundreds of entries worldwide.

Tanner Bleck

Gusti and Bleck were two of only 10 from the United States to be accepted into the competition, which will be Jan. 26 through Feb. 1, 2014 in Lausanne, Switzerland. Bleck, 15, is one of only three American males accepted into the Prix de Lausanne.

The six-day event offers dancers scholarships to world renowned ballet schools.

Bleck moved to Tampa from Kentucky last year to train with NGB. He started ballet at age seven at Bluegrass Youth Ballet in Lexington, KY, and continued at Bluegrass School for the Creative and Performing Arts. Tanner has received scholarships and attended summer intensive programs at the Boston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Jose Carreño Dance Festival and Next Generation Ballet. He recently placed second in the Classical Senior Men category and in the top 12 in the Contemporary Senior Men at the Youth America Grand Prix semi-finals in Tampa.

St. Petersburg native Gusti, 15, has been with the Patel Conservatory’s dance program for several years. She began dancing at age 6 with Ballet Pensacola before moving to the Tampa area and training at Florida West Ballet under the instruction of Povel Fomin. With NGB, she’s danced feature roles including Godmother in Cinderella and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker. She has also performed with the Moscow Ballet in St. Petersburg. Most recently, she won the Grand Prix award at the YAGP semi-finals in Tampa.

Former NGB dancers Hannah Bettes and William Dugan are now training abroad through opportunities at the Prix de Lausanne.

Best of luck to Bleck and Gusti as they embark on their journey!

William Dugan scores scholarship offers at Prix de Lausanne

William Dugan at the Prix de Lausanne
competition in Switzerland

Congratulations to Next Generation Ballet (NGB) New Artist William Dugan who competed last week in the prestigious Prix de Lausanne dance competition in Lausanne, Switzerland.

When William found out he’d qualified to go to Switzerland, he said, “It was quite a surreal moment, I couldn’t even fathom what just happened. But I got in! I was chosen as one of the very few Americans.”

The Prix de Lausanne offers young dancers the opportunity to compete for scholarships from some of the world’s best ballet schools. Nearly 300 young dancers auditioned and out of the 84 candidates chosen to compete, Dugan, 16, was one of only 10 selected from the United States.

William Dugan with Tamara Rojo, Artistic

Director of English National Ballet

“William’s acceptance into this competition is a tremendous accomplishment,” said Peter Stark, artistic director of NGB and the Patel Conservatory dance chair.

Last year, NGB student Hannah Bettes won the audience favorite award at the Prix de Lausanne.

“The staff couldn’t be more proud of sending students to the competition for two consecutive years,” said Stark.

Dugan also competed internationally last June in the Beijing International Dance Competition. Earlier this month, he placed third in the Tampa regional Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), which earned him a place in the YAGP nationals this April in New York City.

The Prix de Lausanne included a week full of classes in which competitors were coached and judged.

“The judges would score us in our ballet and contemporary classes, and on our variations...It’s very nerve-wracking because the judges mark you, and they’re staring at you. And, they’re all superstar international ballet dancers!” said William.

Though William did not advance to the final round, he did receive several scholarship offers, including from The School of the Hamburg Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet School and more.

William getting ready for a day of competition!

“It was crazy because I’ve never been offered anything like this before. I’ve done YAGP competitions and never got scholarship offers. I was so happy,” said William.

William and his family have decided that he will likely attend the School of the Hamburg Ballet in the fall.

In addition to the wonderful experience of competing alongside international students and receiving multiple scholarship offers, a bonus of the week was seeing snow for the very first time.

“It was quite a moment!” said William. “It was my first time in Europe and being in Switzerland was awesome.”

Congratulations to William on his success and best of luck in his future!