2016 Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition Comes to Symphony Space This April

The Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition (VKIBC 2016) is dedicated to Violette Verdy, a wonderful human being as well as an early mentor of VKIBC and Valentina Kozlova. Ms. Verdy was a judge in the first edition of VKIBC and later a competition honorary chairman. This year's event will be held April 25-30, 2016 at Symphony Space (95th Street and Broadway) in New York City.

Dancers from around the world will gather in NYC for the 6th annual VKIBC, dancing before the judges for monetary prizes, as well as scholarships and company contracts.

The classical repertory from which entrants can choose includes dances from the ballet classics, with special additions that include the Grahn variation from Pas de Quatre and a variation from WalpurgisNight, to name just two. One day will once again be devoted to contemporary dancers and choreography.

More details about prizes, repertory, and daily schedules to follow.

Confirmed judges for 2016 include:

Andris Liepa (Russia) Chairman of the Judges

Mikko Nissinen, Honorary Chairman

(in alphabetical order of country)

Nina Buisson (France)

Charles Jude (France)

Nina Ananiashvili (Georgia)

Patricia Aulestia (Mexico)

Olga Guardia de Smoak (Panama)

Nikolai Tsiskaridze (Russia)

Sergei Soloviev (Russia)

Sun Hee Kim (South Korea)

Jeon Mi Sook (South Korea)

Jelko Yuresha (UK)

Tracy Inman (USA)

Joe Lanteri (USA)

Terrence Marling (USA)

Jennifer Muller (USA)

Radenko Pavlovich (USA)

Troy Powell (USA)

Lawrence Rhodes (USA)

Margo Sappington (USA)

Peter Stark (USA)

Ben Stevenson (USA)

Martine Van Hamel (USA)

Septime Webre (USA)

For more information, visit www.vkibc.org.