Kansas City Ballet Company Dancer Joshua Kiesel To Compete In Helsinki International Ballet Competition

Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney today announced that Kansas City Ballet Company Dancer Joshua Kiesel has been selected to compete in the Helsinki International Ballet Competition.

The ninth Helsinki International Ballet Competition (HIBC) will be held at the Finnish National Opera and Ballet from May 30 to June 6, 2022. It is regarded as a highly competitive and unique forum for young dancers to present their skills to the audience and distinguished jury. Well established and internationally recognized, the competition is usually held every four years, but the 2020 edition was cancelled because of the coronavirus pandemic and postponed to 2022. The talented dancers who will arrive in Helsinki from all around the world will be competing in the junior (15 to 19) and senior (20 to 25) categories. More information can be found at https://ibchelsinki.fi/competition/.

Kansas City Ballet Artistic Director Devon Carney stated, "Joshua will be the sole American representing the United States in the Senior Men's division for the 2022 HIBC-which is basically the Olympics for Ballet. This is extremely significant not only for him and for his career, but for our company as well."

With two elimination rounds leading up to a final round, Kiesel will be prepared to perform up to six different excerpts, both classical and contemporary. They are Basilio's variation from Act III of Don Quixote, Siegfried's variation from the Grand Pas in Act III of Swan Lake, the role of Albrecht from Act II of Giselle, the male variation from Diane and Acteon pas de deux, a contemporary variation from Kansas City Ballet Ballet Master Parrish Maynard's Vectors that was reworked for Kiesel, and Lacrymosa, choreographed by Edward Stierle and staged by Parrish Maynard, excerpted from Mozart's Requiem Mass in D minor (K. 262).

Joshua Kiesel began his professional training in Hanover Park, IL, at the Faubourg School of Ballet where he trained for three years. He then competed in Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and received a full scholarship to train at the Washington School of Ballet. While there, he performed roles such as Lankadem in Le Corsaire, Basilio

in Don Quixote, and Count Fabio in Satanella. He was then promoted to Trainee under the direction of Julie Kent and danced both Chinese soloist and Prince in The Nutcracker. Mr. Kiesel then joined as a KCB II dancer with Kansas City Ballet under the direction of Devon Carney where he performed corps de ballet roles in The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. The 2021- 2022 season is Mr. Kiesel's third with Kansas City Ballet and his first as an apprentice.

Founded in 1957, Kansas City Ballet is a professional ballet company led by Artistic Director Devon Carney and Executive Director Jeffrey J. Bentley. Kansas City Ballet is an indispensable community asset through exceptional performances, excellence in dance training and quality community education programs for all ages. Kansas City Ballet is home to Kansas City Ballet School which, with an enrollment of more than 2,000 children and adults, offers professional training for the career-minded student as well as for those simply seeking a healthy lifestyle.

Through the professional company, Second Company (KCB II & Trainees), and community engagement and education programs, Kansas City Ballet seeks to nurture and develop artists, audiences, and students in the values inherent in the creativity, diversity, and joy of dance. The company's home, the Todd Bolender Center for Dance & Creativity, in conjunction with our Resident Company status at the world- class Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, positions Kansas City as a destination for dance. Visit www.kcballet.org/kansas-city-ballet-press-releases/ for more info.

Kansas City Ballet's website is mobile and ticket-purchase friendly. Visit kcballet.org for more information.

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