2014 USA International Ballet Competition Names Finalists

JACKSON, Miss., June 23, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- With the conclusion of Round II of the 2014 USA International Ballet Competition, 31 of the world's finest young dancers will compete in the final round for gold, silver and bronze medals.

Round III competitors are:

Senior Males:                                                
Aaron Smyth (Australia) 
Andile Ndlovu (South Africa) 
Byul Yun (Republic of Korea) 
Ivan Duarte (Brazil) 
Jeong Hansol (Republic of Korea) 
Ji Seok Ha (Republic of Korea) 
Kota Fujishima (Japan) 
Mengjun Chen (Peoples Republic of China) 
Rodrigo Almarales (Cuba) 
Steven Loch (USA)

Senior Females:                                             
Arianni Martin (Cuba) 
Ga-Yeon Jung (Republic of Korea) 
Irina Sapozhnikova (Russia) 
Melissa Gelfin (USA) 
Shiori Kase (Japan) 
Sirui Liu (Peoples Republic of China) 
Tamako Miyazaki (Japan)

Junior Males:                                                 
Aran Bell (USA) 
Blake Kessler (USA) 
Daniel Alejandro McCormick-Quintero (Mexico) 
Gustavo Carvalho (Brazil) 
Jinsol Eum (Republic of Korea) 
Taiyu He (Peoples Republic of China) 
Yue Shi (Peoples Republic of China) 

Junior Females:  
Gisele Bethea (USA) 
Mackenzie Richter (USA) 
Mizuho Nagata (Japan) 
Paulina Guraieb Abella (Mexico) 
Romina Contreras (Chile) 
So Jung Lee (Republic of Korea) 
Yasmin Lomondo (Brazil)

"The USA IBC gives dancers the opportunity to test their skills against the highest international standards," said Sue Lobrano, USA IBC executive director.  "Advancing to the final stage of competition is an unforgettable experience as finalists realize the achievement of competing among the world's best dancers."

Round III is scheduled for June 24 – 27.

"It's remarkable to see how the competition can be a stepping-stone for a dancer's career," said Lobrano. "Our audience is filled with artistic directors of dance companies interested in hiring new dancers, and for this reason, many leave with contracts. This is possibly the greatest prize of all."

USA IBC medalists and award winners will be announced June 27 and honored at the Awards Gala on June 28.

The USA IBC is a two-week, "olympic-style" competition where tomorrow's stars vie for gold, silver and bronze medals; cash awards; company contracts; and scholarships. The event is designated as the official international ballet competition in the United States by a Joint Resolution of Congress. Presented under the auspices of the International Dance Committee, International Theatre Institute of UNESCO, the USA IBC is held every four years in Jackson, Miss., in the tradition of sister competitions in Varna, Bulgaria, and Moscow, Russia.

For more information about USA IBC, visit www.usaibc.com or www.facebook.com/usaibc.

SOURCE USA International Ballet Competition