Youth America Grand Prix

LakeCities Ballet Theatre participated at the regional Youth America Grand Prix held in Irving , Texas , Feb 1-3. The Outstanding Teacher Award was presented to Kelly Kilburn-Lannin, Artistic Director of LakeCities Ballet Theatre, and Ballet Conservatory (Home of LBT), was named Outstanding School. These prestigious awards are given to only nine recipients, nationwide. YAGP's level of reputation as a showcase for dance students from America and abroad is such that even passing the preliminary round to be selected to participate in the New York City Finals gives a participant an important distinction and a boost to their professional dance career. In addition, four dancers qualified and competed in the International New York finals on April 17-22. Steven Loch, 16; Sally Schweitzer, 14; Sarah Johnson, 14; and Kendall Galey, 11. LBT also received first place in the Ensemble category for the pas de deux from Satanella performed by Sally Schweitzer and Steven Loch and Implosion, choreographed by Allan Kinzie, was named in the Top 12 Ensembles. As a result of the New York finals, Steven Loch was awarded with a full scholarship to the full year program at American Ballet Theatre School which is supported by a generous grant from the Jaqueline Onassis foundation. Steven wishes to extend a special thanks to LakeCities Ballet Theatre for the training and opportunities to perform that allowed him to win this prestigious scholarship and honor.

To view pictures of our Youth America Grand Prix finalists, visit the LBT photo gallery.

Steven Loch, 16

2008 New York Final Round - Senior Division Awarded Scholarship to ABT's JKO School Attended ABT Summer Workshop in New York on Scholarship 2006 Junior Grand Prix Winner, Irving Regionals New York Final Round Junior Division Invited to perform in the YAGP Gala Awarded Scholarship and attended Harid Conservatory in 2006-2007 2005 Final Round Junior Division, Junior Men Bronze Medalist 2004 Final Round Junior Division, Junior Men Top 7 Invited to perform in the Miami International Dance Festival in 2006, 2008

Sally Schweitzer, 14

2008 1st Place Junior Women Classical Division - Irving Regionals 3rd Place Junior women Contemporary Division - Irving Regionals New York Qualifier Invited to perform in the Miami International Dance Festival Attended School of American Ballet in New York Summers of 2007, 2008 3rd place Junior Contemporary Division - Irving Regionals Top 12 Junior Classical - Irving Regionals New York Qualifier 2006 Top 12 Junior Contemporary - Irving Regionals

Sarah Johnson, 14

2008 2nd Place Junior Women Classical Division - Irving Regionals Attended ABT New York in summer of 2008 Top 12 Junior Contemporary - Irving Regionals New York Qualifier 2007 Top 12 Contemporary - Irving Regionals New York Qualifier

Kendall Galey, 11

1st Place in Pre-Competitive - Irving Regionals New York Qualifier

The following LBT and LBT II members also received honors at the Irving Regionals in 2008. Every member of LBT who participated as a soloist received an award:

Top 12 Senior Contemporary: Katie Livaccari (Dance Council Scholarship recipient) Brandy Menninga: Invited to New York Intensive (awarded dance scholarship to Friends University) Top 12 Junior Classical: Taylor Kopp Amanda Evans Top 12 Junior Contemporary: Nicole Votolato (attended ABT New York, summer of 2008) Lauren Schafer (attended Kirov Academy, summer of 2007) Amanda Evans