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Out of more than 100 dancers from across the country competing in each category, students and faculty from Greenwich Ballet Academy took awards in four categories.
Aidan Buss, 13, from Old Greenwich, won first place in the Junior Classical Dance Category for Men and Women. Aidan also placed Top 12 in the Contemporary Dance Category
Lee Melton, 14 ,from Darien, placed in the Top 12 in the Junior Classical Dance Category.
Artistic Director Yuri Vodolaga was recognized with the Outstanding Teacher award.
“It is a great honor for me to receive this acknowledgement,” Vodolaga said. “It is my great pleasure to be able to offer instruction and guidance to these highly talented dancers, and I know they will go on to achieve great success in the future.”
Aidan, Lee and 12 year-old Ruth Schultz of Ossining, N.Y. received invitations to New York City for the YAGP finals April 22-29.
“I am so excited at the prospect of being able to dance at the YAGP Finals in New York,” Aidan said. “It is a great opportunity to meet some of the world’s best dancers as well as leaders from some of the world’s greatest ballet schools. I am thrilled and honored to be given this chance to represent Greenwich Ballet Academy.”
“It was such a valuable experience for me to be able to dance at the John Hancock Hall in Boston,” Lee said. “Everyone there was so talented, and it was an inspiration to be a part of it.”
At the New York competition, grand prize winners will receive scholarships and valuable contracts to some of the most prestigious dance companies in the world.
“We’re proud of Aidan, Lee, and Ruth’s accomplishments, and are excited to see them represent the Greenwich community, Westchester and Fairfield counties,” said Marisol Thurman, chairman of the academy's board. “Students throughout the area are fortunate to have access to world-class ballet training, and the fact that our students can compete at an international level is an incredible accomplishment for our dancers as well as our renowned faculty.”
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