C E L E B R AT I N G O U R 30th A N N I V E R S A RY ACADEMY OF BALLET AND JAZZ S C H O O L O F CA N A D I A N BA L L E T T H E AT R E Moscow International Ballet Competition Silver 2009 GRAND PRIX USA New York Grand Prix 2011, 2015 Gold 2009, 2017, 2018 Silver 2016, 2017, 2018 Bronze 2015, 2016, 2017 Hope 2017 Grand Prix 2011, 2013 Silver 2011 Bronze 2013, 2014 CAPE TOWN INTERNATIONAL BALLET COMPETITION Silver 2010 Helsinki International Ballet Competition Gold 2011 IBC USA International Ballet Cometition Jackson Mississippi Silver 2010 Showcase 2018 P R I X RICHMOND HILL CENTRE OF PERFORMING ARTS D E Tuesday June 5th and Wednesday June 6th 2018 L A U S A N N E 2018 Finalist at 6:30 PM 2 F O L L O W I N G T R I U M P H S I N N E W Y O R K , M O S C O W, B U C H A R E S T, PA N A M A , PA R I S , C A N N E S , T O R O N T O A N D S T. P E T E R S B U R G S TA R S O F T H E 2 1 S T C E N T U R Y G A L A H A S B E C O M E T H E M O S T P R E S T I G I O U S B A L L E T G A L A I N T H E W O R L D . Artistic Director - Nadia Veselova Tencer Producer - Solomon Tencer AMERICAN BALLET THEATRE BALLET DE MONTE CARLO BAYERISHE STAATSOPER BOLSHOI BALLET (MOSCOW) COMPAÑÍA NACIONAL DE DANZA CHINESE NATIONAL BALLET DUTCH NATIONAL BALLET KIROV BALLET, MARIINSKY THEATRE (ST. PETERSBURG) LA SCALA BALLET NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA NEW YORK CITY BALLET PARIS OPERA BALLET ROYAL BALLET SAN FRANCISCO BALLET STAATSBALLET BERLIN VICTOR ULLATE BALLET, MADRID VIENNA STATE OPERA BALLET and more 3 N E W YO R K , M O S C OW, PA R I S , CA N N E S , TO RO N TO, B U C H A R E S T, PA N A M A , S T. P E T E RS B U R G NADIA VESELOVA TENCER and SOLOMON TENCER Nadia Veselova Tencer, Artistic Director and founder of the Canadian Ballet Theatre and the Academy of Ballet and Jazz, was the beloved student of the renowned Alla Ossipenko, a legendary ballerina and teacher and part of that great Russian tradition originating from Agrippina Vaganova and further influenced by Enrico Cecchetti - whom have had a major impact on classical ballet today. Nadia, a graduate from the famed Vaganova Choreographic Institute (the School of the Kirov Maryinsky Ballet) is part of this direct lineage and heritage that she is now passing on to her students. These methods have produced such luminaries as Balanchine, Pavlova, Nureyev, Barishnikov and Makarova. Further, the school's program upholds the highest standard in dance education today,offering complete technical mastery. In addition, highly skilled teachers in character, modern, jazz and hip hop work together with our pre-professional ballet program. •• Director International Ballet Competition, Star of the 21st Century • Artistic Director International Ballet Galas, Stars of the 21st Century • Exceptional Teachers Award Grand Prix U.S.A., 2009, 2015, 2017, 2018 • Awards: Brilliance of the 21st Century Medal, New York, 2007, 2008, 2010 • Awards: Golden Soffit Award, St. Petersburg, Russia 1995 • Judge and choreographer at the Youth Grand Prix, New York, U.S.A. • Judge, Prix Benois de la Danse, Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow 2003 • Graduate of the Kirov Ballet, St. Petersburg, performed with famous Russian companies & with worlds best ballet stars 4 ACADEMY OF BALLET AND JAZZ S C H O O L O F CA N A D I A N B A L L E T T H E AT R E . C E L E B R AT I N G O U R 30th A N N I V E R S A RY MESSAGE FROM THE ARISTIC DIRECTOR AND PRODUCER We are pleased to extend our warmest greetings to everyone attending Academy of Ballet and Jazz- School of Canadian Ballet Theatre’s annual showcase. Over the past 30 years we have had the honour of working with such a creative and talented faculty. It brings us joy to see some of our graduates be part of this fantastic team. We would like to take the time and thank each and every one of our teachers and students for their dedication and hard work. Students of the Academy have been part of many complete ballets showcased each year including: The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Don Quixote, Coppélia and Giselle. Some of our previous showcases featured guest artists from some of the finest ballet companies in the world such as the Bolshoi Ballet, Kirov Ballet/ Mariinsky Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, Royal Ballet, and Cuban National Ballet. We are very proud of our graduates! Some have joined major ballet companies around the world includ- ing: Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal, Bolshoi Ballet, Budapest Opera Ballet, English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Le Ballet Du Capitole, Toulouse, Les Ballet de Monte Carlo, West Australian Ballet, Eifman Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia, Opera Atelier, and many more. We are happy to keep in contact with our graduates, and follow their professional careers. They know that they are always welcome to the Academy when visiting home, and it’s always wonderful to see them. Keep up the fantastic hard work, and reach for the stars! Our school offers professional level of training that gives many of our students the opportunity to com- pete and win top awards at the most prestigious international ballet competitions. The Prix de Lausanne is an international dance competition held annually in Lausanne, Switzerland. The competition is for young dancers seeking to pursue a professional career in classical ballet, and many former prize winners of the competition are now leading stars with major ballet companies around the world. This year our student Irene Yang was selected to compete at Prix de Lausanne. Around 75 candidates from 30 or so countries compete each year, in the hope of being chosen for the final, reserved for the best 20 among them. We are extremely proud as Irene was selected as one of the top 5 finalists in her age category! The only Canadian female finalist! Additionally, our students competed against hundreds of participants in the regionals of the world's largest international student dance competition, Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP), with grand success! We would like to congratulate all our students who have been internationally recognized. We are all extremely proud of everyone and their hard work! Nadia Veselova-Tencer Solomon Tencer 5 CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL THE COMPETITORS FROM OUR SCHOOL! Here are the exciting results… 2018 Prix de Lausanne IRENE YANG, 15 - student of Academy of Ballet and Jazz- School of Canadian Ballet Theatre. The only Canadian female finalist of Prix de Lausanne 2018! 6 2018 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Semi-Finals AUSTIN, TEXAS Senior Age Division 1st Place, Classical: IRENE YANG 2nd Place, Contemporary: IRENE YANG Toronto, Canada Junior Age Division 1st Place, Contemporary: TIFFANY EFIMOV 2nd Place, Classical: TIFFANY EFIMOV TOP 12 Contemporary: CARMEN MCKAY Senior Age Division 2nd Place, Classical: ANASTASIA MILLER 2nd Place, Contemporary: ANASTASIA MILLER TOP 12 Contemporary: CHARIS LEUNG, RACQUEL SHERLOCK Outstanding Teacher Award: NADIA VESELOVA-TENCER Nadia and Tiffany 7 TIFFANY EFIMOV Junior Age Division: 1st Place, Contemporary & 2nd Place, Classical (The youngest dancer in her age category!) 8 CARMEN MCKAY -TOP 12 Contemporary Junior Age Division CHARIS LEUNG TOP 12 Contemporary Senior Age Division RACQUEL SHERLOCK TOP 12 Contemporary Senior Age Division 9 ANASTASIA MILLER Senior Age Division: 2nd Place, Classical & 2nd Place, Contemporary Sergio D. Spadavecchia 10 ANASTASIA MILLER 11 12 2017 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) TIFFANY EFIMOV Hope Award & Capezio Prize Top 12 Contemporary Dance Category-Pre-Competitive Age Division The ‘Hope Award’ is presented to a dancer who, per the YAGP jury panel, has exceeded all other dancers in their division in both the Classical Ballet and Contemporary/ Open Dance categories. It’s the Grand Prix Award for the Pre-Competitive Age Division. IRENE YANG Junior Age Division 1st Place, Contemporary Dance Category Junior Age Division 2nd Place, Classical Dance Category MICHAELLA HO Senior Age Division 3rd Place, Contemporary Dance Category Senior Age Division Top 12 Classical Dance Category Nadia Veselova Tencer was awarded Outstanding Teacher for the 5th time! The Outstanding Teacher is awarded to an instructor whose students show excellence in training and consistent quality in execution. 13 Congratulations to 2016 winners! ANASTASIA MILLER winner of Youth Grand Prix MICHAELLA HO 3rd place, Junior Age Division, Contemporary Dance. photos by Jeff Ho BRAVO to 2015 winners! LILIA GREYEYES 2nd Place Pre-competitive division Boston, MA and 3rd Place Pre-competitive division at Salt Lake City, UT IRENE YANG 3rd Place, Junior age division at Houston, TX MICHAELLA HO Top 12 Contemporary Dance Category - Junior age division Indianapolis, IN SHIVA PARMAR Top 12 Classical Dance Category - Senior age division at Indianapolis, IN Lilia Greyeyes Michaella Ho Irene Yang 14 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) winners Alys Shee and Evgeni Dokoukine 15 A MESSAGE FROM EVAN MCKIE If it had not been for Nadia's eye for talent and Solomon's helping hand, I definitely would not have been given such great opportunities after my time at the Academy.