Three Oklahoma Ballerinas To Compete In International Competition

Three students from the Dance Center of Oklahoma City Ballet will be competing in the Youth America Grand Prix Competition in Dallas this weekend.

Roma Catania, Aiden Hamilton and Courtney Thompson are enrolled in the professional ballet training program at Oklahoma City Ballet.

The Youth America Grand Prix Competition (YAGP) is an annual international ballet competition. It holds semi-final competitions in 12 U.S. cities and three international cities. In each city, hundreds of dancers ages 12-19 compete.

"These competitions give students exposure to the dance world and allow them to grow and mature as artists through the process of intense evaluation and physical work during the rehearsal period," said Jane Vorburger, school director. Students may receive scholarships to prestigious dance schools as a result of being seen at YAGP or they may be invited to the Finals Competition in New York City where the winners from each city meet for a final evaluation of their merit and talent.

Roma Catania, 14, of Edmond Christian Academy HS, will be performing Princess Florine's variation from The Sleeping Beauty. Aiden Hamilton, 15, of Edmond North HS, will be performing the 4th variation from Raymonda Act III. And Courtney Thompson, 16, of Yukon HS, will be performing a variation from Paquita as well as a contemporary piece titled Taningu Sakasu.

"Regardless of the outcome, we are very proud of the students' dedication," said Robert Mills, artistic director, Oklahoma City Ballet. "Parents, students and instructors from Oklahoma City Ballet have worked very hard and we are all cheering on these young people this weekend."

The competition runs February 1-3 in Dallas.