Anacortes American www.goanacortes.com/ January 21, 2004

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Six young ballet dancers, who have wowed Anacortes audiences with their graceful, assured performances, have won acclaim again, an invitation to take part in an international dance competition at the famed Kirov Ballet School in St. Petersburg, Russia. The dancers have developed their distinct and classical ballet form at the Northwest Ballet School in Anacortes, founded by dancer, choreographer and director John Bishop. He also has encouraged the best of his dancers to continue their studies at other ballet schools, from Washington, D.C., to Montana to Ballet Bellevue. But, all admit, the chance to take master classes at the Kirov and compete with a group of other dancers from around the world was unexpected. Bishop, who will accompany the dancers when they leave Feb. 16 for the event, said a longtime dancer and friend, Vera Altunina, had seen his dancers at 'The Nutcracker' performance this year and was impressed. The dancers will take seven days of master classes, then two days of competition, capped by a gala performance of 'Giselle' with the St. Petersburg Ballet. "Vera is an old friend, and graduated from the Kirov. When she saw the 'Nutcracker' she was surprised at how well they were dancing," Bishop said, adding that Altunina directs Ballet Kirkland and organizes the international competition. The six ballet  dancers then auditioned, and were accepted. To help send the dancers to Russia, and provide enough warm clothing for February in St. Petersburg, the Northwest Ballet Theatre has scheduled a fund-raiser, "To Russia With Love," at 1 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 1, at the school studio, 416B Commercial Ave. The nonprofit theater arm is accepting monetary donations, sponsorships and even borrowed parkas and cold-weather gear, Bishop said. "To Russia" will feature ballet dancers performing "The Nutcracker's" Russian Dance and The Star Bar Café will provide Russian-style eats. The public is welcome to attend, Bishop said. Meanwhile, the dancers are preparing for their trip and the busy schedule the competition lays on for its guests, including cultural tours to galleries and museums. As well, they will see performances by the St.Petersburg Ballet, and could even take part in the ballet, "Giselle," with the ballet's stars, if they do well enough in the competition. Miye Bishop, one of John Bishop's daughters, is the youngest at 14. She was in the Chinese Dance in December's "Nutcracker" and said her favorite time is during performances. "It is exciting to be taking master classes with other students who are really good," said Miye, who will compete in the junior group. Her sister, Mija, 17, said she was looking forward to meeting all the other young dancers and visiting the cultural places in St. Petersburg. Two years ago, she took summer classes in Washington, D.C., then last year at the American Ballet Theatre. Tani Wright, 16, who also spent the last two summers at various ballet schools around the country, said the Kirov is a magical place for dancers. "I've always wanted to go, and to dance with them will be very exciting," said Wright. For Kiersten MacKenzie, who shared the role of Clara in "The Nutcracker" with Katrina Shull, meeting other dancers from different countries will be the highlight. "We are going to see the Marinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg, where all the major ballets are performed," said the 16-year-old MacKenzie, who has spent the last two summers dancing in Pennsylvania, Michigan and at Evergreen City Ballet in Auburn. Shull, also 16, said the dancers have really improved their technique and their confidence under John Bishop's tutelage, especially when he encourages them to attend summer classes. Shull and others say it keeps their dancers' bodies supple because they don't have the long layoff between spring and fall. As well, several said their classical ballet style improves with several teachers, a mix of instruction, instead of just one. "You have to audition to get into those summer programs, so it really helps you in lots of aspects, especially your confidence," Shull said. Kelly Skomerza, who has spent summers at Washington, D.C., Montana Ballet and Ballet Bellevue, said she is excited about taking master classes from the teachers at the Kirov. "And the competition will really be fun; I've never done that before," she added.

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This article was originally published in the Anacortes American on January 21, 2004. We would like to thank the Anacortes American for their support of the Arts and of Northwest Ballet Theatre, and graciously allowing NBT to include it on the original Northwest Ballet web site. The Northwest Ballet website has been redesigned, and this article returned to www.northwestballet.org on 02-28-07 Northwest Ballet Theatre and School of Classical & Contemporary Dance   360-714-1246