Click here to download pdf
Click here for Photo Gallery
FOR RELEASE FEB. 3, 2010
CONTACT: SHAUNA TYSOR
KIM ESPINOSA
713 535 3226
pr@houstonballet.org
HOUSTON BALLET II DANCER
EMANUEL AMUCHASTEGUI
WINS PRESTIGIOUS PRIX DE LAUSANNE DANCE COMPETITION
First from Houston Ballet to Receive This Honor
Aaron Sharratt Places Fifth & Liao Xiang Advances to Finals
Houston, Texas – Houston Ballet II Dancer Emanuel Amuchastegui won first place at the 38th Prix de Lausanne Dance Competition, the prestigious international contest held annually in Lausanne, Switzerland between January 24th and January 31st, 2010. Houston Ballet II dancers Aaron Sharratt and Liao Xiang also advanced through the finals and into the top twenty; Aaron Sharratt placed fifth.
"Houston Ballet was honored to have three students of Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy make it into the final round of the Prix. It is the first time Houston Ballet has had a student win the competition. This strong showing at one of the world's most highly watched ballet competitions speaks to the high level of training at Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy and the hard work and dedication of Academy associate director Shelly Power and the Academy staff," observed Houston Ballet Managing Director C.C. Conner.
The Prix de Lausanne International Dance Competition is open to young dancers ages 15-18 who are not yet professionals. The competition is adjudicated by a jury of dance luminaries. Young dancers from around the world send videos of application to Lausanne, and the competition's artistic committee selects a maximum of 80 competitors to take part. This year, 70 elite dancers out of 226 applicants from 36 countries were selected to participate. During the week of the competition, participants are judged both during a dance class and individually on stage. Twenty competitors progress to the final round, a live performance attended by key figures from the ballet world.
Along with taking the top prize, Mr. Amuchastegui also won the "Audience Favorite" award based on public votes after his performance in the finals. Ms. Patricia Leroy, secretary general of the Prix de Lausanne commented, "Not only is Christian-Emanuel Amuchastegui an outstanding dancer, but he is also a very generous personality. He impressed us throughout the week with his constant good humor and his kindness to others, coupled with a remarkable ability to focus on his goal and take in the advice from the Prix's teachers and coaches. We look forward to witnessing how his career develops."
Shelly Power, associate director of Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy, was honored to have been selected to serve as one of the nine judges of the 38th annual competition. As the only American on the jury, she joined an illustrious group of colleagues from across the worldincluding representatives from such companies as Royal Danish Ballet, London's Royal Ballet, and The National Ballet of China. (During the competition, she recused herself from judging students from Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy who were participating.)
Ms. Power states, "I am very pleased that Houston has made another mark in the dance world which confirms that persistence, a strong work ethic and teamwork truly do make things happen. We are inspired by these three candidates who gave of themselves fully for Houston Ballet, for the art form and for themselves."
Mr. Amuchastegui, age 18, began his ballet training on scholarship with teacher Sandra Racedo at Villa Carlos Paz, Córdoba, Argentina in 2005. He has received the gold medal in three different Argentinean competitions and has performed in Europe, Uruguay, Argentina and the United States. He joined Houston Ballet II in August 2009. At the Prix de Lausanne, he performed a classical variation from August Bournonville's La Sylphide and a contemporary solo, Caliban, from Cathy Marston's The Tempest. Mr. Amuchasetgui also brought home the "audience favorite" award.
Seventeen-year-old Aaron Sharratt is originally from Tucson, Arizona and studied at Academy of Ballet and Ballet Arts in Tucson before joining Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy in 2007. He joined Houston Ballet II in 2008 and has performed the lead in Raymonda as well as a pas de trois in Stanton Welch's A Time to Dance and Paquita. At the Prix de Lausanne, Mr. Sharratt performed solos from The Sleeping Beauty as his classical variation and Commedia by Christopher Wheeldon.
Liao Xiang, age 18 and originally of Wuhan, China, trained at Beijing Dance Academy from the age of 9 to 16. In 2007, she was an award winner for the Youth American Grand Prix and won a scholarship to the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida. Ms. Xiang left China, studied at the Harid Conservatory for 4 months and then auditioned for Houston Ballet II. She received a scholarship to be in Houston Ballet II and attend Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy. Ms. Xiang performed a classical variation from The Sleeping Beauty along with a contemporary solo from Cathy Marston's Traces at the Prix de Lausanne
In 2009 Sebastian Vinet, a Chilean dancer then with Houston Ballet II, placed sixth in the finals of the Prix de Lausanne and is currently an apprentice with Houston Ballet's professional company.
All three dancers were coached by -- and accompanied to the competition in Switzerland by -- Houston Ballet II Ballet Master Claudio Muñoz and Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy Associate Director Shelly Power.
Emanuel Amuchastegui, Aaron Sharratt and Liao Xiang will tour with Houston Ballet II to Germany from April 21 - April 27, 2010 and will all perform as part of Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy Spring Showcase at Wortham Theater Center April 16-17, 2010.
For more information on the Prix de Lausanne, log on to the Prix de Lausanne’s web site:
www.prixdelausanne.org.
# # #  |
