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Aussies Take the Prize at International Cecchetti Competition
by Jacqui Johnson F.C.B.A. – C.I.C.B. Examiner, F.I.S.T.D. The stars of the “Southern Cross” must have shone brightly over the Northern skies above Canada as the hopes and dreams of three young Australian dancers were fulfilled at the Cecchetti International Ballet Competition held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, on 31st July – 2nd August. As reported in a previous issue, five young Cecchetti trained dancers were selected to represent Australia in this prestigious competition which attracted twenty-eight contestants from seven Cecchetti Organisations around the world. After three days of intense competition during which the dancers participated in contemporary classes, classical ballet classes and performed solos in both contemporary and classical ballet styles, nine finalists were chosen, three of whom were Australian! The final adjudication took the form of a public performance attended by a large and enthusiastic audience at the Max Bell Theatre, Calgary, with the selected finalists dancing their two solos before the Adjudicators, Diane van Schoor, Principal of White Lodge Junior Royal Ballet School, Desmond Kelly, Director of Elmhurst Ballet School, and Anthony Orandazzo, Ballet Master, Boston Ballet Company. At the conclusion of the performance when the eagerly anticipated results were announced, it was indeed an
	James Lyttle and Kirsten Marsh

	Dominique Young and Kirsten Marsh

exciting moment for the Australian contingent with all three finalists receiving awards and scholarships!

The top prize, the Maestro Cecchetti Award valued at $5,000 was awarded to KIRSTEN MARSH from Melbourne, Australia and the recipient of the Most Promising Dancer Award, valued at $2,000 was JAMES LYTTLE from Ballarat, Australia.

The other Australian finalist, DOMINIQUE YONG from Sydney, received a scholarship to The Australian Ballet Summer School. Dominique studies with Hilary Kaplan and Archibald McKenzie at the Alegria studio, Sydney, and was runner up in the recent Lucie Saronova Medal Award held in Melbourne.

KIRSTEN MARSH is lucky enough to be returning to Canada next year, as she was also awarded a scholarship to The Canadian National Ballet Summer School in Toronto!

KIRSTEN MARSH has an impressive list of achievements to her credit:

Dame Peggy van Praagh Scholarship (2005)
Silver & Gold Victorian Cecchetti Medals (2008)
Silver & Gold Lucie Saronova Australian Awards (2008) Cecchetti Ballet Australia Bursary (2008)
Selected to represent Australia at the Cecchetti International Competition in Calgary, leading to her ultimate crowning success.

Of course, these outstanding achievements are not won in a lottery! They are the result of years of dedication and effort both on the part of the dancers and also their teachers, all of whom can feel justifiably proud. Kirsten commenced her training in the Cecchetti method as a young student with Nicole Davies and since her acceptance in Year 7 into the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary School and becoming part of the VCASS Cecchetti Program, she has continued her studies with Anne Butler. Kirsten is currently in Year 11 and combines her educational studies with her ongoing ballet training.

JAMES LYTTLE is also no stranger to success! Eighteen year old James is the recipient of numerous awards:

“Nijinsky Prize” for male classical solo
Lucie Saronova Australian Gold Medal (2007)
Victorian Cecchetti Gold Medal Award (2008)
BAF Arts Foundation scholarships (2007 & 2008)
Australian Bloch Bursary (2008)

This last award entitled him to represent Australia and compete in the Cecchetti Competition in Calgary with such satisfying results.

As in any field of endeavour, the rewards only come after many years of study and consistent training and practice.
James studies ballet with the Carole Oliver School of Ballet in Ballarat, Victoria where he participates in an extension program coached by Adrian Fryer and Mary Renouf. Although he is currently completing his final year of school he manages to fit in dance studies totalling sixteen hours a week.

These talented young dancers who currently perform under the stars of the Southern Cross may one day become stars themselves!