Ballet Yuma recognized with awards during regional festival

Ballet Yuma dancers, directors and observers returned from the recent Regional Dance America (RDA) Pacific Festival in Long Beach, Calif., with special awards.

  "Directed by Jon Cristofori and Kathleen Sinclair, Ballet Yuma performed twice at the festival, held May 29 to 31, and retained its honor company status with RDA. The status is a designation given to the most outstanding companies in the region, based on rigorous criteria evaluated by adjudication on a yearly basis," said Steven Hennig, business manager for Ballet Yuma.

  "Special recognition was made to Dr. Frank and Lenore Farese of Yuma for their substantial financial donation to RDA, which funded four full scholarships awarded to participants from various companies in the region," Henning said.

  Amelia Gandara, a 2007 graduate of Ballet Yuma now dancing with Louisville Ballet, is a recipient of a full scholarship to participate in Craft of Choreography and an emerging choreographer for her piece "Contemplating the Gamble," performed by Ballet Yuma.

  Financial awards to the prestigious RDA Summer Intensive Program were given to four Ballet Yuma dancers. Brooke Fransden and Taylor Owens each received full tuition scholarships plus $200 for transportation costs. Andrea Hennig received a full tuition scholarship. Chelsea Estes was awarded $850 toward attendance.

 Emma M.K. Cong, choreographer and Yuma Ballet Academy instructor, was presented the Monticello Award for choreography for her original work, "A Quirk in the Line" performed by Petaluma City Ballet. With her award, Cong will participate as the Project Tier Choreographer at a two-week Choreography Conference.

  Continuing his report, Hennig said, "In addition to performing Amelia Gandara's piece, Ballet Yuma presented 'I Vespri Verdi,' a classical ballet by Rochelle Zide-Booth. Zide-Booth, an internationally known dance educator, director and a former prima ballerina, has taught master classes for Ballet Yuma."

  Dancers at the festival also attended a variety of classes, involving jazz, modern, African, character and lyrical aspects as well as classical ballet and seminars.

  Diana Crites, costume designer for Ballet Yuma, and board members Victoria Gresham and Lenore Farese also attended the festival.

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Pam M. Smith can be reached at psmith@yumasun.com or 539-6856.