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UPDATE: KYLE DAVIS WILL JOIN THE ROYAL BALLET OF LONDON AS AN APPRENTICE IN THE FALL! CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVIS; HIS COACH, WARREN CONOVER; AND THE NCSA SCHOOL OF DANCE. Feb. 7, 2008/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOTE: PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST Contact: Marla Carpenter, 336-770-3337, carpem@ncarts.edu NCSA BALLET STUDENT KYLE DAVIS WINS AT THE PRIX DE LAUSANNE Davis is First American to Win in More Than a Decade
WINSTON-SALEM – North Carolina School of the Arts ballet student Kyle Davis, 17, of Green Bay, Wis., has won a Grand Prize at the Prix de Lausanne (in Lausanne, Switzerland), one of the premier dance competitions in the world. Davis, a high school senior studying ballet in the School of Dance at NCSA, was one of two American dancers to win at this year’s Prix, which ended on Sunday, Feb. 3. It is the first time any American has won at the Prix in more than a decade. “North Carolina and its School of the Arts have reason to be proud,” said NCSA School of Dance Interim Dean Alex C. Ewing. “The Prix de Lausanne is possibly the ultimate test for a young dancer, and candidates from every continent and dozens of countries congregate each year to compete for its top prizes. Kyle Davis is one of our very best students and individuals, and we all congratulate and rejoice in his recent most prestigious achievement.” Davis competed in the senior division and took home an apprenticeship with a professional company of his/its choosing. He also receives 16,000 Swiss francs (about $15,000) toward his apprenticeship. Davis danced the Prince Albrecht Variations from Act II of “Giselle,” and “Spring and Fall,” a contemporary solo choreographed by John Neumeier.	Kyle Davis and Lauren Sherwood in "Concerto" Photo by Donald Dietz Kyle Davis as Her Cavalier in "The Nutcracker" Photo by Steve Davis
“The feedback that I got from the judges and others was that Kyle was the one who looked professional,” said Warren Conover, assistant dean of the NCSA School of Dance. “Kyle did the variations and told a story. The other participants just did the steps. He was the only musical dancer.” Conover is Davis’ principal teacher at NCSA and has been working to prepare him for competition for about a year-and-a-half. Davis was a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) in New York last year, and the YAGP put his name forward as a candidate at the Prix de Lausanne. The YAGP has also extended an invitation to Davis to participate in a gala performance at City Center in New York in the spring. The Prix de Lausanne, held annually since 1973, is an international competition for young dancers of all nationalities between the ages of 15 and 18 who wish to pursue a professional career. The purpose of the Prix de Lausanne is to facilitate the professional debut of its young prize-winners by granting them scholarships that enable them to improve their skills for a year in one of the schools which are partners of the Prix, or apprenticeships in one of the professional dance companies also partnering with the Prix. Competitors benefit from individual discussions with members of the jury, take daily lessons and workshops, meet dance professionals, and share their experiences with competitors from a wide range of countries. There were only seven Grand Prize-winners selected, who received either an apprenticeship or scholarship. Other winners included audience favorite, contemporary dance prize-winner, and Swiss prize-winner. Davis is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Davis of Green Bay, Wis. At NCSA, where he has been enrolled since the fall of 2006, Davis is a recipient of the Martha and Spencer Love Foundation Scholarship for Excellence in Dance, as well as the Elizabeth Harriet Weaver Memorial Scholarship. He has danced Her Cavalier (Sugar Plum Pas de Deux), Mirlitons, Doll and Toy Soldier in the School’s production of “The Nutcracker” ballet; as well as the “La Fille Mal Gardee” Pas de Deux and “Concerto” at the Spring Dance Concert 2007. Davis will be dancing the lead in George Balanchine’s “Rubies” as part of NCSA’s Winter Dance Concert opening on Feb. 21 at the Stevens Center. In addition to his training at NCSA, he has also studied at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, the Rock School for Dance Education (Philadelphia, Pa.), the School of American Ballet, the Milwaukee Ballet School, and the Makaroff School of Ballet (Appleton, Wis.). His other awards, in addition to the Prix de Lausanne and YAGP, include semi-finalist at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Miss., in 2006. This is not the first time that an NCSA student has competed or won at the Prix de Lausanne. Gillian Murphy, now a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, won a Prix de Lausanne Hope Prize in 1995. In 1985, Edward Stierle, now deceased but formerly with The Joffrey Ballet, won a Gold Medal at the competition. And, of course, NCSA School of Dance Dean Designate Ethan Stiefel has been a juror at the Prix de Lausanne and won a Silver Medal at the Prix in 1989. For more information, visit www.prixdelausanne.org. ###
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UPDATE: KYLE DAVIS WILL JOIN THE ROYAL BALLET OF LONDON AS AN APPRENTICE IN THE FALL!

CONGRATULATIONS TO DAVIS; HIS COACH, WARREN CONOVER; AND THE NCSA SCHOOL OF DANCE.

interimlogo0607

Feb. 7, 2008/FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NOTE: PHOTOS AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST
Contact: Marla Carpenter, 336-770-3337, carpem@ncarts.edu

NCSA BALLET STUDENT KYLE DAVIS WINS
AT THE PRIX DE LAUSANNE
Davis is First American to Win in More Than a Decade

WINSTON-SALEM – North Carolina School of the Arts ballet student Kyle Davis, 17, of Green Bay, Wis., has won a Grand Prize at the Prix de Lausanne (in Lausanne, Switzerland), one of the premier dance competitions in the world.

Davis, a high school senior studying ballet in the School of Dance at NCSA, was one of two American dancers to win at this year’s Prix, which ended on Sunday, Feb. 3. It is the first time any American has won at the Prix in more than a decade.

“North Carolina and its School of the Arts have reason to be proud,” said NCSA School of Dance Interim Dean Alex C. Ewing. “The Prix de Lausanne is possibly the ultimate test for a young dancer, and candidates from every continent and dozens of countries congregate each year to compete for its top prizes. Kyle Davis is one of our very best students and individuals, and we all congratulate and rejoice in his recent most prestigious achievement.”

Davis competed in the senior division and took home an apprenticeship with a professional company of his/its choosing. He also receives 16,000 Swiss francs (about $15,000) toward his apprenticeship.

Davis danced the Prince Albrecht Variations from Act II of “Giselle,” and “Spring and Fall,” a contemporary solo choreographed by John Neumeier.

Kyle Davis and Lauren Sherwood in "Concerto"
Photo by Donald Dietz

Kyle Davis as Her Cavalier in "The Nutcracker"
Photo by Steve Davis

“The feedback that I got from the judges and others was that Kyle was the one who looked professional,” said Warren Conover, assistant dean of the NCSA School of Dance. “Kyle did the variations and told a story. The other participants just did the steps. He was the only musical dancer.”

Conover is Davis’ principal teacher at NCSA and has been working to prepare him for competition for about a year-and-a-half. Davis was a finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) in New York last year, and the YAGP put his name forward as a candidate at the Prix de Lausanne. The YAGP has also extended an invitation to Davis to participate in a gala performance at City Center in New York in the spring.

The Prix de Lausanne, held annually since 1973, is an international competition for young dancers of all nationalities between the ages of 15 and 18 who wish to pursue a professional career. The purpose of the Prix de Lausanne is to facilitate the professional debut of its young prize-winners by granting them scholarships that enable them to improve their skills for a year in one of the schools which are partners of the Prix, or apprenticeships in one of the professional dance companies also partnering with the Prix. Competitors benefit from individual discussions with members of the jury, take daily lessons and workshops, meet dance professionals, and share their experiences with competitors from a wide range of countries.

There were only seven Grand Prize-winners selected, who received either an apprenticeship or scholarship. Other winners included audience favorite, contemporary dance prize-winner, and Swiss prize-winner.

Davis is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Davis of Green Bay, Wis. At NCSA, where he has been enrolled since the fall of 2006, Davis is a recipient of the Martha and Spencer Love Foundation Scholarship for Excellence in Dance, as well as the Elizabeth Harriet Weaver Memorial Scholarship. He has danced Her Cavalier (Sugar Plum Pas de Deux), Mirlitons, Doll and Toy Soldier in the School’s production of “The Nutcracker” ballet; as well as the “La Fille Mal Gardee” Pas de Deux and “Concerto” at the Spring Dance Concert 2007.

Davis will be dancing the lead in George Balanchine’s “Rubies” as part of NCSA’s Winter Dance Concert opening on Feb. 21 at the Stevens Center.

In addition to his training at NCSA, he has also studied at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School, the Rock School for Dance Education (Philadelphia, Pa.), the School of American Ballet, the Milwaukee Ballet School, and the Makaroff School of Ballet (Appleton, Wis.).

His other awards, in addition to the Prix de Lausanne and YAGP, include semi-finalist at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Miss., in 2006.

This is not the first time that an NCSA student has competed or won at the Prix de Lausanne. Gillian Murphy, now a principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre, won a Prix de Lausanne Hope Prize in 1995. In 1985, Edward Stierle, now deceased but formerly with The Joffrey Ballet, won a Gold Medal at the competition.

And, of course, NCSA School of Dance Dean Designate Ethan Stiefel has been a juror at the Prix de Lausanne and won a Silver Medal at the Prix in 1989.

For more information, visit www.prixdelausanne.org.

###

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