Photos by Joseph Schembri

New York International Ballet Competition
212 956 1520
nyibc@nyibc.org

Eligibility

  1. New York International Ballet Competition (NYIBC) is open to all female and male dancers of all nationalities, both professional and non-professional, who meet the eligibility requirements stated below.
  2. All female applicants must be between 17 and 23 years of age and all male applicants must be between 18 and 24 years of age during the official dates of NYIBC, June 8, 2009 through June 28, 2009. Proof of age must be submitted.
  3. The Selection Committee of NYIBC will choose participants on the basis of written applications and photographs. All dancers must apply with a partner who is also applying to compete.
  4. Applications must be postmarked no later than January 17, 2009. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Applicants will be notified of the Selection Committees' decision no later than February 2009.
  5. Dancers chosen to participate in NYIBC must acknowledge receipt of their acceptance in writing by the date specified in the acceptance notice. Participants failing to do so will be disqualified.

Competition

  1. All participants must arrive in New York City on Saturday, June 6, 2009. All participants must attend an orientation meeting on Sunday, June 7, 2009. Classes and rehearsals begin Monday, June 8, 2009.
  2. All participants will be the guests of NYIBC from June 6, 2009 through 12:00 Noon, June 29, 2009. Room and board will be provided.
  3. Participants will be judged on an individual basis. All participants will perform exclusively with the partner with whom they arrive. All dancers invited to participate in NYIBC must compete.
  4. During the first two weeks, participants will be taught three pas de deux by NYIBC coaches. NYIBC will be divided into three rounds and a Gala Performance.
    • Round I: Classical Pas de Deux
    • Round II: Contemporary Pas de Deux and Prepared Solo
    • Round III: Classical Pas de Deux
    The repertory will be determined by NYIBC and announced at Orientation on June 7, 2009.
  5. Participants are required to arrive with the following prepared for Round II: A solo of your choice, not to exceed two and a half (2.5) minutes. It may be classical or contemporary. Professional choreography only. Classical or contemporary instrumental music required. No popular music can be used.
  6. The competition and judging will take place during the third week of NYIBC, from June 24 through 28, 2009, Rose Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. Eliminations will be made after each round. Dancers must participate in all rounds until eliminated and if chosen, perform in the Gala Performance, June 28, 2009. The order of performance in each round will be determined by the drawing of numbers. All rounds will be open to the public.
  7. All eliminated participants must stay for the entire duration of NYIBC and will continue to be guests of NYIBC. If a partner is eliminated, she/he is required to continue to perform with her/his partner in all subsequent rounds as long as one partner still qualifies to compete.
  8. Participants are not permitted to rehearse or train with coaches or teachers other than those supplied by NYIBC for the duration of the competition. No additional or outside coaching is allowed. Violation of this rule will result in disqualification.
  9. All participants must attend all technique classes, repertory classes, rehearsals, and extracurricular events scheduled or given by NYIBC. Failure to do so may result in disqualification.

Awards & Judging

Participants will be judged individually and the following awards will be presented for both men and women:

  1. The Gussie and Samuel Arbuse Gold Medal
  2. Silver Medal
  3. Bronze Medal
  4. The Lefkowitz Award

Note: Monetary awards will accompany all medals and the Lefkowitz Award.

Special Awards

The Igor Youskevitch Award (a one-year contract with American Ballet Theatre)
The Arpino Award (a one-year contract with the Joffrey Ballet)

  1. Participants will be judged by a jury of internationally recognized authorities selected by NYIBC. Scoring will be on a cumulative numerical basis. Dancers with the highest cumulative scores will be awarded medals, cash prizes and certificates. All participants will receive a Certificate of Participation. Upon request, judges' comments will be made available to participants at the conclusion of NYIBC. At the discretion of the jury, prizes may be withheld or shared. Additional prizes may be awarded.
  2. The decisions of the judges are final and cannot be appealed.

Technical Requirements

  1. All participants must secure written permission for their use of choreography and music for their solo and submit such permission in writing to NYIBC.
  2. Participants are required to supply one performance-quality CD (no Mini-Discs) of the music to accompany their solo. The CD must contain only the performance music. In addition, an extra CD for rehearsal use is necessary.
  3. Each participant shall supply her/his own costumes to NYIBC specification. Three detailed costume sketches will be provided once the applicant confirms her/his participation in NYIBC. All makeup, shoes, rehearsal clothes, etc. shall be provided by the participant.
  4. By taking part in New York International Ballet Competition, all participants waive all performance rights and agree that no fee or royalty will be due them for their participation in NYIBC and the use thereof in any way whatsoever by New York International Ballet Competition, Inc., the sole producer of New York International Ballet Competition, which shall have the sole and exclusive right, license and privilege to record, broadcast, distribute, market and otherwise exploit NYIBC and the participation therein of all participants throughout the world. All application materials become the property of NYIBC.
  5. Participating in NYIBC, each participant agrees to be bound by all the foregoing Rules and Procedures of NYIBC, as amended from time to time.

Click here to download the 2009 NYIBC Application. [136KB PDF]