The American Dance Competition | International Ballet Competition, or “ADC|IBC” for short, held its 12th Annual Event for pre-professional dancers aged seven through 21 on March 25-30, in St. Petersburg, FL. In total, 21 competitors received professional company opportunities, 150 were bestowed summer program scholarships (some being full rides that include tuition and boarding), and 39 were granted year-round scholarships to professional training programs.
ADC|IBC 2017 Senior Division Grand Prize Winner Shaelynn Estrada, right, backstage before the Awards Gala. Photo by Anna Caterina Photography.
Competitor Shaelynn Estrada, 17, of Ellison Ballet was named the 2017 Senior Division Grand Prize Winner. She was contracted to dance with Houston Ballet as an apprentice for the 2017-18 season.
On why Estrada is such a promising dancer, ADC|IBC Founder and President Audrianna Broad says there’s something “sincere and magnetic about her approach” to movement.
On Estrada’s performance at ADC|IBC in March, Broad recounts, “I was sitting there with the Panel tending to tasks, and Shaelynn enters the stage. The busyness of my mind completely quieted for those few minutes. She pulled me into her story, and I remember thinking, ‘Now that’s a performance!’”
Estrada’s love for ballet began early. After seeing a ballerina on TV when she was just two years old, she told her mom that she “had to do that.” Her studies really intensified at age nine when she started receiving private coaching.
Summer programs helped to further advance Estrada’s training, with her participating in intensives and workshops at Brandon Ballet, Orlando Ballet, José Carreño Dance Festival, Paris Opera Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Irina and Maxim International Ballet Summer Intensive and so on.
When asked if there’s a saying a teacher once taught her that still influences her, Estrada shares, “One of my first ballet teachers, Yaima Franco, told me, ‘Once you are fearless, nothing can stop you, and the audience will feel that energy,’ and I have never forgotten that. It made total sense to me.”
She dreams of performing the classical roles of Gamzatti from La Bayadère or Kitri from Don Quixote, as “they are both such strong characters.” And if she could work with any 21st century choreographer? Jiří Kylián. “You can tell the music is what drives him, and his works are so artistic; they are the kinds of pieces that give you chills when you see them,” she expounds.
ADC|IBC 2017 Senior Division Grand Prize Winner Shaelynn Estrada in ‘Carmen’ choreographed by Edward Ellison. Photo by Michelle Revels and SMaCK Arts.
As a budding professional dancer, Estrada admires Russian prima ballerina Uliana Lopatkina of the Kirov Ballet/Mariinsky Theatre in St. Petersburg. “She is the most artistic dancer I have ever seen,” Estrada gushes. “When I watch her videos, it really doesn’t matter what it is, but she just always becomes exactly what or who the character is she is portraying. Her movement is so organic and free; it is unlike anything I have ever seen. She is so inspiring.”
Through all of her training, she says the hardest skill to acquire is how to navigate criticism and to discern what’s a healthy balance. “You have to be hard on yourself to get the job done, but it can get to a point where you can be so critical of yourself that you don’t see anything good anymore and it just becomes destructive. I think that the hardest thing to learn is how to find the perfect balance – not too critical, not too easygoing. I’m still struggling with this even now.”
So what advice would Estrada give to her 13-year-old self? “I would say that through everything, you need to be true to yourself. Do, say and wear whatever makes you happy because it really doesn’t matter what people have to say about you.”
Looking forward to her Houston Ballet apprenticeship, Estrada says she’s excited to learn the new repertoire and to further explore her movement while being in “such a reputable company with such strong dancers.” She’s grateful to ADC|IBC for giving her a platform to receive this opportunity, as well as many others.
Estrada says, “ADC|IBC has helped me put my name out there and be seen by all of these school directors since I was 11 years old. I have gotten so many scholarships at ADC|IBC over the years that I would have never imagined receiving. If it weren’t for the competition, I wouldn’t be training at Ellison Ballet. Mr. Ellison found me there when I was 14 and has changed my life so much since then.”
Full List of ADC|IBC 2017 Award Winners:
2017 AWARD PLACEMENTS (SENIOR CLASSICAL FEMALE DIVISION)
SR ADC | IBC Grand Prix Recipient:
Shaelynn Estrada, Ellison Ballet (NYC)
*Awarded $2,000 Cash Prize.
Gold Medal: Gillian Fitz, Ellison Ballet (NYC)
* Highest Scoring Classical Soloist from both Male & Female Divisions.
*Awarded $1,000 Cash Prize.
Silver Medal: Morgan Rust, Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IN)
Bronze Medal: Julia Rust, Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IN)
4th Place: Avery Stamm, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
5th Place: Ashley Withee, Orlando Ballet School (FL)
Top 25: Evan-Leigh Thornton, Vitacca Dance Project (TX)
Top 25: Kaeli Ware, Art of Technique (VA)
Top 25: Emily Hall, Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
Top 25: Maddie Goodman, Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
Top 25: Catherine Doherty, Kansas School of Classical Ballet (KS)
Top 25: Lucy Hamilton, Sarasota Cuban Ballet (FL)
Top 25; Andrea Huynh, Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
Top 25: Jungyon Seon, Seoul Arts High School (Rep of Korea)
Top 25: Lauren White, Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IN)
Top 25: Mia Mobley, Next Generation Ballet (FL)
ADC | IBC 2017 Primary Gold Medalist Emma Topalova. Photo by Michelle Revels of SMaCK Arts.
Top 25: Abigail Paige, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
Top 25: Tatum Quinonez, Ballet West Academy (UT)
Top 25: Sydney Ransbury, International Ballet Academy (NC)
Top 25: Sierra Crocker, San Diego School of Ballet (CA)
Top 25: Zoe Parker, International Ballet Academy (NC)
Top 25: Kayleigh Western, Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
Top 25: Katy Schwarzweller, Ballet West Academy (UT)
Top 25: Kethlenn Mazza, Orlando Ballet School (FL)
Top 25: Clio Chazan-Gabbard, Florida Ballet (FL)
Top 25: Sarah Shaw, Independent
2017 AWARD PLACEMENTS (SENIOR CONTEMPORARY FEMALE DIVISION)
SR ADC | IBC Grand Prix Recipient:
Shaelynn Estrada, Ellison Ballet (NYC)
*Awarded $2,000 Cash Prize.
Gold Medal: Morgan Rust, Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IN)
* Highest Scoring Contemporary Soloist from both Male & Female Divisions. *Awarded $1,000 Cash Prize.
Silver Medal: Kaeli Ware, Art of Technique (VA)
Bronze Medal: Julia Rust, Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IN)
4th Place: Gillian Fitz, Ellison Ballet (NYC)
5th Place: Avery Stamm, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
Top 25: Kayleigh Western, Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
Top 25: Andrea Huynh, Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
Top 25: Mariah Fleischman, Kansas School of Classical Ballet (KS)
Top 25: Lauren White, Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IN)
Top 25: Ashley Withee, Orlando Ballet School (FL)
Top 25: Sasha Nadeau, School of Cadence Ballet (Canada)
Top 25: Alicen Carter, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
Top 25: Maddie Goodman, Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
Top 25: Clio Chazan-Gabbard, Florida Ballet (FL)
Top 25: Tatum Quinonez, Ballet West Academy (UT)
Top 25: Alexia Duff, City Ballet of Houston (TX)
Top 25: Brandi Boetto, New Dimensions Academy (FL)
Top 25: Catherine Doherty, Kansas School of Classical Ballet (KS)
Top 25: Zoe Parker, International Ballet Academy (NC)
Top 25: Emily Hall, Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
Top 25: Abigail Paige, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
Top 25: Emma Cory, International Ballet Academy (NC)
Top 25: Evan-Leigh Thornton, Vitacca Dance Project (TX)
Top 25: Sierra Crocker, San Diego School of Ballet (CA)
Top 25: Sydney Ransbury, International Ballet Academy (NC)
2017 AWARD PLACEMENTS (SENIOR CONTEMPORARY MALE DIVISION)
Gold Medal: Ryan McNally, Next Generation Ballet (FL)
Silver Medal: Cooper Everson, Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
Bronze Medal: Alexander Tilson, All American Classical Ballet (FL)
4th Place: Leighton Taylor, International Ballet Academy (NC)
5th Place; Rhys Hudson, Vitacca Dance Project (TX)
(SENIOR CLASSICAL MALE DIVISION)
Gold Medal: Ryan McNally, Next Generation Ballet (FL)
Silver Medal: Alexander Tilson, All American Classical Ballet (FL)
Bronze Medal: Cooper Everson, Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
4th Place: Lorenzo Pontiggia, Orlando Ballet School (FL)
5th Place: Leighton Taylor, International Ballet Academy (NC)
ADC | IBC 2017 Junior Grand Prix Recipient Quinn Starner. Photo by Michelle Revels of SMaCK Arts.
2017 AWARD PLACEMENTS (JUNIOR CLASSICAL FEMALE DIVISION)
JR ADC | IBC Grand Prix Recipient:
Quinn Starner, Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IN) .
*Awarded $1,000 Cash Prize.
Gold Medal: Angelina Broad, Orlando Ballet School (FL).
* Highest scoring Classical Soloist from both Male & Female Divisions.
*Awarded $500 Cash Prize.
Silver Medal: Alexandra Manuel, Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IN)
Bronze Medal: Jolie Rose Lombardo, Orlando Ballet School (FL)
4th Place: Tia Wenkman, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
5th Place: Sophia Zonni, School of Cadence Ballet (Canada)
Top 20: Reina Stamm, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
Top 20: Alexis Workowski, Orlando Ballet School (FL)
Top 20: Madison Yeung, Jin Bao Long Ballet Studio (China)
Top 20: Sydney Poulsen, International Ballet Academy (NC)
Top 20: Chloe Exline, Russian Ballet of Orlando (FL)
Top 20: Rebecca Chichon, Toronto School of Ballet (Canada)
Top 20: Gioia Zappani, Chicago Ballet Conservatory (IL)
Top 20: Chaveli Pena, International Ballet Academy (NC)
Top 20: Jasmine Foroughi, School of Cadence Ballet (Canada)
Top 20: Kalin Basford, Silfida Ballet Academy (FL)
Top 20: Isabella Torres, Mid-Atlantic Center (MD)
Top 20: Chloe Gauthier, School of Cadence Ballet (Canada)
Top 20: Tehya West, MId Atlantic Center (MD)
Top 20: Maria Eduardo Pinto, Balletarrj School of Dance (Brazil)
Top 20: Haley Dale, Art of Technique (VA)
2017 AWARD PLACEMENTS (JUNIOR CONTEMPORARY FEMALE DIVISION)
JR ADC|IBC Grand Prix Recipient:
Quinn Starner, Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IN) .
*Awarded $1,000 Cash Prize.
Gold Medal: Jolie Rose Lombardo, Orlando Ballet School (FL)
Silver Medal: Alexandra Manuel, Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IN)
Bronze Medal: Reina Stamm, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
4th Place: Angelina Broad, Orlando Ballet School (FL)
5th Place: Tia Wenkman, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
Top 20: Madison Yeung, Jin Bao Long Ballet Studio (China)
Top 20: Alexis Workowski, Orlando Ballet School (FL)
Top 20: Sophia Zonni, School of Cadence Ballet (Canada)
Top 20: Rebecca Chichon, Toronto School of Ballet (Canada)
Top 20: Isabella Torres, Mid-Atlantic Center (MD)
Top 20: Sydney Poulsen, International Ballet Academy (NC)
Top 20: Jasmine Foroughi, School of Cadance Ballet (Canada)
Top 20: Chloe Exline, Russian Ballet of Orlando (FL)
Top 20: Maria Eduardo Pinto, Balletarrj School of Dance (Brazil)
Top 20: Gioia Zappani, Chicago Ballet Conservatory (IL)
Top 20: Chaveli Pena, International Ballet Academy (NC)
Top 20: Haley Dale, Art of Technique (VA)
Top 20: Morgan Davis, Valley Dance Theatre (VA)
Top 20: Tehya West, Mid- Atlantic Center (MD)
Top 20: Chloe Gauthier, The School of Cadence Ballet (Canada)
ADC | IBC 2017 Primary Grand Prix Recipient Brady Farrar. Photo by Michelle Revels of SMaCK Arts.
2017 AWARD PLACEMENTS
(JUNIOR CONTEMPORARY MALE DIVISION)
Gold Medal: Parker Garrison, International Ballet Academy (NC)
*Highest scoring Junior Contemporary Soloist from both Male & Female Divisions *Awarded $500 Cash Prize.
Silver Medal: Ryan Williams, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
Bronze Medal: Avery Jarrard, Next Generation Ballet (FL)
(JUNIOR CLASSICAL MALE DIVISION)
Gold Medal: Ryan Williams, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
Silver Medal: Avery Jarrard, Next Generation Ballet (FL)
Bronze Medal: Parker Garrison, International Ballet Academy (NC)
2017 AWARD PLACEMENTS
(PRIMARY CLASSICAL DIVISION)
Primary ADC | IBC Grand Prix Recipient:
Brady Farrar, Stars Dance Studio (FL).
*Awarded $500 Cash Prize.
Gold Medal: Emma Topalova, Pittsburgh Ballet House (PA) .
*Awarded $250 Cash Prize.
Silver Medal: Alexis Elliott, Xtreme Dance (FL)
Bronze Medal; Ava Maskin, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
4th Place: Madison Brown, Lents Dance Company (FL)
5th Place: Noe Leilani, Central Florida Ballet (FL)
Top 15: Yune Fukuta, Takae Kuroki Ballet Studio (Japan)
Top 15: Isobel Rose, Central Florida Ballet (FL)
Top 15: Haley Lowder, Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
Top 15: Piper Panek, Pittsburgh Ballet House (PA)
Top 15: Annabelle Mack, Hammond Ballet (LA)
Top 15: Eric Poor, Art of Technique (VA)
Top 15: Giulia Mattiello, Espaco Danca Rafaela Nogueira (Brazil)
Top 15: Sunny Benziger, Stars Dance Studio (FL)
Top 15: Mia Arroyo, Meg Segretos Dance Centre (FL)
Top 15: Mariana Guedes de Souza, Conservatory of Brazil (Brazil)
2017 AWARD PLACEMENTS
(PRIMARY CONTEMPORARY DIVISION)
Primary ADC | IBC Grand Prix Recipient:
Brady Farrar, Stars Dance Studio (FL)
*Awarded $500 Cash Prize.
Gold Medal: Emma Topalova, Pittsburgh Ballet House (PA)
*Awarded $250 Cash Prize
Silver Medal: Madison Brown, Lents Dance Company (FL)
Bronze Medal: Isobel Rose, Central Florida Ballet (FL)
4th Place: Alexis Elliott, Xtreme Dance (FL)
5th Place: Ava Maskin, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
Top 15: Noe Leilani, Central Florida Ballet (FL)
Top 15: Emma Sias, Ballet Elite (FL)
Top 15: Eric Poor, Art of Technique (VA)
Top 15: Annabelle Mack, Hammond Ballet (LA)
Top 15: Sora Teramoto, Ballet Elite (FL)
Top 15: Annabelle LaRue, Stars Dance Studio (FL)
Top 15: Arianna Quant, Stars Dance Studio (FL)
Top 15: Sunny Benziger, Stars Dance Studio (FL)
Top 15: Landrie Adams – Rochester School of Dance (MI)
Top 15: Mia Arroyo, Meg Segretos Dance Centre (FL)
2017 AWARD PLACEMENTS (ENSEMBLE DIVISION)
OVERALL HIGHEST SCORING ENSEMBLE ENTRY:
Satanella Pas de Deux, Master Ballet Academy (AZ)
*Awarded a $1,000 Cash Prize.
Pas de Deux Category
– 1st Place: Satanella, Master Ballet Academy.
Dancers: Ryan Williams, Reina Stamm
– 2nd Place: Flames of Paris, Stars Dance Studio/Indiana Ballet Conservatory. Dancers: Brady Farrar, Quinn Starner
– 3rd Place: Coppelia, International Ballet Academy (NC).
Dancers: Clark Eselgroth, Sydney Poulsen
Duo|Trio Category
– 1st Place: Starry Night, Master Ballet Academy.
Dancers: Ryan Williams, Reina Stamm
– 2nd Place: Everlasting, Stars Dance Studio/Indiana Ballet Conservatory.
Dancers: Brady Farrar, Quinn Starner
– 3rd Place: Within, Central Florida Ballet.
Dancers: Noe Leilani, Isobel Rose
Ensemble
1st Place: A Glacier, School of Cadence Ballet (Canada)
2017 AWARD PLACEMENTS (SPECIAL AWARDS)
Round 1 Jury Award:
Zoe Parker, International Ballet Academy
Traditional Excellence Award:
Mia Mobley, Next Generation Ballet
Jury Encouragement Awards:
– Mikayla McKean, Cary Ballet Conservatory
– Emma Johnson, Mainstage Academy of Dance
Capezio Award of Excellence:
Tia Wenkman, Master Ballet Academy
Outstanding International Dancer:
Sophia Zonni, School of Cadence Ballet (Canada)
2017 Fernando Bujones Memorial Award Honoree:
Clark Eselgroth, International Ballet Academy
Outstanding Choreographer:
Courtnae Bowman, School of Cadence Ballet (Canada)
Outstanding Coach:
Alyona Yakovleva-Randall, Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IN)
Outstanding Schools:
International Ballet Academy (NC)
Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC)
For a complete, comprehensive list of the 2017 ADC|IBC Scholarship and Job Opportunities, visit www.adcibc.com.
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