American Teen Ballerina Shines in Moscow
Moscow ballet competition puts young dancers on the path to global stardom.
LONDON, June 25, 2009 — -- California teeanger Hannah Schiller arrived in Moscow a little more than two weeks ago with no expectations. This was the 11th edition of the International Ballet Competition, the most prestigious ballet competition in the world hosted every four years since 1969 by Moscow's famed Bolshoi Theatre -- the epicenter of ballet.
Schiller, 16, of Orange County, was simply there to experience the competition that is traditionally dominated by Russians and judged by the biggest names in ballet -- what her coach calls "the Olympics of ballet."
But two weeks later, she emerged with a silver medal in the junior solo category, propelling her to the top of the international ballet world and making her goal of joining a professional company when she finishes high school all but assured.
Every four years, over 100 ballerinas and danseurs (male ballet dancers) from around the world descend on Moscow to compete against and be judged by the best. They're split up by juniors (under 18) and seniors (up to 26), as well as solo and duet performances.
"To take part in and to win the competition is very important for the young dancers," said Valeria Uralskaya, editor-in-chief of Ballet magazine and a competition official. "It gives them their first international recognition. It gives them the brand name. It helps their future career."
"The dancers are really amazing," Schiller's mother Lorna told ABC News. "We never really expected that there would be a placement in the top three. That wasn't the goal at her age. The goal was that she would go experience the competition, maybe make it to the second or third round. We were happy about that, but we did not go in expecting that she'd be a major contender for the top three spots."
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