Ballet Austin: Youth moves

Aspiring professional choreographers aren't the only ones getting to strut their stuff for Ballet Austin during its biennial New American Talent/Dance this week. A handful of younger dance makers also got their own opportunity to shine, thanks to a keen little videographic competition set up on www.balletaustin.org. Between Jan. 12 and Feb. 2, young choreographers between the ages of 7 and 17 had the chance to upload video of a dance they had created to YouTube, then Ballet Austin collected the videos on its website, and anyone who wanted to could vote for his or her favorite. As of Sunday, Feb. 3, Owen and Michaela Taylor, Maria Soto, Paulina Reyes, Ciceley Fullylove, and Kendra Slack had each created a submission of two to three minutes in length, and the competition began. On Feb. 9, Paulina Reyes' piece for eight dancers was named the top vote-getter. Paulina is a junior at St. Stephen's Episcopal School, where she's been involved in the dance and theatre programs. Each of the dancers on her team will receive a gift certificate to Movin' Easy Dancewear, a card for eight free dance classes at Ballet Austin, tickets to this week's production of New American Talent/Dance, and the chance to meet the winning choreographer of New American Talent/Dance at the performance of their choice. (This year's competing choreographers, by the way, are Sidra Bell, Viktor Kabaniaev, and Amy Seiwert.) Although the voting has closed, all five videos in the youth competition are still available for viewing at www.balletaustin.org/youthcompetition/index.php .

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Ballet Austin presents New American Talent/Dance Feb. 14-17, Thursday-Saturday, 8pm, Sunday, 3pm, at the Paramount Theatre, 713 Congress. For more information, call 476-2163, or visit www.balletaustin.org.