Having just finished his 25th anniversary season, artistic director, Radenko Pavlovich of the Columbia Classical Ballet will once again showcase his dancers who come from Japan, China, Europe, and all over the United States. One of the dancers, Koyo Yanagishima, from Japan and recent gold medal winner at the prestigious Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition (VKIBC) returns for his second season.
Koyo will study with Radenko this year preparing for the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, (held every four years) in June 2018.
Haojun Xie, from China, who trained at the Beijing Dance Academy and performed with the Shanghai Ballet Company and Joffrey Concert Group, joins CCB this year.
Clement Guillaume, from France, winner of an invitation at VKIBC to a ballet gala event: Confederacion Interamericana y Mundial de Profesionales de Danza Gala Tijuana— Mexico, returns for his second season.
The company is filled with dancers from distinguished training academies like Harid Conservatory, Washington Ballet School (D.C.), Kirov Academy of Ballet and Le Centre Chorégraphique in Aquitaine, France. They have won multiple scholarships and awards and bring nearly 200 years of combined training.
As always, the Nutcracker (December 1-3) will present a cabaret of brilliant holiday dream variations that continue to thrill children and adults alike. LifeChance 2018 ( January 20) will return Brooklyn Mack to his home state (native of Elgin, SC) and first ballet instructor (Radenko) along with a cavalcade of stars from the finest companies in the U.S. (last year ABT, Pennsylvania Ballet and Washington Ballet) to help raise money for a worthy Columbia charity.
Premiering this year will be Classical Ballet Rocks (October 13)—a fusion of classical ballet and classical rock and roll music which is certain to please all ages. Don Quixote, will showcase CCB’s company.
Starting off the season with the Studio Series (September 17, November 5, February 11), Radenko will continue the tradition of previewing his dancers at the Forest Drive studio.
CCB continues its outreach to the community through six matinees for school age children and others who can only get out to attend performances during the day. Thousands of school children will be thrilled by Cinderella (October 12,13), the Nutcracker (November 30 and December 1) and Aladdin (March 8,9).
Visit columbiaclassicalballet.com/seasonmembership/ or the CCB Facebook page or call 803- 252-9112 for more information about season membership, support opportunities, or sponsorship.
Leave a Reply