International ballet event draws dancers to Miss.

[June 11, 2010]  JACKSON, Miss. (AP) -- South African Andile Ndlovu abruptly ended a series of pirouettes and stood as stone in front of a mirrored wall.

He's preparing for his first performance at the USA International Ballet Competition, an Olympic-style event held every four years in the heart of America's South. He's chosen his repertoire: the comedy "La Fille mal gardee," along with the love stories "Le Corsaire" and "Raymonda."

"I've never competed in an American competition. I want to come here and do my best. I don't want to be at the bottom," said Ndlovu, a 22-year-old with a slight, muscular build who is an apprentice at the Washington Ballet.

Ndlovu is one of more than 100 competitors from 31 countries, many of whom have spent months preparing in hopes of winning medals and contracts to boost their careers.

The competition has launched the careers of such artists as Cuban-born Jose Manuel Carreno, now at the American Ballet Theatre in New York, and Rasta Thomas, who founded the company Bad Boys of Dance. Thomas' company will perform its fusion of ballet, hip-hop, gymnastics and martial arts at opening ceremonies Saturday.

The young competitors take the stage this weekend at Thalia Mara Hall in Jackson. They rehearse alone or in groups in studios at Belhaven University, a private school with a grassy, picturesque campus near downtown.

The dancers sweat to a pianist's accompaniment as they practice plies, fouettes and arabesques, blurring the line between artist and athlete.

Constantine Allen, 16, an American who attends the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, said he fell in love with ballet after his mother took him to see a performance of "Cats."

"The ability all the dancers had to do unhumanly things was intriguing, and I wanted to put myself on that level," said Allen, who started dancing at 10.

Ji Young Chae, 17, of Seoul, South Korea, has competed in previous ballet events, but she said she's still always nervous before a performance.

"But once I'm on stage, I'm comfortable and confident," Chae said through an interpreter. "I'm the only ballerina in my family."

The USA IBC is the United States' official international ballet competition. Dancers compete for medals, cash awards, company contracts and scholarships. There are junior and senior divisions in the two-week competition that ends June 27.

USA IBC Executive Director Sue Lobrano said one-year dance contracts will be offered from Miami City Ballet, Ballet San Jose, Columbia (S.C.) City Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Nashville Ballet and The Washington Ballet. She added that ticket sales have been strong for this year's event.

The judges come from 13 countries, including Spain, Russia, South Africa, Australia, South Korea, Latvia and Finland. Lobrano said the event has taken place in Jackson since 1979, and is one of the oldest international competitions.

Arthur Mitchell, founding artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, is the honorary chairman of this year's event and will address the crowd Saturday night, Lobrano said.

Ndlovu said Mitchell is among those who inspired his decision to pursue ballet. He began ballroom and Latin American dancing at age 11, but then decided to take a new direction when he was 16.

He knows a win at the USA IBC could lead to bigger things. Even without a medal, the USA IBC experience will be worth it, Ndlovu said.

"I just want to be on the stage and do my best and show the world I'm here," he said.

[Associated Press; By SHELIA BYRD]

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