Tommie Kesten with Damien Martinez in Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh’s “Nutcracker. Photo: Katie Ging.
YAGF. Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest international student dance competition, has expanded its network of competitions to Pittsburgh for a second year of semifinals (and moved to the larger Byham Theater), which says a great deal about Pittsburgh’s emerging dance footprint. Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh’s Tommie Kesten, 14, bourreed away with the Youth Grand Prix, the top award in the Junior Age Division. Verily Treu, 13, of Pittsburgh Ballet House, landed in third place and captured first place in the Contemporary Dance Category. In the Pre-competitive Age Division, Victoria Pete, 10, of Pittsburgh Youth Ballet and Sofia Williams, 11, of Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh, placed in the Top 12. Point Park University took third place in Ensembles for Idiosyncratic Rising. Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh and Pittsburgh Youth Ballet were in the Top 12 for IV and Til the End. To top it all off, Point Park University staff member Kiesha Lalama received the Outstanding Choreographer Award.
CHLOE. Former Dance Moms teenager Chloe Lukasiak has partnered with Chicago singer-songwriter Jess Godwin in the music video, Fool Me Once.
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