NEW YORK, NY(SMI-GLOBAL-ARTS-ENTERTAINMENT-APRIL 08-17, 2025)-The Valentina Kozlova Int'l Ballet competition known for its well acclaimed ballet educational programs & generous scholarship awards to winners of its annual Ballet competition concluded its 2025-edition in grandiose style, announcing the winners of the classical and contemporary competitions on its final gala last Saturday's evening at John Jay College Theater in NYC.

 

Hundred plus Ballet dancers(Female & Male) representing over 10+ countries from around the world: Brazil, Canada, South-Korea, China, Panama, Italy, Germany, Paraguay, Armenia, & USA. 

The VKIBC founded by the former ballerina from Russia Valentina Kozlova, it's known for attracting aspiring ballet dancers from around the world, and selected qualified contestants are invited to compete for medals, scholarships, contracts and prizes annually in front of classical and contemporary expert ballet jurors.

In addition to the ballet divisions and dancers, the competition brings a line-up of reputable judges with extensive expertise in the field of ballet and score the contestants based on their talent and abilities, and not persuaded on school status, teacher or coach.

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2025 Classical/Contemporary Jurors/Judges:

-Nina Ananiashvili(Georgia), President of Ballet of Georgia.

-Joan Boada (USA), Artistic Director. Associate Director Boston Ballet

-Nicole Duffy (Puerto Rico),Rehearsal Director Ballet Hispanico

-Diane Hakak (USA), Founder & Director of New Elite Ballet

-Chan Hon Goh(Canada),Director Goh Ballet Academy & Former Principal Dancer National Ballet of Canada.

-Virginia Johnson (USA),Artistic Dir Emerita/Dance Theater of Harlem.

-Era Jouravlev (USA) Program Director " Joffrey Ballet School

-Andrei Jouravlev (USA) Dance Theacher of Joffrey Ballet School

-Hee Sun Kim (South Korea) Dean of School of Dance, Korea University of Arts.

-Graham Lustig (USA) Artistic Director Oakland Ballet

-Steven Melendez (USA) Artistic Director NY Theater Ballet

-Rio Mitani (Japan)  Artistic Director ABC Tokyo Ballet Co & ABS Tokyo.

-Melanie Person (USA) Co-Director, The Ailey School

-Margo Sappington (USA) International Choreaggrapher & Director

-Ricardo Scheir (Brazil/Italy) Artistic Director PAVILHAO D

-Sergei Soloviev (France) Former Bolshoi Principal Dancer & International Teacher

-Eduardo Vilaro (Cuban-American/USA) Artistic Director & CEO Of Ballet Hispanico

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Article & Photos  by Marcello Cutti II/Women Starlight/Starlight Illustrated

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2025 VKIBC CONTRACTS & SCHOLARSHIPS Winners:

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#40 Skylar Reeve 2 WEEKS FULL SCHOLARSHIP DURING SUMMER OR WINTER THE AUSTRIAN BALLET SCHOOL IN TOKYO, JAPAN

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#48 Lucas Garcia da Silva 2 WEEKS FULL SCHOLARSHIPS DURING SUMMER OR WINTER THE AUSTRIAN BALLET IN SCHOOL IN TOKYO, JAPAN

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#54 Romina Rubio 2 WEEKS FULL SCHOLARSHIP DURING SUMMER OR WINTER

THE AUSTRIAN BALLET SCHOOL IN TOKYO, JAPAN

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#70 Hoelim Sohn 2 WEEKS FULL SCHOLARSHIP DURING SUMMER OR WINTER THE AUSTRIAN BALLET SCHOOL IN TOKYO, JAPAN

#70 Hoelim Sohn FULL SCHOLASHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE SINGUR BALLET, USA

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#50 Sophia Witherly PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE SINGUR BALLET, USA

 

#54 Romina Rubio FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE SINGUR BALLET, USA

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#35 Seowoo Cho FULL SCHOLARSHIPS FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE SINGUR BALLET, USA

 

#46 Owen Tang PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE SINGUR BALLET, USA

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#20 Antonella Algeri 2 WEEKS FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP DURING SUMMER OR WINTER SESSION 2025 K-ARTS, SOUTH KOREA

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#23 Manuela Catharino 2 WEEKS FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP DURING SUMMER OR WINTER SESSION 2025, K-ARTS, SOUTH KOREA

 

#38 Maya Dolecki 2 Weeks Full Tuition Scholarship During Summer Or Winter Session 2025,  K-ARTS, SOUTH KOREA

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#47 Kira Fox 2 WEEKS FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP DURING SUMMER OR WINTER SESSION 2025, K-ARTS, SOUTH KOREA

 

#72 Christopher de Godoy Bitar FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2 WEEKS SUMMER SCHOOL NEW YORK THEATRE BALLET

 

#58 Alyssa Morial 50% SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE LA SCUOLA DI DANZA, ROMA, ITALY

 

Lavinia Dos Santos Reis 50% SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE LA SCUOLA DI DANZA, ROMA, ITALY

 

#34 Mariana D'Orazio 50% TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRAINEE PROGRAM JOFFREY BALLET SCHOOL,USA

 

#43 Kelly Zhong 50% TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRAINEE PROGRAM JOFFREY BALLET SCHOOL, USA

 

#60 Samyra Abbas FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRAINEE PROGRAM JOFFREY BALLET SCHOOL, USA

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#44 Helena Lino FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRAINEE PROGRAM JOFFREY BALLET SCHOOL, USA

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#56 Pedro Napoleão FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR TRAINEE PROGRAM JOFFREY BALLET SCHOOL, USA

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#41 Anna Li FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR 3 WEEKS SUMMER PROGRAM JOFFREY BALLET SCHOOL, USA

 

#47 Kira Fox FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR 3 WEEKS SUMMER PROGRAM JOFFREY BALLET SCHOOL, USA

 

46 Owen Tang FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP AND HOUSING FOR 3 WEEKS SUMMER PROGRAM JOFFREY BALLET SCHOOL, USA

 

#73 Andre Zwieskowski FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP AND HOUSING FOR 3 WEEKS SUMMER PROGRAM JOFFREY BALLET SCHOOL,USA

 

#93 Hyunmo Koo FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP AND HOUSING FOR 3 WEEKS SUMMER PROGRAM JOFFREY BALLET SCHOOL, USA

 

#85 Emanuel Lopes FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE AND CHOREO LAB BALLET HISPANICO, USA

 

#73 Andre Zwieskowski FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE AND CHOREO LAB BALLET HISPANICO, USA

 

#54 Romina Rubio FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE AND CHOREO LAB BALLET HISPANICO, USA

 

#72 Christopher de Godoy Bitar FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE AND CHOREO LAB BALLET HISPANICO, USA

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#79 Emily Lezcano FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE AND CHOREO LABBALLET HISPANICO, USA

 

#60 Samyra Abbas FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE BALLET HISPANICO, USA

 

#34 Mariana D'Orazio PARTIAL SCHOLASHIP FOR SUMMER INSTENSIVE BALLET HISPANICO, USA

 

#33 Lilly Lopane PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE 2025 GOH BALLET, CANADA

 

#34 Mariana D'Orazio PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE 2025, GOH BALLET, CANADA

 

#39 Erik de Marco PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE 2025 GOH BALLET, CANADA

 

#40 Skylar Reeve PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE 2025 GOH BALLET, CANADA

 

#43 Kelly Zhong PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE 2025 GOH BALLET, CANADA

 

#44 Helena Lino PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE 2025, GOH BALLET, CANADA

 

#45 Ellie Raedy PARTIAL SCHOLARSHIP AND ANNUAL PROGRAM 2025/2026 GOH BALLET, CANADA

 

#24 Da Young Ryu FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2 WEEKS SUMMER INTENSIVE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA, TBILISI

 

#11 Na Eun Park FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2 WEEKS SUMMER INTENSIVE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA,TBILISI

 

#35 Seowoo Cho FULL TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2 WEEKS SUMMER INTENSIVE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA,TBILISI

 

#21 Nikki Chan 50% TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2 WEEKS SUMMER INTENSIVE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA,TBILISI

 

#23 Manuela Catharino 50% TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2 WEEKS SUMMER INTENSIVE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA, TBILISI

 

#20 Antonella Algeri 50% TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2 WEEKS SUMMER INTENSIVE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA,TBILISI

 

#13 WeiYi Ma 50% TUITION SCHOLARSHIP FOR 2 WEEKS SUMMER INTENSIVE STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA, TBILISI

 

#56 Pedro Napoleão FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR YEAR AROUND PROGRAM AND SUMMER INTENSIVE BOSTON BALLET SCHOOL

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#54 Romina Rubio FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE BOSTON BALLET SCHOOL 

 

#46 Owen Tang 50% SCHOLARSHIP FOR SUMMER INTENSIVE BOSTON BALLET SCHOOL

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Contracts & Apprenticeship

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#73 Andre Zwieskowski FULL SCHOLARSHIP FOR PROFESSIONAL STUDIES PROGRAM BALLET HISPANICO, USA

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#79 Emily Lezcano COMPANY CONTRACT GOH BALLET YOUTH COMPANY, CANADA

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#70 Hoelim Sohn APPRENTICESHIP FOR 2025-2026 SEASON STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA, TBILISI

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#79 Emily Lezcano APPRENTICESHIP FOR 2025-2026 SEASONSTATE BALLET OF GEORGIA, TBILISI

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#78 Maria Antônia Schmitt APPRENTICESHIP FOR 2025-2026 SEASON

STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA, TBILISI

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#91 Jacqueline Bertault APPRENTICESHIP FOR 2025-2026 SEASON STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA, TBILISI

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#92 HuiJeong Ryu APPRENTICESHIP FOR 2025-2026 SEASON STATE BALLET OF GEORGIA, TBILISI

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#72 Christopher de Godoy Bitar COMPANY CONTRACT OAKLAND BALLET, USA

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