Press Releases

First Steps in the Right Direction

(Winnipeg, Manitoba; February 25, 2008) – This past Saturday, students in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division were presented with awards from First Steps 2008. The annual choreographic competition ran from February 14 -21, giving the RWB School students the opportunity to present their original pieces to the public. It culminated with the Gala Performance and Awards Ceremony on February 23, where a sold out house was treated to a variety of new and inventive works.

The RWB School would like to congratulate the following award recipients:

CIBC World Markets Award for Innovation
Johnstuart Winchell (Waterville, Maine) for And now for something completely different

First Steps First Place Award
Ryan Booth (Colorado Springs, Colorado) for In the Garden, Baby!

First Steps Second Place
Sarah Koekkoek (Burlington, Ontario) for Everything in Between

First Steps Third Place
Sarah deVries (Edmonton, Alberta) for The exquisite pain of wanting someone so unattainable

Paddy Stone Scholarship
Emily Chessa (Richmond, British Columbia) for Inspiration

RWB School Award
Sarah Koekkoek (Burlington, Ontario) for Everything in Between

Doreen Macdonald Scholarship
Jessie Gervais (Comox, British Columbia) for Inhibition

People’s Choice Award
Ryan Booth (Colorado Springs, Colorado) for In the Garden, Baby!
Johnstuart Winchell (Waterville, Maine) for And now for something completely different

Honourable Mentions
Jesse Fraser (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) for Transact
Jessie Gervais (Comox, British Columbia) for Inhibition
Alex Lantz (Rockford, Illinois) for Cold Sweat

The awards were chosen by a select group of jury members composed of artists, arts administrators and RWB School faculty. Among the 2008 jury members were International Teacher, Coach and Artistic Director Anna-Marie Holmes, RWB Company Corps de Ballet Member Mark Biocca, Soprano Monica Huisman and HOT 103 Program Director and Morning Show Host Ace Burpee. In addition to the juried awards, the RWB School staff selected the RWB School Award and the Doreen MacDonald Scholarship recipients. Audience members participated by casting their vote for the People’s Choice Award.

First Steps was developed by the RWB School in response to students expressing their desire to create their own works. The students are involved in every aspect of their choreographed piece, not only choosing the steps and movements, but making all of the artistic decisions including selecting music, performers (from their fellow students in the Professional Division), costumes and lighting.

CIBC World Markets continues their generous support of students presenting their creative works through their ongoing sponsorship of First Steps.

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For more information contact:
Kelly Rybachuk
Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Marketing Coordinator
(204) 957-3446
krybachuk@rwb.org