2011 Artists Announced for the All Stars of Dance

The WBC culminates on Saturday, June 4^th with the electrifying "All Stars of Dance" performance at 7:30 pm. This one night only performance features the winners of the 2011 WBC sharing the stage with most prominent talent in the dance world all under the same roof at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center in Orlando, Florida, USA.

The 2011 Artist Line-Up:

• Larissa Ponomarenko, Lia Cirio and Misa Kuranaga of Boston Ballet will be joined by their colleagues Joseph Gatti and Jeffrey Cirio, both previous WBC gold medalists.
• Paul Taylor Dance Company will feature its top artists Amy Young, Robert Kleinendorst and Orlando native Eran Bugge.
• Returning audience favorites, Daniel Ulbricht of New York City Ballet and the ever entertaining “MOMIX” dancers will dazzle the audience once again with their virtuosity and acrobatic moves.
• Viktor Plotnikov, one of today's most unique and demanded choreographers, will surprise the public with another world premiere choreographed exclusively for the WBC All Stars of Dance.

Tickets from $25 - $100 are on sale and can be purchased online at www.wbcorlando.com or by calling 407 849 9948. Hurry before tickets sell out!

Complete Artist List: All Stars of Dance 2011

Daniel Ulbricht - New York City Ballet

Larissa Ponomarenko - Boston Ballet

Misa Kuranaga - Boston Ballet

Jeffrey Cirio - Boston Ballet

Lia Cirio - Boston Ballet

Joseph Gatti – Boston Ballet, previously Corella Ballet of Spain

Amy Young - Paul Taylor Dance Company

Robert Kleinendorst - Paul Taylor Dance Company

Eran Bugge - Paul Taylor Dance Company

MOMIX Dance Company

WBC NOTE: For audience comments and reviews from past performances click here.

V. Plotnikov - Video Exclusive of WBC 2010 Premiere!

Here it is! The performance you won't see anywhere else! Viktor Plotnikov's exclusive world premiere at the 2010 WBC All Stars of Dance (previously named "Gala of the Stars").

This choreography is inspired on the American film, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" directed by Milos Forman and the 1962 novel by Ken Kesey. In the novel, the main character, Bromden, suffers from hallucinations and paranoia along with the other patients. His world view is dominated by a fear he calls "Combine", a huge conglomeration of that forces people into conformity and controls society. Bromden pretends to be deaf and tries to go unnoticed, even though he is 6 feet and 7 inches tall...

In this piece, Heather Sanders-Fryxell (Previous Principal Dancer of Southern Ballet Theater - now Orlando Ballet) plays a mental patient dreaming of being a prima ballerina. Viktor Plotnikov is a war veteran. Larissa Ponomarenko (Principal Dancer of Boston Ballet) plays the nurse. Before taking their medicine, the patients are all frantic, but wait and see what happens after they take their medicine.

Watch the video here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_dgGKCTLzyk

If you like this choreography, be sure to check out Plotnikov's 2011 world premiere piece at the All Stars of Dance - Saturday, June 4, 2011! Buy tickets at http://www.wbcorlando.com

V. Plotnikov to Premiere Exclusive Choreography at WBC

Viktor Plotnikov - One of the world's most demanded contemporary choreographers - is set to choreograph another WORLD PREMIERE choreography for the concluding WBC All Stars of Dance!

What is the story line? Which music is he using? Who are the Dancers? You have to come to the show to find out! Saturday, June 4 @ 7:30 pm held at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center! Buy tickets at http://www.wbcorlando.com or Call 407.849.9948.

We will be giving clues from now through June 4 - so be sure to check back for hints! In the meantime, feel free to post your guesses.

P.S. Check back tomorrow for an exclusive snippet of last year's performance! You won't want to miss it!

Yuki Ogasawara - WBC Medalist Feature!

Here is an update on......Yuki Ogasawara (she is on the far right in the photo)!

Yuki won the Silver Medal and $1,500 US Dollars at the inaugural World Ballet Competition in 2007. She competed in the Junior Category and at the time was training with Ellison Ballet. Her competition that year included Whitney Jensen (now with Boston Ballet) and Nana Yamatani (who went on to train with the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C.).

Where is Yuki now? She is dancing with the Dresden Opera and Ballet in Germany.

Her contemporary was cleverly titled "What's the Pointe?" Find out if there was a point at the 2:45 minute mark. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9SidLbE9nk

Joseph Gatti - Showdown in NYC Subway!

Our inaugural World Ballet Competition, Senior Gold Medalist - Joseph Gatti, wowed the 2007 Judging Panel. Since his medal winning performance, he traveled to overseas to join the Corella Ballet of Spain as a Principal dancer and recently joined Boston Ballet as a Soloist.

Now Gatti proves he has star power both on stage and OFF! Watch him strut his moves & amaze bystanders at an NYC subway...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_7OmGiwNsM4

Secret Artist #2 - Revealed!

Artist #2: Daniel Ulbricht, Principal Dancer of New York City Ballet!

A native Floridian, Ulbricht has generated a fan following across the state and now in New York City! Ulbricht has previously danced in our final WBC performances and is always one of the MOST talked about of the night!

Enjoy his most recent performance at our 2010 event... Be sure to wait for the reaction at 0:35! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jIxpMGlcguw

For tickets visit, http://www.wbcorlando.com or Call 407.849.9948 - while they last!!!

All Stars of Dance - Secret Artist #2

The All Stars of Dance performance will be Saturday, June 4, 2011 @ 7:30 pm at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center!

Want to know the line up? We are giving our SECOND sneak peak of this year's performing artists tomorrow.

Clues For Secret Artist #2:

• High-flying jumps
• Magnetic charisma
• Balanchine style dancer

Who could it be? POST YOUR GUESSES! Check back tomorrow for the answer!

P.S. Get your tickets while they're still available!!

Visit http://www.wbcorlando.com

Secret Artist #1 - Revealed

Artist #1: Momix Dance Company!

One of our MOST LOVED performers, each year they defy gravity and use optical illusions to astound our audience.

They performed "Aqua Flora" and "Skiva" in 2008 - you might have seen it on YouTube and its even better LIVE!

Last year they mesmerized the audience with "TUU" which is shown in the 2011 Preview Video of the All Stars of Dance (at the 0:43 second mark). http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dWN2Z3ZifU0

We can't wait to have them back and look forward to seeing your reactions!

All Stars of Dance - Secret Artist #1

This year the coveted All Stars of Dance performance will be back in ORLANDO!

Saturday, June 4, 2011 @ 7:30 pm to be exact!

Want to know the line up? We are giving our first sneak peak of this year's performing artists tomorrow.

Clue For Secret Artist #1: You have watched them in a previous WBC final performance and even gave them a standing ovation!

Who could it be? Check back tomorrow for the answer!

Visit http://www.wbcorlando.com for more information on the World Ballet Competition.