COPA dancers to compete on national level in Youth America Grand Prix finals

During the week of Jan. 8, while most students were still vacationing at home, a group of determined dance majors returned to school to prepare for the semifinals of a prestigious dance competition: the Youth America Grand Prix. 

These students, each aged 18 or 19, had been rehearsing for this competition since September.  On Jan. 18, they traveled to Swarthmore College in Philadelphia for the semi-finals.

The group was led by Point Park University ballet professor Peter Merz, as well as Point Park ballet teacher Cynthia Ridler.  It was Point Park's fourth year of attending the competition with Merz.  This year's group won third place with one of their ensemble numbers, "Make Your Move," qualifying them for the finals in New York City.

The students faced some intense competition at the event.  "Being able to see the talent there was ridiculous," said freshman dance major Nicholas Fearon.  This diverse competition is what Merz sees as one of the benefits of competing.

 "One of the things I really like about YAGP is that it's really an international competition," Fearon said. "There are people there from all over the world.  When you look at where people who have been to YAGP have gone on to, they are principals at major companies."

Merz noted that he likes to give students a chance to get experience.

"I also really like it as a training tool for the kids, kind of a short term goal.  To ‘become a dancer' is kind of a wide goal.  This gives the students a short term goal to reach for," Merz said.

"Make Your Move,"the winning ensemble number, was choreographed by jazz professor Kiesha Lalama-White.  It was an original piece that she created especially for the YAGP dancers. 

"It's about a battle between men and women," Fearon said.  "We all come together in the end.  It's very high energy, very cardio-driven.  It's just really fun to do."  Additionally, the group competed with a restaging of Peter Merz's piece "Au," which was inspired by the gold in his wedding ring. 

One particular challenge each dancer faced was having to perform a solo classical variation, which is an excerpt from a classical ballet. 

In "classical variations, you don't get to choose the steps," Merz said. "That's what is so good about classical repertoire, you have to rise up to it.  That's an important part of your education here, pushing yourself to go into challenging situations makes you stronger."  Merz explained how he had to focus on the strengths of each dancer to be able to choose the variation that would best showcase their talents. 

Some dancers also chose to compete with a contemporary solo, such as Point Park freshman Jillian Campbell.  She placed in the top 12 in her category with her contemporary solo, "Let it Rain." 

"I was kind of nervous to do a solo," Campbell explained. "I learned it three weeks before.  It really pushed me to be able to learn a piece and perfect it quickly, and it really paid off in the end."

One of the strengths of this successful group, according to Merz, was their ability to work together.  "This was a really incredibly positive group. They were very supportive of each other," Merz said. "Their success, I think comes from the versatility that the dancers at Point Park have.  I think that really impresses the judges, the ability to perform both contemporary and classical."

The feeling of camaraderie was echoed by Campbell, who is looking forward to competing in the New York City finals on April 26. 

"We grew really close and became a family.  I'm excited to share this experience with them again in New York City."