NEWSLETTER
September 2005:
1: The Academy welcomes back Vice-Principal Chun Che. Mr. Che will be with the Academy for the 2005/2006 school year. He returns to Vancouver after guest teaching with the National Ballet of Canada and his appointment as Principal Teacher of Ballet Jorgen – Canada.
11 : Goh Ballet student wins Canada ’s first ever Gold Medal at London’s Genée International Ballet Competition
Celine Gittens, 17, topped competitors from all over the world to win the gold medal at the Royal Academy of Dance: 2005 Genée International Ballet Competition earlier this month at Sadler's Wells Theatre in London, England. Miss Gittens is training with the Goh Ballet Academy's professional program and has been a member of the Vancouver Goh Ballet Company since 2001.
Gittens’ accomplishment continues a remarkable Goh Ballet tradition.
“Only four Canadians have brought home medals in the Competition’s 74 year history – all of whom were from the Goh Ballet Academy,” said Jan Garvey, National Administrator, Royal Academy of Dance.
Gittens also brought home the Audience Award. Competition officials noted that the audience is also given the chance to vote for their own Genéewinner, historically producing a very different ‘winner’ from the official decision.
“We are delighted with Celine’s stunning success” said Goh Ballet Artistic Director Choo Chiat Goh, who helped coach Gittens for the September 11 competition. “Celine has a true gift for ballet that she has nurtured through years of hard work. We are so proud of her accomplishments.” Goh added that Goh Ballet principal staff member Mei Fang Lin also coached Gittens.
Gittens, originally from Trinidad, immigrated with her parents to Canada in 1997. Gittens has also earned the prestigious Solo Seal Award from the Royal Academy of Dance, the First Prize in Senior Ballet at the BC Festival of Arts - Provincial Championships in 2004, and numerous awards in local festivals. Residing in Richmond, she now enters her final year of high school and will continue to train at the Goh Ballet.
The Genée International Ballet Competition promotes and rewards standards of excellence in young ballet dancers aged 19 years and under from all over the world. As a finalist, Miss Gittens was required to perform three variations; Michael Corder’s specially commissioned variation, Antony Dowson’s choreography for the 2004 competition in Athens, and her own choice of Classical Repertoire variation. Ms. Gittens chose the challenging variation from Giselle Act I.
28: National Ballet of Canada’s Swan Lake at “The Centre” allowed Goh Ballet YBC graduates Nan Wong and Noah Long to shine in several roles as they embark on a professional career with the Company.
