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THE USA International Bellet Competition was one of the original four sanctioned by The International Theatre Commission of UNESCO, the others being in Varna, Moscow, and Helsinki. It was founded in 1979. After 1982, the IBC has been presented every 4 years. My first IBC as an audience member was in 1986. By 1990 I had various duties including nightly program copy editor. For the last 2 or three IBCs I have served as official photographer.

Comosite of Medalists and Awardees from 2002. Photo is by Richard Finkelstein ©2002

Maki Onuki, now with the Washington Ballet, performing at the 2010 USA International Ballet Competition. Photo by Richard Finkelstein

Maki Onuki, now with the Washington Ballet, in class at the 2010 USA International Ballet Competition. Photo by Richard Finkelstein

Danny Tidwell - 2002 USA-IBC. Photo by Richard Finkelstein ©2002

ABOVE: Joseph Michael Gatti in the air in 2006. This photo was published in The New York Times ©2006 Richard Finkelstein

ABOVE: Wu Haiyan and Li Jun, of China perform at the 2002 USA International Ballet Competition. Photo is by Richard Finkelstein ©2002. If you view this composite very closely in its enlarged version you will get a small taste of the magnificence of the dancing and the difficulty in capturing it. In this modern ballet piece, Wu Haiyan dances all around and over Li Jun's body, but at the climax of the piece, she moves from atop his head slithering round and round his body like a snake till, when her head reaches the floor, she arches out away from his body. Magnificent feat of strength, control, artistry. Unfortunately, as continues to be a trend, she wore all black, against a black background, in near total darkness. These shots were all in performance and using 2002 digital equipment. but I photographed multiple performances and then worked nearly a year to be able to bring forth the forms of the bodies.

Wu Haiyan (China), Li Jun (China) Gold and Silver Medalists, 2002 USA International Ballet Competition. Photo by Richard Finkelstein ©2002

ABOVE: Ki-Min Kim, Junior Silver Medalist of South Korea dancing at the 2010 USA International Ballet Competition.

Misa Kuranaga, Japan. Gold medalist in the Senior Division at the 2006 USA International Ballet Competition

ABOVE: Michaela DePrince dancing a solo from Paquita at the 2010 USA International Ballet Competition, Round 1 Session 2

ABOVE LEFT: Ruta Jezerskyte at the 1998 USA International Ballet Competition. Photo by Richard Finkelstein. ©1998

USA International Ballet Competition 2006. FROM LEFT: Vanessa Zahorian (noncompeting partner) and Davit Karapetyan, Armenia, Best Senior Couple; Avetik Karapetyan, Armenia; Zherlin Ndudi, Ukraine, Jury Award of Encouragement winner; Denys Cherevychko, Ukraine, Junior Silver Medalist; and Daniil Simkin, Germany, Senior Gold Medalist. — with Vanessa Zahorian- Principal Dancer, Davit Karapetyan, Avetik Karapetyan, Zherlin Ndudi, Denys Cherevychko and Daniil Simkin at Thalia Mara Hall.