Press Release

Contact:Deidre Byrne
Maryland Youth Ballet
4833 Rugby Ave., Suite 100
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-608-2232
dbyrne@marylandyouthballet.org

Maryland Youth Ballet’s J. Mark Giragosian was the
Grand Prix winner at the Youth America Grand Prix
semi-finals on January 28, 2006 in Philadelphia.

Eight of Maryland Youth Ballet’s young dancers competed in the semi-finals of the Youth America Grand Prix on January 28, 2006.

The Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition attracts the most talented young dancers from all over the world. Over 500 students competed in the semi-finals in Philadelphia on January 28, 2006 and only 12 boys and 12 girls were chosen to go to the finals in New York, NY April 19-23, 2006. There are 8 semi-final locations in the United States and three semi-final international locations. As a result, there will be over 500 finalists competing at the finals in New York in April. These students rehearse for months to prepare for this competition. Winning an award or acknowledgment could mean winning scholarships or a professional job in a ballet company in the future. Just being asked to compete as a semi-finalist or in the finals in New York is a wonderful experience for these young dancers.

MYB students who attend the YAGP semi-final competition:

Lillian DiPiazza, 16, Silver Spring, MD
Lizeth Valverde, 14, Silver Spring, MD
J. Mark Giragosian, 17, Catharpin, VA
Eric Trope, 15, Poolesville, MD
Anna McKinnon, 15, Chevy Chase, MD
Mallory Douthit, 13, Bethesda, MD
Monica Giragosian, 14, Catharpin, VA
Carolina Bonilla, 16, Silver Spring, MD

Semi-Final Competition Results (MYB students to go to New York):

Grand Prix Winner: J. Mark Giragosian
One of top 12 senior finalists in Philadelphia: Lillian DiPiazza
One of top 12 junior finalists in Philadelphia:  Lizeth Valverde
Invited to New York to compete:  Eric Trope
Invited to New York workshops during finals weekend: Anna McKinnon

Outstanding Teacher Award
MYB Faculty Members Michelle Lees and Olivier Munoz



J. Mark Giragosian is 17 and a junior in high school. Mark has trained at MYB since the age of 7 and under the direction of Associate Director Michelle Lees. At the age of 10 Mark also started training with MYB faculty member Olivier Munoz. Mr. Munoz is from Lyon, France and was a principal dancer with Cleveland San Jose Ballet for 14 years and English National Ballet for 5 years. With the coaching of Mr. Munoz, Mark won the Grand Prix of the semi-final competition the weekend of January 28, 2006. He also competed in the Youth America Grand Prix for the two previous years. In 2003 Mark was awarded the Youth America Grand Prix Outstanding Artistry Award, and in 2004 he was ranked in the top six. Mark will also be competing in the US International Ballet Competition June 17 to July 2, 2006.

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