Dancers win top honors at regional competition

A number of Utah dancers won top honors at the Youth American Grand Prix 2008 regional ballet competition in Denver last weekend.

Tyler Burkett, 18, a freshman in the University of Utah Ballet Department, who also trained at the Ballet West Academy, won the overall Grand Prix and was named in the Top 12. Burkett danced a variation from "The Nutcracker" and a contemporary work choreographed by U. ballet department senior Christopher Peddecord.

Peddecord, 24, was given the Outstanding Choreographers Award during the competition.

The two will head to the finals in New York in April.

Here is a list of the other Utah winners and their categories in last week's regional competition:

Taylor Block, 15, Salt Lake Ballet Conservatory, bronze in women's senior classical ballet, classical ballet top 12 and combined contemporary dance top 12;

Tess Hewlett, 17, Wasatch Dance Center, combined senior contemporary dance top 12;

Kelsey Holbrook, 17, Wasatch Dance Center, combined senior contemporary dance top 12;

Kaitlyn van Wagoner, 15, Wasatch Dance Center, combined senior contemporary dance top 12;

Tiare Keeno, 13, Wasatch Dance Center, bronze in junior contemporary dance, contemporary dance top 12, gold in junior classical ballet and classical ballet top 12;

Courtney Forbes, 12, Wasatch Dance Center, junior contemporary dance top 12;

McCae Bonner, 14, Wasatch Dance Center, junior contemporary dance top 12 and Judges Recognition of Special Performance;

Theresa Schuyler, 11, Ballet West Academy, pre-competitive division top 12

Wasatch Dance Center, third place ensemble.

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E-mail: scott@desnews.com