Joy Womack, Teen Dancer, To Be First American Graduate Of Bolshoi Ballet Academy In Russia (VIDEO)

In about two months, 17-year-old Joy Womack will be the first American to graduate from a world-class Russian ballet school.

The Texas native traveled nearly 6,000 miles from home to study at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, where she trained for years with instructors and other dancers, NBC reports.

Teachers from the academy extended a special invitation to Womack after they noticed her at the school's 2009 summer intensive, according to Dance magazine.

But her arrival wasn't exactly well-received by other dancers at the academy, at least not at first.

"I was put with the graduation class in repertoire ahead of the other girls in my class … that had created a lot of jealousy and a lot of questions," Womack told NBC's Irina Tkachenko.

Since then the teen had made a few friends at the school, likely aided by having learned to speak Russian.

Womack isn't the only American studying at the Russian institute, formally known as the Moscow State Academy of Choreography.

Montana brothers Julian and Nicholas MacKay are among the youngest students at the school, according to PRI's "The World."

Julian, who was 12-years-old when he was interviewed by The New York Times, acknowledged the school was a long way from home, but said the techniques he's learned at the school more than justified the move.

"There have been times when I was like, ‘I don’t know whether I am ever going to be able to actually get it right,'" Julian told the Times in 2010. "But if I didn’t come here, I would probably end up being a mediocre dancer. I want to be here as long I can."

Mario Vitale Labrador, a 21-year-old dancer from California, also said the program's rigorous techniques have made him a better dancer.

"You are finding your body achieving things that you never thought you could achieve," he told Reuters earlier this year.

So what's in store for Womack after graduation? Suspense.

The young woman will be awaiting an invitation to join the institute's ballet company, NBC reports.

For a peek into Womack's life at the Bolshoi, watch the New York Times video below.

WATCH:

Comments

[georgeandjack]

03:40 AM on 05/24/2012

Just to set the record straight, the statement in this article "Joy Womack, Teen Dancer, To Be First American Graduate Of Bolshoi Ballet Academy In Russia" is incorrect.

Joy Womack is not the first American girl to graduate from the Russian top class at the Boshoi Academy. The first was YAGP alumni and San Francisco Regional winner, Jeraldine Mendoza, and Emma Powers both of whom graduated from Bolshoi Academy in 2010. Both girls are from City Ballet School - San Francisco, and listed in the Encyclopedia Britannica as the first American women to graduate from the Academy in 232 years. Joy Womack was an under classmen at the Acadamy at the time the two girls graduated. Jeraldine now dances professionally with the Joffrey Ballet, and Emma is a Trainee with Oregon Ballet.

Link to the original story published by the San Francisco Chronicle.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2010%2F01%2F08%2FDDTA1BETBL.DTL

[Kayla the Dancer]

10:59 PM on 12/09/2012

Also, Breanna Dvorak in 2007. She was a professional dancer in St. Paul, MN, but is now a teacher in the Central MN area (I'm so lucky to get to train with her!)

[Pavane]

10:40 AM on 04/10/2012

Joy, your parents must be SO proud of you. As an American, I am proud of you. Thank you for all your hard work. You are beautiful and talented and I look forward to seeing you on stage!

[playsindirt]

09:21 AM on 04/10/2012

Amazing gift plus dedication and hard work. Brava.

[palindrom]

07:11 AM on 04/10/2012

Ballet, and sports, are among the few areas where teens can find adults who pay close attention to them and hold them to exacting standards. I think this does enormous good for kids. They sense right away when adults aren't actually serious.

[karen0803wall]

12:26 AM on 04/10/2012

Good for her to pursue her dream. I know Joy feels so blessed to be at Bolshoi, and will not waste her opportunities!

[randinoel]

10:43 PM on 04/09/2012

I had to POST this. Those that know me, know my love of ballet and my dedication to wanting to continuously try harder at my art.