Grand Jeté

South Carolina's Student Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition and More!

March 1-6, 2022

Join us for the week or just for a specific event! (See the full schedule below.)

Ballet students, ages 10-19, are invited to compete for cash prizes and participate in master classes, audition classes, and a dance recruiting fair during Grand Jeté, presented by the SC Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities. All events are open to both competitors and non-competitors.

The Grand Jeté competition is currently full and registration is closed. To register for teacher workshops or to be added to the competition waitlist, please contact grandjete@scgsah.org.

Participants compete by age group divisions:

• Pre-Competitive (Ballet only) - ages 10-12
• Junior Division 
  (Ballet, Modern/Contemporary, and/or Student Choreography) - ages 13-15
• Senior Division 
  (Ballet, Modern/Contemporary, and/or Student Choreography) - ages 16-19

This year’s Grand Jeté will take place over six days from March 1-6, 2022, but participants do not have to attend the entire week. All events, except for the Virtual Information Sessions with dance program recruiters, will be held in person for student competitors and non-competitors, adjudicators, audition and master class teachers. Recruiters and SC dance teachers can participate in person or via Zoom.

Grand Jeté 2022 reserves the right to cancel at any time. In the event of a cancellation due to Inclement Weather, Grand Jeté will not be rescheduled.

Adjudicators

Jorden Morris

After retiring from the stage as a principal dancer, Jorden began to study teaching and explore choreography at Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet. He then attended New York University studying dance and theatre arts. Jorden trained with Claude Bessy and Serge Golovine from the Paris Opera, studying early French choreography and pedagogy. He also studied teaching with Russian masters Sergei Berejnoi and Tatiana Terekhova while at Boston Ballet. Jorden was the associate school director for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and is in constant demand as a guest teacher and ballet master throughout North America.

Jorden accepted a position on the artistic staff of Boston Ballet in 2000 and rose to the rank of Chief Ballet Master before moving back to Canada to pursue choreography and teaching. During his time in Boston, Jorden was able to work with established choreographers Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Chris Wheeldon and Rudi Van Dantzig.

In 2002 Jorden took on the concept, direction and choreography of “Head Start/Feet First”. The project was a collaboration between the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and four intercity academic schools. 

In 2003, Jorden took the popular children’s television show “The Toy Castle” and transformed it into an interactive live dance performance. Directed and choreographed by Jorden, the production incorporated a live host with interactive dance for pre-school children. Jorden starred in the television series and was nominated for a Genie award in 2003. 

In December of 2006, Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet presented the world premiere of Jorden’s full-length Peter Pan. The critically acclaimed work played full houses on tour, making it one of the companies most successful creations. 

Jorden’s second full-length creation, Moulin Rouge had its world premiere in October 2009. Additional performances were added due to box office demand for this one-of-a-kind production.  

In 2012, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet premiered two new works by Jorden. The Doorway, set to the music, poetry and voice of Leonard Cohen; and MOA, a work inspired by the artist Egon Schiele. 
After playing to over 250,000 people on tour in North America and Europe, Moulin Rouge made its return to Canadian audiences in 2013/14, and was transformed into a full feature dance film with Cineplex Odeon.  

The Royal Winnipeg Ballet premiered Defile in 2014, a new work combining the professional students and dancers of the company.

In 2016 the Royal Winnipeg Ballet toured China and Europe with Moulin Rouge, both Pittsburgh Ballet and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet presented Peter Pan, and Atlanta Ballet brought Moulin Rouge back to the United States. Nevada Ballet Theatre opened Peter Pan in Las Vegas 2017.

Jorden became the Artistic Director of Emonton’s Citie Ballet in 2015. Jorden created several new works as director, Ophelia and Mozart 42 premiered in 2015/16. Jacinto and Tierra were created for the 2016/17 season. In his final season, Jorden choreographed Turas and Bach to Bach. During his time in Edmonton, Jorden also held the title of senior creative director with Canada’s Shumka Ukrainian Dance company.

Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre premiered The Great Gatsby in February of 2019, Jorden’s newest creation with an original score by Carl Davis.

Jorden has been artist-in-residence for Orlando Ballet the past year and will present his three full length and a new creation over the next three years. For the 2021-22 season, Jorden has accepted the position of Artistic Director with Orlando Ballet.

Akua Noni Parker

Dancer, teacher, model, and chef, Akua knew she wanted to pursue a career in the artistic field at an early age. After graduating high school, Akua would be invited to join Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she would embark upon what would become a lifelong career in dance.

She performed as a leading company member with the prestigious dance companies: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT), Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH), Cincinnati Ballet and Ballet San Jose, and recently was the solo female dancer in the opera, Florencia en el Amazonas.

During her illustrious career, Akua also took on the role of teaching professional company classes for Jessica Lang Dance, Dance Theatre of Harlem and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She currently holds the ABTNTC (American Ballet Theater National Teaching Curriculum) certification in levels Preprimary- Level 5, and subsequently teaches and coaches young, aspiring dancers.

Along with having an artistic inclination, Akua has always had an interest in the business aspect of being an artist. Her tenacity landed her the appointment of AGMA (American Guild of Musical Artists) Union Representative where she lead her fellow artists in administrative work and contract negotiations.

As a model, Akua has been featured in Dancer DIY magazine as well as Double Magazine and can be seen onscreen in the films Nighthawks and In the Heights.

As Akua has a profound appreciation for health and wellness, she is not only certified in the Zena Rommett Floor Barre technique but also traveled to Spain to become a certified vegan chef.

Akua draws inspiration from her artistic experience to create plant-based recipes and teaches both ballet and cooking classes virtually. She uses her knowledge of wellness and love of all things DIY (do-it-yourself) to guide others as a health, lifestyle and movement coach.

Sarah Wroth

Sarah Wroth is associate professor of music in ballet and chair of the Ballet Department at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

She began her ballet training at the Frederick School of Classical Ballet in Frederick, Maryland. After graduating from high school, she earned a Bachelor of Science in Ballet Performance with an Outside Field in Education from the Jacobs School of Music in 2003 and became a member of the corps de ballet of Boston Ballet Company under the artistic direction of Mikko Nissinen.

Wroth began working part-time for Boston Ballet School in 2004, further studying her craft through the teaching of other dancers. She began teaching for the Boston Ballet Adaptive Dance Program for Children with Downs Syndrome in 2005, and in 2009, she was awarded the E. Virginia Williams Inspiration Award for her unwavering dedication to ballet and the Boston Ballet Company.

In 2013, Wroth began her experience with ballet company management by working on a panel to create a Boston Ballet partnership with Northeastern University. The partnership offered undergraduate education opportunities along with a scholarship to any Boston Ballet dancer willing to weave a formal education into their complex ballet schedule. The partnership also allowed Wroth to earn a master’s degree in nonprofit management.

Wroth performed numerous roles in a variety of styles while dancing with Boston Ballet. She has performed principal roles in works by William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian, Marius Petipa, Jerome Robbins, Helen Pickett, and Mikko Nissinen, as well as soloist roles in ballets by Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, and August Bournonville. She has performed with Boston Ballet internationally in Spain, England, South Korea, and Finland, also performing with great acclaim at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., and the Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City.

Participating Recruiters

We're happy to announce that representatives from the following schools are seeking talented dancers during Grand Jeté's audition classes this year! 

• Dean College, in person
• Kennesaw State University, in person
• New World School of the Arts, in person
• Ohio State University , in person
• Point Park University, virtually
• Royal Winnipeg Ballet, virtually
• Texas Christian University , virtually
• University of North Carolina, Charlotte , in person 
• University of Oklahoma, in person
• University of South Florida, virtually
• University of Utah, in person
• More to Come!

2022 Participation Guidelines

Below is an overview of the guidelines to participate in Grand Jeté. Students do not have to compete to participate in the recruiting fair, master classes or audition classes. Download a printable version of the Grand Jeté Guidelines.

Health Protocols

Our SCGSAH President succinctly states our goals: Stay Safe. Stay Here.

You can help us do that by observing these protocols:

1. Masking is required for all guests and participants throughout the program and visit to campus.
2. Seating is reserved and limited to ensure distancing and enable contact tracing if/as necessary.
3. Exit guidance is given at the beginning of each event. To the extent possible, please maintain distancing while coming into or leaving the hall.
4. Cooperation with school personnel as they uphold these protocols (as well as host an event or run a production) is a must.

Health Protocols will be constantly updated and posted on our website. Based on local guidelines from DHEC and the CDC at the time of the event, Grand Jeté 2022 may go to a fully or partially virtual platform. Decisions will be made as needed.

Eligibility

Grand Jeté is happy to announce that it will not limit the number of entries per school. Grand Jeté welcomes dance students from throughout the state of South Carolina. All participants must be attending elementary, middle, or high school in South Carolina at the time of the competition.

• Participants must be full-time residents of the state of South Carolina to apply and to participate.
• Grand Jeté is open to dance students, ages 10–19 as of January 1 of the competition year.
• Proof of age and SC state residency eligibility may be requested.

Grand Jeté is an equal opportunity organization and does not discriminate based on race, nationality, age, sex, and non-disqualifying physical disability.

Deadlines

The deadline to register for all Grand Jeté events is February 1, 2022. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-serve basis. A minimum number of participants may be required in order for this event to take place. Registration will close when Grand Jeté reaches its maximum capacity. Additional applicants will be placed on a waitlist.

Fees

No entry is guaranteed until payment has been processed. A confirmation will be sent to each studio for their records and approval.

• Information Sessions: Free
• Competitors Registration Fee: $65, includes master classes and audition classes
• Solo Fee: $50 per solo. Maximum of three solos-either two classical ballet variations and one contemporary solo or two contemporary solos and one classical ballet
• Non-Competitors Registration Fee: $50, includes master classes and audition classes 
• Teacher Workshops Registration Fee: $50
  (This amount will be refunded for K-12 public school teachers upon successful workshop completion)

Categories

Note: Each student may compete in a maximum of three solos: two ballet and 1 contemporary or two contemporary and 1 ballet.

• Classical Ballet Solos 
  The competitor will perform a variation selected from the classical ballet repertoire list provided. 
  
  The Pre-Competitive Age Division students are allowed to modify and/or simplify the variations to fit their technical level or may select a solo that is not represented on the Repertoire list, but must be a dance age and skill-appropriate choreographed ‘classical’ ballet piece. For the safety and wellness of our Grand Jeté Competitors, we strongly discourage the Pre-Competitive participants from dancing on pointe.
• Contemporary Solos and Student Choreography
  Contemporary Dance is a genre of concert dance that may include principles of various dance styles such as classical and neo-classical ballet, modern dance, postmodern dance, and others. Some of the dance styles may include theoretical concepts and philosophies from pioneers such as Martha Graham, Pina Bausch, Mary Wigman, Ted Shawn, and Alvin Ailey to name a few.
  
  Competitors may perform and/or choreograph their contemporary solo on or off pointe.
  
  Jazz and lyrical dance may be integrated, as the choreography may require. However, tap, hip hop, and similar dance is not permitted in the performance.
  
  If applicable, for original or protected choreography not in public domain, it is the responsibility of the competitor, competitor’s parent, teacher or coach to obtain all required choreographers and/or musical releases, and to pay any required royalties.
• Student Choreography - Solo only
  Competitors are encouraged to submit their own choreographic works.
  
  Students Choreography will be adjudicated on Originality, Creativity, Musically, Execution, Style, Character, Personality, use of Time (Rhythm, Speed, Syncopation), use of Energy (Quality of Movements) and use of Space.

Competitor Details

Headshot
All competitors must submit a current headshot. Headshots need to be submitted to grandjete@ scgsah.org no later than February 1, 2022.

Time Limits
Ballet variation choices must be selected from Grand Jeté’s Ballet repertoire list, and contemporary solos are limited to a maximum time of 2:30 minutes in length. Though bows are not included in the 2:30 time, please refrain from bowing unless your solo finishes on stage.

Costumes
Costumes are encouraged and must be provided by the competitor/competitor’s school. Due to the pandemic, adjudication will not be placed on the competitor’s choice of costumes.

Props
Please note that all props used by participants are used at the participant’s own risk.

Grand Jeté is not responsible for any injury or incident resulting from a participant’s use of props of their choice.

The use of props must be pre-approved by Grand Jeté and must be identified at the time of registration. Please email morganpatterson@scgsah.org with the subject line “Grand Jeté prop usage request” and a description of all props to be used. Performers may not use dangerous props or props that could damage the venue or harm people.

There is no storage space for props off stage and Grand Jeté does not provide assistance with the movement of props on or off the stage. Parents, teachers or coaches are responsible for maintaining control of props off stage and bringing the props on and off the stage in a timely manner not to exceed 1 minute. The stage must be cleaned and cleared of any props immediately after the performance and the props removed from the wings.

Music
Competitors are required to provide their own music using an MP3 file. Music is to be uploaded online as part of registration by February 1, 2022. All music must be cued properly and must be recorded at the competitors’ desired speed. Please note that no adjustments can be made at the competition. Studio owners must have available a recorded copy of their music on a CD that can be played on a standard CD player in case the downloaded music malfunctions. The CD music must be cued properly and must be recorded at the competitors’ desired speed. Please note that no adjustments can be made at the competition. If applicable the competing student, student’s parent, teacher or coach is responsible for obtaining any required musical releases and is responsible for the payment of any royalties.

Lighting
A general warm wash will be provided to all competitors. No special lighting requests will be granted.

Repertoire
Download the Repertoire List 

Additional Information
All changes to the originally submitted entries must be received in writing seven days prior to the competition. No verbal requests will be honored.

Adjudication & Scoring

There will be three adjudicators that are out of state internationally recognized dance professionals. The scoring system is based on Technique and Artistry with each having a 100-point value. Each judge’s final score is then the average of the technical and artistic marks. The average score given by each of the three judges will be added together to produce a final score out of a possible 300 points.

Grand Jeté utilizes the most advanced technology available for judging and tabulation of scores. While watching the competitors, each judge will simultaneously and individually record oral critiques, comments and encouraging remarks into the state-of-the-art adjudicating software. When the competition is completed, the tabulator will record the score of the participant.

Studio owners and independent competitors will have access to each adjudicator’s oral comments on each of the competitors through the registration portal following the competition.

Awards

FIRST PLACE: $500.00 
Four will be awarded: one for best score in Classical Ballet for seniors, one for best score in Contemporary dance for seniors, one for best score in Classical Ballet for juniors, and one for best score in Contemporary dance for juniors.

• Senior Category - Highest score of 270 or above applies to both Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance
• Junior Category - Highest score of 265 or above applies to both Classical Ballet and Contemporary Dance

SECOND PLACE: $300.00 
Four will be awarded: one for best score in Classical Ballet for seniors, one for best score in Contemporary dance for seniors, one for best score in Classical ballet for juniors, and one for best score in Contemporary dance for juniors.

• Senior Category - Highest score of 260 or above applies to both Classical ballet and Contemporary Dance 
• Junior Category - Highest score of 255 or above applies to both Classical ballet and Contemporary Dance

THIRD PLACE: $150.00 
Four will be awarded: one for best score in Classical Ballet for seniors, one for best score in Contemporary dance for seniors, one for best score in Classical ballet for juniors, and one for best score in Contemporary dance for juniors.

• Senior Category - Highest score of 250 or above applies to both Classical ballet and Contemporary Dance  
• Junior Category - Highest score of 245 or above applies to both Classical ballet and Contemporary Dance

SCHOLARSHIP AWARD: $500.00 
Tuition scholarship for the 2022 South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory in Columbia, SC. Awarded to the junior student with the highest score.

• Highest score of 265 or above

THE PROMISE AWARD: $200.00
Two will be awarded for the best score in Classical Ballet for pre-competitive, one for a female student competitor and one for a male student competitor. 

• Highest score of 235 or above

MALE DANCER AWARD: $200.00
One will be awarded for the best score for a junior or senior male dancer in either Classical Ballet or Contemporary.

• Highest score of 235 or above

STUDENT CHOREOGRAPHY AWARD: $150.00 

• Adjudicators’ choice

HONORABLE MENTION: Gift Certificates of $100 each from The Sock Basket. Two will be awarded, one for a female student competitor and one for a male student competitor.

Each competitor will receive a Certificate of Participation.

Master Classes - Ages 10-15

Master classes for ages 10-15, (Grades 4-10)

Classes are taught in person for dance students and in person or Zoom access for recruiters.

Due to the pandemic, teachers and parents are not permitted in master classes.

Grand Jeté Master Classes are included in the competitor's registration fee and is $50 for non-competitors. 

Saturday, March 5, 2022

• 8:30 - 10 a.m. — 4th-7th grade Ballet with Irina Ushakova, SCGSAH
• 10:15 - 11:45 a.m. — 4th-7th grade Modern/Contemporary with Jacqueline Calle Hernandez, SCGSAH
• 1:15-2:45 p.m. — 8th-10th grade Ballet with Delia Neil, UNC Charlotte
• 3 - 4:30 p.m. - 8th-10th grade Modern/Contemporary with Maeghan McHale Hobbs, SCGSAH

Audition Classes - Ages 15-19

Audition classes for ages 15-19 (Grades 11 & 12)
The cost of the audition class is included in the competitor's registration fee and is $50 for non-competitors.

Classes are taught in person for dance students and in person or Zoom access for recruiters.

Selected university and trainee dance program recruiters from across the nation will observe the competition as well as the audition classes. These audition classes will be used to recruit seniors, to offer scholarships, to offer invitations for Summer Intensives, and to personally invite selected juniors to audition for their programs the following year.

Recruiters will be looking at criteria such as potential, technique, and artistry, response to correction, coordination, and musicality.

In the Competition, students will be assigned a number for each solo they perform. In the Audition classes, students must wear the first number that was allocated to them and must wear it for the duration of the audition.

Teachers and parents are not permitted in Audition Classes.

Saturday, March 5, 2022

• 8:30 - 10 a.m. — High School Senior Ballet with Marc Arentsen, Dean College
• 10:15 - 11:45 a.m. — High School Senior Contemporary with Maeghan McHale Hobbs, SCGSAH
• 1:15 - 2:45 p.m. — High School Junior Ballet with Christopher Alloways-Ramsey, University of Utah
• 3 - 4:30 p.m. — High School Junior Contemporary with Jacqueline Calle Hernandez, SCGSAH

Teacher Workshops for Private Studio Teachers

Classes are taught in person with the option of in person or Zoom access for private studio teachers.

Saturday, March 5

• 1:15 - 2:45 p.m. Intermediate/Advanced Contemporary with Jacqueline Calle Hernandez, SCGSAH
• 4:45 - 6:15 p.m. - Intermediate/Advanced Ballet with Christopher Alloways-Ramsey, University of Utah

Participation Fee: $50

Teacher Workshops for K-12 Public School Teachers

These workshops are offered through the SCGSAH Office of Outreach and will be taught in person with the option of Zoom access for teachers. 

• Register for In-Person Workshop
  In-person registration is limited to 15 participants. A $50 deposit is required to secure a spot. This deposit will be refunded upon successful completion of the program.
  
  Checks should be made payable to SCGSAH Foundation with “Dance Workshop” in the memo line and mailed to:
  
  Office of Outreach
  SC Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities 
  Attn: Carol Baker
  15 University St. Greenville, SC 29601
  
  Deposits must be received by February 21, 2022. If we have not received a deposit by this date, your spot will be released.
• Register for Zoom Workshop
  Zoom workshops are free of charge.

Schedule

• 8:30 - 10 a.m. - Historical Dance with Irina Ushakova, SCGSAH
• 10:15 - 11:45 a.m. - World Dance with Alisa Caldwell, SCGSAH

Schedule Overview - March 1 - 4, 2022

Virtual Information Sessions via Zoom

Ages 15-19 (Grades 10-12)
Information sessions will be given by selected university and trainee dance program recruiters. Sessions will occur virtually during the full week prior to the beginning of Grand Jeté weekend.
 

• March 1, 2022
  • 5:45-6:15 p.m. - University of Oklahoma, Glenn Edgerton
  • 6:30-7:00 p.m. - Ohio State University, Damian Bowerman
  • 7:15-7:45 p.m. - University of South Florida, Andrew Carroll
• March 2, 2022
  • 5:45-6:15 p.m. - University of Utah, Christopher Alloways-Ramsey
  • 6:30-7:00 p.m. - Texas Christian University, Carrie Hickman
  • 7:15-7:45 p.m. - UNC Charlotte, Delia Neil
• March 3, 2022
  • 7:30-8:00 p.m. - Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Stéphane Léonard
• March 4, 2022
  • 6:30-7:00 p.m. - Dean College, Marc Arentsen
  • 7:15-7:45 p.m.- Point Park University, Susan Stowe and Jay Kirk

Schedule Overview - Saturday, March 5, 2022

• 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. -
  Dance Recruiting Fair, open to all Grand Jeté participants
• 8:30 - 10 a.m.
  • 4th-7th grade Ballet Master Class
  • High School Senior Ballet Audition Class
• 10:15 - 11:45 a.m.
  • 4th-7th grade Modern/Contemporary Master Class
  • High School Senior Contemporary Audition Class
• 1:15 - 2:45 p.m.
  • 8th-10th grade Ballet Master Class
  • High School Junior Ballet Audition Class
  • Intermediate/Advanced Contemporary Teacher Workshop for private studio teachers
• 3 - 4:30 p.m.
  • 8th-10th grade Modern/Contemporary Master Class
  • High School Junior Contemporary Audition Class
• 4:45 - 6:15 p.m.
  • Intermediate/Advanced Teacher Workshop for private studio teachers

Schedule Overview - Sunday, March 6, 2022

• 8:00 - 8:45 a.m.
  Pre-Competitive Category Warm-up Class
• 8:45 - 9:30 a.m.
  Junior Category Warm-up Class
• 8:30 - 10 a.m.
  Historical Dance Workshop for K-12 public school teachers
• 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.
  Dance Recruiting Fair for all Grand Jeté participants
• 10:15 - 11:45 a.m. 
  World Dance Workshop for K-12 public school teachers
• 11:00 - 11:45 a.m. 
  Senior Category Warm-up Class
• 9:45 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.   
  Competition: Pre-Competitive Ballet
• 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 
  Competition: Junior Ballet 
• 12:45 - 2:00 p.m. 
  Competition: Senior Ballet
• 2:00 - 3:00 p.m. 
  Competition: Junior Contemporary
• 3:00 - 4:15 p.m. 
  Competition: Senior Contemporary
• 7:00 - 8:00 p.m. 
  Closing Ceremony Awards and Scholarship Announcements

For questions, contact:
Adair Kempf, Event Coordinator
grandjete@scgsah.org
864-436-4041