<img src="http://pointemagazine.com/images/covers/nov03jpg.jpg" alt="" />

A Test Of Talent
Two young Australian dancers test their mettle at the seventh New York International Ballet Competition. By Rebecca Webber for Pointe Magazine


Alexandra Lawler had a 40-hour birthday this year. She and Christopher Rickert, both 19-year-old Australian students at the New Zealand School of Dance, crossed the international dateline as they flew halfway across the world to compete in the New York International Ballet Competition in June.

Since 1983, the competition has gathered top young talent from around the world every three years to learn, rehearse and perform three different pas de deux on a Lincoln Center stage. This year, more than 200 couples applied for a spot. Only 24 were selected.

Week 1: Getting Their Bearings
After a quick orientation, Lawler, Rickert and the other 46 dancers began their grueling work. They started each day with breakfast in the dorm before heading to morning class. Then, from 11 am to 6 pm, the dancers learned and rehearsed the competition repertory.

click for more