Dancers from Georgia Youth Ballet (GYB) have returned from performing at the Regional Dance America (RDA) National Festival in Pittsburgh, Penn. This year’s event was only the second national festival in RDA’s 50-year history.

Emily Moore of Newnan, Brittany Eubanks of Lithia Springs, Jordan Smith of Peachtree City, Olivia Boyd of Warner Robins, Hannah Skibiel of Brooks and Kara Cawley of Gay represented GYB during the week-long festival.

After a rigorous adjudication process this spring, GYB was selected to perform Apolysis for the national audience. Apolysis is a new ballet choreographed specifically for Georgia Youth Ballet by Kristy Nilsson.

In addition to performing, GYB’s dancers took master classes in ballet, jazz, modern, and musical theatre taught by world-renown instructors such as Laura Alonso, Leslie Crockett, Marianna Tcherkassky and others.

RDA represents five regional ballet associations, and GYB is a member of the Southeast Regional Ballet Association (SERBA). GYB’s dancers joined an estimated 1,300 other dancers from around the country for the event the last week of April.

“It was quite an honor to perform at the national festival,” said GYB founder and co-artistic director Magdalena Maury. “I’m so glad our dancers performed so well for a national audience. It was a tremendous learning opportunity.”

GYB’s dancers rehearse at The Studio in Fayetteville. Company members come from Fayette, Coweta and six other south metro counties. For more information on Georgia Youth Ballet, call The Studio at 770-716-9858 or visit www.gyb.us.