The winners of the USA International Ballet Competition have been announced!  The winners are:

Senior Division

Gold – 
Cao Shuci (China) Senior Womens

Silver -
Candice Adea (Philippines) Senior Womens
Kosuke Okumura (Japan) Senior Mens

Bronze -
Kyohei Yoshida (Japan) Senior Mens
Zhang Xi (China) Senior Mens
Maki Onuki (Japan) Senior Womens

Junior Division

Nigel Lythgoe, "So You Think You Can Dance" judge and executive producer, just made a super important announcement about the show on his Twitter account!

There always seemed to be something missing on Franklin Street, ever since the San Francisco Ballet built its modestly sleek headquarters there in 1983. Given the Ballet's rich history, the fact that it is the nation's oldest company and often ranked among the best of the best, it seemed only fitting that its building should carry the name of someone who helped make the company what it is now.

American Ballet Theatre, one of the top dance companies in the U.S., will not present a fall repertory season in New York this year, citing the need for rehearsal time for its new production of "The Nutcracker," and the difficulty of fund raising in the current economic climate.

"The reason we chose not to do a fall season is that we're investing a great deal of resources into 'The Nutcracker,'" said the company's executive director, Rachel Moore. "The fall seasons are very expensive for us," she added. "To have to raise money for both ventures was risky."

Judith Jamison can recall vividly the April 1989 lunch in St. Louis when Alvin Ailey designated her his artistic heir. "He said, 'I'm not doing well; you know I'm sick, and I'd like you to take over the company.' I said, 'Sure, of course, Alvin.'

Until recently the Los Angeles-based choreographer Lula Washington did not use e-mail. Actually, she resisted most forms of technology. Her dance company had a Web site; Ms.Washington just hadn’t visited it. So it’s somehat interesting that a few years ago she found herself working with one of the most technologically innovative directors in Hollywood.

Lined up in sweats and leotards, hundreds of sinewy dancers wait with paper numbers pinned to their chests and a singular hope within. Under gray, rainy skies, in dance shoes and bare feet, they've come to an open audition at a place called Center Staging with one dream: dancing on the Academy Awards.

It starts in Columbus, Ohio, and ends in Manhattan, on New Year’s Eve 2011. The Merce Cunningham Dance Company on Wednesday will announce its final tour, meant to give the world a last chance to view the works created by its founder, as performed by the men and women he trained. The modern-dance tour begins on Feb. 12 and wends its way through 35 cities before a final performance at the Park Avenue Armory.

The ruggedly handsome Jiri Jelinek, who has been praised all over the world for his powerful stage presence and strong partnering skills, is the latest coup for National Ballet artistic director Karen Kain as she carefully crafts the company of her dreams. But Kain didn’t go out and recruit the 32-year-old Czech as a principal dancer. It was Jelinek who came calling.

USA International Ballet Competition has named Arthur Mitchell, founding artistic director of Dance Theatre of Harlem, the organization's new honorary chair.

Founded in 1978 by Thalia Mara, the USA International Ballet Competition is held every four years in Jackson, MI. For two weeks, dancers from around the world vie for bronze, silver and gold medals as well as company contracts and scholarships. This year's competition is scheduled for June 12 - 27, 2010.