Ayano Kimura and Brooklyn Mack in Diana and Actaeon

Ayano Kimura and Brooklyn Mack (The Washington Ballet) in Diana and Actaeon, music by Cesare Pugni, choreography by Agrippina Vaganova. Benois de la Danse 2017, Defile of the Stars and New Laureates, shot in the Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow on 30.5.2017.

See all photo galleries from 30.6.2017 Benois de la Danse Stars and New Laureates Gala

See all photo galleries from 30.6.2017 Benois de la Danse Stars and New Laureates Gala

Ayano Kimura is in her fifth season with The Washington Ballet. Kimura was born in Germany and she went on a short-term study abroad to Russia and England in 2005. In 2006, she won first place at the Youth America Grand Prix semi-final competition in Japan and placed in the top 12 at the finals in New York City. She was awarded a scholarship to the Royal Ballet Academy School and also studied at La Scala Theatre Ballet School for two years where she graduated at the top of the class. She also performed with former director of Germany’s Dresden ballet, Vladimir Derevyanko, when she was in school and was the distinguished recipient of the ‘best dancer’ award. Party fact: Kimura performed with Roberto Bolle in the Opening Ceremonies for the Torino Olympic Games.

Brooklyn Mack of Elgin, South Carolina, is in his eighth season with The Washington Ballet. Mack began his dance training at age 12 with the Pavlovich Dance School under Radenko Pavlovich and Milena Leben before receiving a scholarship to study at the Kirov Academy of Ballet. Mack then apprenticed with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago and later joined American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company. Before joining TWB, Mack spent three seasons as a principal dancer with Orlando Ballet. He has performed internationally at Ballet Clasico de Camara with Nina Novak in Venezuela, Latvian National Ballet, NBA Ballet Company in Japan and many others. Notable awards include the Kirsti Paakenen Encouragement Prize at the 2005 International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland; the silver medal at the 2006 Jackson International Ballet Competition, in Mississippi; the 2007 Princess Grace Fellowship Award; Second prize at the 2009 Helsinki IBC; the bronze medal at the 2011 Boston IBC; the Marius Leipa Prize at the 2011 Boston IBC; the silver medal at the 2011 Korean International Dance Competition, the gold medal at the 2012 Boston International Ballet Competition, winner of the 2012 Istanbul Grand Prix and the gold medal at the 2012 International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. Most recently, Mack was featured in Ebony Magazine, theGrio’s Top 100, and was named as a top “25 [dancers] to watch” by Dance Magazine.

Photos by Jack Devant Ballet Photography with kind permission of the Benois de la Danse and Bolshoi Theatre, special thanks to Nina Kudriavtseva-Loory and Regina Nikiforova.