Local dance student invited to train in Russia

Anna Lee Edmondson, 18, of Milford, has completed four years of classical ballet training with a scholarship at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. Her teachers at Kirov Academy included Yuliya Rakova, Marianna Lobanova and Tamara Manukovskaya. Edmondson auditioned and was accepted into ballet opportunities in America and overseas.

In addition, Edmondson’s artistic director recommended that she apply to the yearlong international trainee program of the Vaganova School associated with the Mariinsky Ballet in St. Petersburg, Russia. She sent an audition video, along with the recommendation of her Artistic Director Adrienne Dellas Thornton.

Very few dancers are chosen from around the world to train in Russia. Edmondson has decided to postpone other professional ballet company opportunities while she pursues further training in Russia. She has taken a deferral from the University of Delaware World Scholar Program as well.

Edmondson got her early training in ballet with First State Dance Academy in Milford from the age of 3 until high school under the artistic direction of MIchele Xiques. Her other previous FSDA teachers included Cindy Correa, Tatiana Akinfieva-Smith, Misty Yencer, Maria Fry and Michelle Parisi. She competed in the Youth American Grand Prix for two years. She also trained at First State Ballet Theatre with Kristina and Pasha Kambalov. She enjoyed performing with Diamond Dance Company, Delaware Dance Alliance and at the Delaware Dance Festival. She is a Diane Drulis scholarship winner.

She attended summer programs at Burklyn Ballet, Kirov Academy of Ballet, Houston Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet. She also danced in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival in Scotland.