Andalusia was well represented at the recent Universal Ballet Competition in Atlanta by Andalusia Ballet. The UBC is a premiere student ballet competition. Judges are principal dancers, company and school directors from around the world. Dancers from all over the country are judged on their presentation of selected classical repertory, contemporary works and their technique in class work.

Mia Baumgartner, Emma Henley, Sophia Jones, Paige Landreneau, Emily Anne Morgan, Lindsey Stevens, Emily Ward, Sydney Ward and Sarah Beth Wriston represented Andalusia Ballet. These dancers all received very high scores for their classical variations and contemporary solos. Andalusia Ballet’s group piece, “Snowing,” received the second place in the Junior Competitive Group Category. Sarah Beth Wriston, Paige Landreneau and Emily Anne Morgan placed in the top 15 of the more than 100 dancers in their age group, 12-14, from around the country.

Director Meryane Martin Murphy said she is proud of this group of young dancers who competed on a very high level with students from schools in major metropolitan areas.

“Their training and skills were on a level with the best,” Murphy said. “Too often rural students are not offered training commiserate with their abilities. Our local ballet keeps astonishing us as each new crop of dancers draws upon the increasing abilities displayed by the groups before.”