These international ballet stars will perform to benefit a Columbia-area charity

Renowned dancers from all over the world will perform this weekend at the Koger Center for the Arts as part of Columbia Classical Ballet presents LifeChance: International Ballet Gala of the Stars.

Featured ballet star Mack is an professional ballet dancer originally from Elgin. He began training with Pavlovich when he was 12 to improve his football skills. At age 15, he received a full scholarship from the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. He still lives there, dancing his eighth season with the Washington Ballet.

Other guest artists include Ayano Kimura, Rolando Sarabia, and Tamako Miyazaki of the Washington Ballet; Etienne Diaz, Mayara Pineiro, Dayesi Torriente and Arian Molina Soca of the Pennsylvania Ballet; Lia Cirio, Paul Craig, Ashley Ellis, Matthew Slattery, Patrick Leonard Yocum and Ji-Young Chae of the Boston Ballet; and Rena Butler and Manuel Vignoulle of Hubbard Street Dance. Of those 16 dancers, seven are principal dancers with their company, and one is a soloist.

Here’s a little more about the benefit performance from Radenko Pavlovich, Columbia Classical Ballet’s artistic director.

Q. How long has Columbia Classical Ballet been bringing ballet stars to Columbia for the LifeChance benefit performance?

A. We started LifeChance more than two decades ago, but it really became the event it is today in 2007. One of my greatest students – Brooklyn Mack, now a principal dancer with Washington (D.C.) Ballet – won the silver medal in the Jackson, Mississippi, International Ballet Competition that year. I connected with all my friends that are directors from around the world at the competition. Many of their dancers who received medals came to Columbia for LifeChance. From that point, brilliant dancers have been coming and Brooklyn, who grew up in Elgin, always takes joy in returning and giving back to the community that gave him his start.

Q. How did you have the idea to hold a charity ballet event in Columbia?

A. Columbia is a great city, and the residents love their ballet! We thought it would be wonderful to bring some of the nation’s best ballet talent to the city to treat ballet fans with a night of thrilling performances that you could normally only see by traveling to a major city like Boston, Pittsburgh or New York. LifeChance was an instant success.

Since the dancers were giving of their time and talents, we thought it was only fitting that LifeChance also give back to the community – each year we have picked a different local charity to publicize and support. It has been great to see the appreciation of charity leaders over the years.

Q. Tell us a little more about the performance itself.

A. LifeChance brings amazing soloists and duets to the stage at the Koger Center. One reason dancers love coming to LifeChance is that they get to perform their favorite pieces or premier a piece that they themselves have choreographed. These performers are among the best in the world and they bring a diverse repertoire – each according to their passion – to LifeChance.

Columbia Classical Ballet also prepares a unique and special piece to perform. The dancers love the variety from the more traditional and beloved classics we do during the year. Then there is the finale – a special treat as all of the amazing dancers take the stage for a final exultant number.

Q. What is this year’s charity?

A. We selected “Heroes in Blue” this year. Heroes in Blue is a nonprofit started by Kassy Alia when her husband, Gregory, a Forest Acres policeman was tragically killed in the line of duty. Kassy, “is committed to appreciating the compassionate and courageous acts shown by law enforcement daily, to bridging the gap between police and community through empathy and action and to providing immediate support to families in response to tragedy” (heroesinblue.net).

We are very excited to have Kassy and leaders from Forest Acres come to the performance this year so we can honor them for all they do for our town and neighborhoods. We really want to encourage a cooperative spirit between the city and its police – and have a community that cares about both safety and civility.