Haley Breslin, a student at the Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy in Lancaster, has been chosen to participate in the Kiev Grand Prix Festival, a ballet competition in Ukraine. This competition has a longstanding reputation of including some of the world's most talented ballerinas.

Breslin is a junior at the Commonwealth Charter Academy. She will join other students from the United States in the competition, but she is the only student from Pennsylvania who will participate.

Haley has been working toward this goal since September of last year. She dances six days a week and fits in extra lessons between school and her regular dance schedule.

This will be the second time that Viktor Yeliohin, the ballet master of the Viktor Yeliohin International Ballet Academy, will participate in the event, as he has been selected as one of the event's many judges.

Due to the COVID-19 restrictions, the competition will be an entirely virtual event. Breslin will participate in three categories: a classical variation, a contemporary piece, and improvisation, which is a new category this year. She has already submitted her videos to the committee, and they will be judged at the beginning of May.

Final judging will take place on Monday and Tuesday, May 10 and 11, and the contestants' videos will be posted on the competition's Facebook page, which may be found by searching for "Grand Prix Kyiv." Winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 12, followed by a special ballet performance.

Yeliohin welcomes all students to his studio. The academy will also host its own ballet competition, Releve, in early November, with proceeds benefiting children's health initiatives. More information may be found at http://www.vyballet.com and http://www.relevepa.org. Questions may be directed to Yeliohin at 717-419-6688 or relevedanceorg@gmail.com.