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Date: 4/13/2023
LONGMEADOW — Alexis Conway, 14, of Longmeadow, recently received an award for best overall performance with her dance team at the Youth America Grand Prix in Boston last month.
Youth America Grand Prix hosts the world’s largest nonprofit student ballet scholarship competition. Conway was part of the 26 young dancers, ranging in age from 10 to 18 from 10 different Massachusetts communities, who competed in the global dance network.
Her team, Koltun Ballet Boston, located in Watertown, was founded by former seasoned dancers, Alexandra Koltun and Alex Lapshin. Conway joined the dance school in September 2021 and frequently makes the trek from Longmeadow to Watertown to regularly attend classes for the sake of her dancing career.
“She decided to come to Koltun Ballet for more serious, pre-professional ballet schooling,” said co-founder of the school, Alexandra Koltun, who has professionally danced for over 40 years, coached dance for more than 15 years and now mentors Conway. “She came not knowing much of the [ballet] vocabulary that she needed, [so] I felt she immediately fell in love with the school. I think that is what made her decision. And obviously, a big decision for her parents to drive her 90 miles each way.
“We had to work very hard last year because she came from a very small environment, and as a young child, she didn’t quite understand how talented she is. I immediately saw her talent. I told her from the beginning that it’s worth [the] time to come this way and perhaps even move, at some point, closer to us for convenience,” Koltun said.
Youth America Grand Prix has hosted its annual competition every spring for the past 25 years. This year, over 1,000 dancers competed to be chosen to proceed to the finals in New York City.
Last summer, in preparation for the competition, Conway started intensive summer ballet classes where Koltun and her husband concentrated on building her classical foundation and ballet technique.
“I probably would have liked to train [Alexis] for another year,” said Koltun. “But, her parents said she loves to perform and we thought, ‘We cannot take that opportunity away from her,’ and jumped on it. We started working in the summer and then continuously throughout the school year: September, October, [and] November.”
Nearing January, the two prepared Conway for the Universal Ballet Competition where she won Best Junior Dancer and the Aspire Award.
“That’s the best award in the competition, actually, the aspire,” said Koltun. “It’s almost like a Grand Prix. She was quite amazing.”
Following just a month later, was the Youth American Grand Prix. Conway placed “Top 24” with her classical solo and “Top 12” with her contemporary performance out of almost 1,000 dancers.
“It’s tough to win, said Koltun. “She did very well and we’re going to give it another chance [next year.] She got a great experience.”
Being only 14 years old, and professional auditions are not until 17-18 years of age, Conway still has her career ahead of her.
“Both my husband and I are very excited about her future and it’s always nice when students come in when they’re younger because you can do so much more,” said Koltun. “She came in when she was 12. She’s just 14 [now] so we have a ways to go, but isn’t it challenging when you have all of this potential in a talented student, along with her commitment? Her eyes are wide open. She’s hungry. She’s hungry to learn. That is the best gift. I think we could do wonders.”
Not only does Conway have the talent, commitment, and natural hunger – according to Koltun – but she said Conway has been absorbing what she and her husband teach her and is slowly grasping certain more difficult movements. She believes she and her husband are growing a very talented individual.
“We are thrilled to have her,” said Koltun. “She does so well in competitions, [but] most importantly, she’s enjoying being on stage and I think she is a true performer. That is my professional opinion. It’s rare. It’s rare to see. She’s very organic, [in] the way she does certain movements. I think she’s going to be a professional, in my opinion. I strongly believe so. If it [keeps] going like this ... I’m putting a good bet on her. I can see [it] emotionally, physically, she’s talented.
“And she has great coaches,” Koltun added.
Conway, described as a sociable middle-schooler by her peers and instructors, has the makings of a truly accomplished ballerina, according to Koltun. With more time and commitment training, Conway is projected to participate in many more competitions and on-stage performances.
“She’s blossoming with us, just blossoming,” said Koltun. “And I think it’s the best gift a coach and director and person who supervises her could ask for, to see them grow with the school.”