Former Ballet San Jose youth dancers aspire for 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics!
Polina Edmunds and Elliana Pogrebinsky were bright eyed four year-olds when they entered the doors of (Former) Ballet San Jose School. Spirited and full of desire they excelled in the technique of ballet. Little did their peers know that they also excelled on the ice as figure skaters. Now fourteen years later both girls are making their artistic mark on the international scene as part of US Figure Skating’s Team USA!
Polina Edmunds is one of the top US ladies in figure skating and local student at Santa Clara University. She is the 2015 Four Continents champion, a two-time US national silver medalist (2014, 2016), and represented the United States at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi where she placed ninth. She continued her dance through her years of training at Dance Theatre International focusing both on ballet and jazz. She recently paused her training due to injury but took that time to refine her artistic practice. Her new routines for this Olympic year are choreographed by national champion Rudy Galindo and show a mature advancement of musicality, articulation and emotional maturity.
Elliana Pogrebinsky is a competitive Ice Dancer. She with partner Alex Benoit are members of Team USA and the reigning US Senior pewter medalists. Their placement lines them up to make the 2018 or 2022 Olympic teams. Pogrebinsky and Benoit won bronze medals at the US Nationals for two years in a row at the junior level along with a pewter medal at the Junior World Championships and a bronze at the Junior Grand Prix. Their focus on artistry is a true testament to the fundamental beginnings of ballet in San Jose. Currently Elliana trains with internationally recognized coach Igor Shpilband in Michigan. Together with Alex, they train 25-30 hours per week which includes skating, ballroom, ballet, acrobatics, acting, and physical exercises for strength and stamina.
San Jose is hosting the US Championships (the qualifying for the Olympics) in December 29th - January 8th at the SAP Center. Another local bay area skater Karen Chen (national champion) will also be competing. The San Jose arts community should enjoy cheering these local cultural athletes on to the Olympics!