Ilona Copen, 1940-2010
November 28, 2001
Ilona Copen, founder and longtime director of the New York International Ballet Competition, died of cancer in February. A native New Yorker, Copen studied at Juilliard and performed with modern dance companies before founding the NYIBC in 1983. Copen also served on the board of several dance organizations and was director of dance at the 92nd Street Y and president of the U.S. Chapter of the Conseil International de la Danse.
