GREETINGS FROM THE FOUNDERS
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Dear Friends,
Today would have marked the start of the YAGP 2020 Finals. More than 1,500 of the most promising young dancers from 36 countries would have gathered in New York to audition for up to $500,000 in scholarships to the world’s leading dance academies. The world’s largest dance homecoming event would have begun, with dancers flying in from all 5 continents to see their longtime friends. And stars of today’s most celebrated dance companies would have started to arrive for the YAGP 2020 Gala at Lincoln Center.
Instead, we are facing a new reality. As the world grapples with the pandemic, we are reminded of just how fragile and interconnected we all are. We are also reminded of how strong we are as a family.
The world’s largest dance homecoming is still happening – online – and not just for NYC finalists, but for the entire YAGP dance community worldwide. Judges and ballet stars are still connecting to students and audiences via online classes, discussions and expert advice. And scholarships will find their recipients.
Coordinating scholarship offers and acceptances between dozens of preeminent dance schools and hundreds of talented students across the globe is no small task – but our artistic team is ready for the challenge. We have launched a Virtual Scholarship Survey to create the world’s largest database of dancers, whom we will continuously match with existing scholarship opportunities.
In the meantime, we invite you to join us in taking a look at the highlights of the incredible journey that was YAGP’s 2020 Semi-Final Season. Starting in August 2019 and finishing this spring, we traveled the world in search of promising young dancers representing all geographic, ethnic, and economic backgrounds, with a singular purpose: to help these dancers develop their talent through performance and education opportunities, scholarship auditions, and master classes.
Since its inception 21 years ago, YAGP’s mission has always been – and will always be – to connect students, teachers, schools, dance companies, dancers, and audiences worldwide. This year alone, YAGP awarded hundreds of scholarships to renowned dance schools throughout its international audition tour. We now continue to serve our mission through digital scholarship placement, online classes, and other programs designed to inspire and educate dancers worldwide.
Stay well – and remember: together, we can overcome any challenge and ensure the future of dance for years to come.
With gratitude and appreciation,
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Larissa Saveliev
Artistic Director, Founder
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Gennadi Saveliev
Founder
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YAGP 2020 SEMI-FINAL SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
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Our season began at the end of August 2019 and took us across 14 countries and 27 locations in the United States, finishing in Canada at the beginning of March. Dancers from all over the world performed their variations, participated in master classes with the world's leading educators, and made lifelong friendships with fellow artists.
More than 12,000 dance students worldwide participated in YAGP 2020 U.S. and international audition tour.
We hope you enjoy this virtual scrapbook of highlights from this season.
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2020 International Semi-Finals
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Our 2020 Season opened in Korea, headed by YAGP alumna and Board member, Hee Seo. As YAGP Korea Ambassador, Hee does not only facilitate opportunities for talented dancers from her home country, but also serves as an example and inspiration to the next generation of dancers around the globe.
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Enjoying a candid moment with Claudio Muñoz, Ballet Master of Houston Ballet II
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Hee Seo, YAGP alumna, Board member, and YAGP Korea Ambassador, teaching Korean students
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This season's Brazil Semi-Final was held for the first time at the Theatro Municipal of São Paulo. It was a historic moment for Brazilian dancers, as it marked the first time a ballet competition was held at this majestic theater, regarded as one of the most beautiful landmarks of the city.
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Alexei Moskalenko, Assistant Artistic Director of YAGP, teaching men's class
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Rachel Quintao & Arthur Willie (ATM Centro Cultural da Dança)
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Inside the Theatro Municipal
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João Vitor Santana (Itego Basileu França)
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Vitor Augusto Vaz (Itego Basileu França)
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Melbourne & Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
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After 3 years of holding semi-finals in Australia, Australian dancers continue to impress the YAGP judges and teachers with their talent, dedication and artistry. YAGP has now become the largest source of international scholarships for dancers in the country, with many of the scholarships presented on the spot.
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Jean-Yves Esquerre, Director of European School of Ballet, teaching men's class
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Oliver Matz, Director of Zurich Dance Academy, teaching junior women
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Gioia Masala, Leading Faculty Member of Princess Grace Academy, with Australian participants
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Yan Chen, Ballet Mistress of American Ballet Theatre Studio Company, teaching senior women
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This season marks the 2nd time YAGP held its Semi-Finals in Indonesia - and we are encouraged by the outpouring of grateful feedback from Indonesian dance students for all the opportunities brought to them by the world's leading dance professionals.
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Karine Plandatit, TONY-nominated Broadway performer & former dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, joins Indonesian participants in celebrating the joy of dance
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Ilona Jahja (Marlupi Dance Academy),
Junior 1st Place Winner
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Rebecca Alexandria Hadibroto (Marlupi Dance Academy), Junior Women's Gold Medalist,
YAGP 2019 NY Finals
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The YAGP China Semi-Final was held at the Beijing Dance Academy - home to the biggest dance facility in the world.
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Pengxiang Sun (Beijing Dance Academy),
Senior 1st Place Winner
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Lin Zhang (Beijing Dance Academy),
Senior 2nd Place Winner
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Tai Tsz Ching (Suzhou Chang Yi Ballet School),
Pre-Competitive 3rd Place Winner
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Ting Tsz Ho (Hong Kong Camy Academy of Dancing),
Pre-Competitive 1st Place Winner
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Shanghai Jincai Experimental School, 1st Place Ensemble Winner
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Japan was home to YAGP's first international semi-final, dating all the way back to 2002. It is still one of the biggest and most exciting dance events in YAGP's international tour schedule.
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Tadeusz Matacz, Director of the John Cranko School of The Stuttgart Ballet, teaching junior women
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This year we celebrated 15 years of bringing the YAGP experience to Mexico. The distinctive format of the Mexico Semi-Final is a never-ending fiesta - a festival of dance, as part of which students take master classes, audition for scholarships, and perform alongside past winners, YAGP Alumni, and guest artists.
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Paulo Gonzalez (The Cuban National Ballet School, CUBA)
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Madison Brown (Lents Dance Company, FL)
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Mexico Festival de Danza Gala
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One of the unique features of YAGP is providing young dancers with performance opportunities before live audiences on world stages. The 2019 Festival de Danza in Orizaba, Mexico, included a Gala with an international all-star cast featuring many YAGP alumni* - professional dancers as well as student performers:
- Elisa Carrilo Cabrera, Staatsballet Berlin
- Lucia Lacarra and Matthew Golding*, International Principal Guest Artists
- Jeffrey Cirio*, English National Ballet
- Rocio Aleman*, Stuttgart Ballet
- Ivana Bueno* and Daniel McCormick*, English National Ballet
- Sarah Lane*, American Ballet Theatre
- Maria Kochetkova, International Principal Guest Artist
- Sebastian Kloborg, Danish Dance Theatre
- Lil Buck, International Guest Artist
- Antonia Skobina and Denys Drozdyuk, International Ballroom Champions
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Lucia Lacarra and Matthew Golding, YAGP Alumnus
International Principal Guest Artists
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Rocio Aleman, YAGP Alumna
Stuttgart Ballet
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Lil Buck, International Guest Artist
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Jeffrey Cirio, YAGP Alumnus
English National Ballet
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Marco Masciari, YAGP Alumnus
Student of Princess Grace Academy (MONACO)
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Mackenzie Brown, YAGP Alumna
Student of Princess Grace Academy (MONACO)
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This year YAGP is honored once again to be hosted in France by the legendary Paris Opera Ballet School. We are especially proud to have become the first outside organization POBS welcomed at its facilities in its 300 year-history.
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Élisabeth Platel, Director of the Paris Opera Ballet School, teaching junior women
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Eva Hrytsak (Kiev State Choreography School, UKRAINE), Junior 1st Place Winner
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Milda Luckute (The National M.K.Ciurlionis School of Art, LITHUANIA), Senior 1st Place Winner
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Matthis Laevans (Ballet School Raymonda, BELGIUM), Junior 2nd Place Winner
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Uliana Efimova & Maksim Apatonov (Armida Ballet School, RUSSIA), 1st Place Pas de Deux Winner
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This season marked the first time YAGP held its semi-final in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - becoming the first ballet competition ever to be held in the country.
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Located in the Northern part of Italy, Cattolica is a small town with a big heart, welcoming YAGP participants from all over Europe and beyond at this year's semi-final.
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Alfonso Ferreira (Ent'Artes - Escola De Dança, PORTUGAL), Junior 3rd Place Winner
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Ela Kaner (Istanbul University State Conservatory, TURKEY), Junior 1st Place Winner
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Michela Caprarulo & Riccardo Bruttomesso (Il Balletto, ITALY),
1st Place Pas de Deux Winners
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Brimming with talent and excitement, Barcelona was the last international semi-final of the season before we began the audition tour in the United States and Canada.
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António Casalinho (Conservatório Internacional De Ballet E Dança Annarella Sanchez, PORTUGAL), Grand Prix Winner
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Martha Savin (Dance Planet, ROMANIA),
Junior 1st Place Winner
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Nina Miro Verger & Asier Bautista (Escola de Dansa d'Alaro and Jove Ballet de Catalunya, SPAIN),
2nd Place Pas de Deux Winner
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Eric Soler (Escuela de Danza Marisa Yudes, SPAIN),
Junior 1st Place Winner
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2020 U.S. and Canada Semi-Finals
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While part of our team was still finishing international semi-finals, the rest of the team began the U.S. audition tour in November, traveling all over North America until the beginning of March.
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Ryo Yatogo (Aika Ballet School, NY),
Senior 1st Place Winner
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Lacey Park (Hudson Conservatory of Ballet, OH), Senior 1st Place Winner
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Eva Shinn (The Premier Ballet School of Orange County, CA), Pre-Competitive 1st Place Winner
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Madeleine Lee (V&T Classical Ballet Academy, CA), Junior 2nd Place Winner
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McKenzie Wilson (Emerald Ballet Academy, WA),
Senior 2nd Place Winner
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Kristian Arciaga (The Dance Conservatory West Vancouver, CANADA), Senior 1st Place Winner
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Katelyn Yang & Philipp Mergener (Independent, WA), 1st Place Pas de Deux Winner
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Elene Gaganidze (International Ballet Theater Academy, PA), Grand Prix Winner
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Ellie Iannotti & Angel Ramirez Castellano (The Rock School for Dance Education, PA),
1st Place Ensemble Winner
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Ella Justi (Florida School for Dance Education, FL), Hope Award Winner
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Brady Farrar (The Art of Classical Ballet/Stars Dance Studio, FL), Youth Grand Prix Winner
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Next Generation Ballet at the Straz Center, FL
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YAGP 2020 Tampa Gala
"Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow"
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This year's Tampa Semi-Final was once again accompanied by YAGP's
"Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow" Gala
, now an annual Tampa tradition, at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts. This exciting event was created in partnership with the Straz Center and in artistic collaboration with Philip Neal and Daniel Ulbricht. Audiences were treated to an incredible cast, nearly all of whom are YAGP Alumni*:
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- Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet)
- Constantine Allen* and Anna Tsygankova (Dutch National Ballet)
- Skylar Brandt* and Gabe Stone Shayer* (American Ballet Theatre)
- Nayara Lopes* and Sterling Baca* (Pennsylvania Ballet)
- Juliet Doherty* (Actress, High Strung)
- And talented participants of the Tampa Semi-Final
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Skylar Brandt (American Ballet Theatre)
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Nayara Lopes & Sterling Baca (Pennsylvania Ballet)
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Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet)
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Anna Tsygankova & Constantine Allen (Dutch National Ballet)
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Daniel Ulbricht, Constantine Allen, Anna Tsygankova, Skylar Brandt,
Gabe Stone Shayer, Nayara Lopes, Sterling Baca, Juliet Doherty
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Odasz Dance Theatre, NY,
1st Place Ensemble Winner
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Arabela Alvarado (Dance Center of San Antonio, TX), 1st Place Pre-Competitive Winner
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Alina Taratorin (Bayer Ballet Academy, CA),
Grand Prix Winner
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Anthony Juo (Dance Collective, CANADA),
Hope Award Winner
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Corbin Holloway (CityDance School and Conservatory, MD), Youth Grand Prix Winner
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Anais Diaz Fuentes (West Point Ballet, PA),
Senior 1st Place Winner
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Catherine Rowland (International Ballet Academy, NC), Grand Prix Winner
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Felipe Valentini (Cary Ballet Conservatory, NC),
Senior 3rd Place Winner
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Lucca Ionazzi (Amirian Ballet Academy, CA),
Junior 1st Place Winner
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Keara Nichols (Academy of Ballet Arts, CA),
Grand Prix Winner
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Classical Dance Academy (CA), 1st Place Ensemble Winner
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Allison Whitley (The Dallas Conservatory),
Junior 1st Place Winner
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Amir Dodarkhojayev (The Harid Conservatory, FL), Senior 1st Place Winner
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MorningStar Dance Academy, GA, Judges' Choice Ensemble Award
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At the Atlanta Semi-Final, YAGP presented its first ever
Judges' Choice Ensemble Award
to "Water Lily" from the MorningStar Dance Academy, GA. This new, special award, celebrating the multitude of diversity and talent in the ensemble category, is given by the discretion of the Jury to the ensemble piece demonstrating exceptional artistry, impressive technique, and memorable choreography.
As part of the prize, the dancers of "Water Lily" received an invitation to perform at the YAGP 2020 NY Gala, "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow," at Lincoln Center, which will now be extended to 2021.
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Calen Babaz (Orlando Molina Ballet Training Center, GA), Senior 3rd Place Winner
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Julie Joyner (International City School of Ballet, GA), Youth Grand Prix Winner
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Chase Vining (Master Ballet Academy, AZ),
Senior 1st Place Winner
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Emerson Plourde (Youth American Ballet Company, AZ), Pre-Competitive 3rd Place Winner
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Ashley Lew (Southland Ballet Academy, CA),
Grand Prix Winner
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Marcus Taylor (Golden State Ballet, CA),
Youth Grand Prix Winner
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Morgan Johnson (Summit Dance Shoppe, MN),
Pre-Competitive 1st Place Winner
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Lauren Alving (The Academy of Dance Arts, IL),
Senior 1st Place Winner
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A&A Ballet, IL, 1st Place Large Ensemble Winner
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Crystal Huang (The Rock Center for Dance, NV),
Hope Award Winner
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Carson Wiley (Alliance Academy of Dance, ID),
Junior 1st Place Winner
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Kyawzwa Lwin (City Ballet - San Francisco, CA), Senior 1st Place Winner
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Mahalaya Tintiangco-Cubales (Westlake School for the Performing Arts, CA), Grand Prix Winner
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Tyrone Reese (Mobile Ballet, AL),
Grand Prix Winner
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Camille Dowling (Cibolo City Ballet, TX),
Pre-Competitive 1st Place Winner
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Lily Porier (Quenedit Ballet School, TX), Junior 1st Place Winner
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Reed Henry (BalletCNJ, NJ), Senior 1st Place Winner
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Ha Nhi Tran (Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, DC, D.C), Grand Prix Winner
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Ava Louise Winer (Marat Daukayev School of Ballet,CA), Junior 1st Place Winner
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Jacob Jovanni Alvarado (Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy, CA), Senior 1st Place Winner
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Sylvie Squires (Jacqueline's School of Ballet, UT), Grand Prix Winner
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Lexi McCloud (Moga Conservatory of Dance, UT), Senior 1st Place Winner
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Ballet West Academy, UT, 1st Place Large Ensemble Winner
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YAGP & Ballet West Present: "Night of Shining Stars"
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As part of the Salt Lake City Semi-Final, YAGP and Ballet West presented the
"Night of Shining Stars"
Gala performance at the historic Capitol Theatre in the heart of downtown Salt Lake City. The diverse Gala program featured young YAGP performers and thrilling ensembles, as well as moving performances by an incredible cast
(* denotes YAGP Alumni)
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- Mayara Magri* and Matthew Ball (The Royal Ballet)
- Robbie Fairchild (Broadway star and former New York City Ballet Principal)
- Sarah Lane* (American Ballet Theatre) and Taras Domitro (International Principal Guest Artist)
- Rex Tilton and Sayaka Ohtaki (Ballet West)
- Tyler Gum and Katherine Lawrence (Ballet West)
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Read more
about this special evening, which the
Utah Arts Review
described as "an exciting accelerated course in dance history."
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YAGP Alumna Mayara Magri and Matthew Ball (The Royal Ballet) with YAGP Founder & Artistic Director, Larissa Saveliev, after the performance
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Robbie Fairchild & Allison Walsh in Christopher Wheeldon's "An American in Paris"
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Sarah Lane (American Ballet Theatre) before the performance
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The cast of YAGP and Ballet West present: "Night of Shining Stars" in Salt Lake City, UT
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Lucy Stewart (Colorado Ballet Academy, CO),
Senior Women's 1st Place Winner
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Samuel Portillo (Rocky Mountain Ballet Academy, CO), Senior 1st Place Winner
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Kennedy Newell (Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS), Senior 1st Place Winner
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Cypress Schaff (Denver Academy of Ballet, CO),
Pre-Competitive 1st Place Winner
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Kansas City Ballet School, MO, 1st Place Ensemble Winner
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Sean Quinn (The Hanover Conservatory, MA),
Senior 2nd Place Winner
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Paris Mills (Koltun Ballet Boston, MA),
Senior 3rd Place Winner
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Abigail Schroeder (Classical Ballet Academy, OR),
Junior 1st Place Winner
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Paris Svigos (Illinois Classical Ballet, IL),
Junior 2nd Place Winner
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Indiana Ballet Conservatory, IN, 1st Place Ensemble Winner
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Tiffany Efimov (Academy of Ballet and Jazz, CANADA), Youth Grand Prix Winner
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Sean Miller (The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, FL) Grand Prix Winner
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YAGP'S NEW ONLINE SCHOLARSHIP PLACEMENT PROGRAM
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Throughout YAGP's 2020 international audition tour to 34 cities in 14 countries,
hundreds
of scholarships and acceptances were offered on the spot to the leading dance schools worldwide.
In lieu of conducting scholarship placement at the Finals, we are now facilitating this process online. We have created the world’s largest database of dancers, whom we'll continuously match with existing scholarship opportunities.
Please join us in wholeheartedly congratulating all of our participants and scholarship recipients of the 2020 season.
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Tadeusz Matacz, Director of the John Cranko School of The Stuttgart Ballet, with scholarship recipients in Osaka, Japan
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Élisabeth Platel, Director of the Paris Opera Ballet School, with scholarship recipients in Paris, France
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Luca Masala, Artistic Director of Princess Grace Academy, with scholarship recipients in Cattolica, Italy
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Scholarship recipients in Beijing, China
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YAGP LAUNCHES ONLINE DANCE CLASSES
BY JUDGES, GUEST ARTISTS, AND
OUTSTANDING TEACHERS & SCHOOLS
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As YAGP has been setting high standards of excellence in dance education since 1999, an online class series was launched in March to offer students a way to train at home that reflects these high standards and to keep them motivated and inspired during this time.
The series, profiled in
Pointe
and
Critical Dance,
features an array of videos from YAGP Scholarship Presenters, Jury Members, Partner Schools, Alumni, & Gala Artists, all of which will be permanently available to the global YAGP community through our social media channels.
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ASK THE EXPERT - an educational video series
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YAGP continues to broadcast its highly successful educational video series, ASK THE EXPERT, featuring leading professionals in the field of dance as they share their tips, advice, stories and experiences designed to inspire and educate young dancers worldwide. New episodes are released on YAGP's social media; to view the complete library of episodes, click the button below.
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ASK THE EXPERT host Sergey Gordeev with guests Susan Jaffe (Dean of Dance, University of North Carolina School of the Arts) and Oliver Matz (Director, Zurich Dance Academy).
Videos produced by: VAM (Visual Arts Masters)
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THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE YAGP FAMILY
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Remember, you are not alone - and your YAGP family is always with you. We will get through this together.
Stay safe, stay strong, keep your spirits up and keep dancing.
We look forward to seeing you in the upcoming season.
With love,
All of us at YAGP
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Grand Defilé, YAGP 2019 Gala, "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow"
David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center
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Many thanks to our sponsors for their generous support of the YAGP 2020 Season
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Sponsored Content - Dance Media
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Do you shop on Amazon? By shopping on
smile.amazon.com
and naming
Youth America Grand Prix Inc
as your charity, Amazon will donate 0.5% of the price of your eligible purchases to YAGP to help realize the next generation of dancers' dreams.
Go to
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today and select
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Photography credits: Alceu Bett, Ron Chen, Guillermo Galindo, Eri Kawanishi, Haruko Kawanishi, Hailey Kolker, Beau Pearson, Meia Ponta, Hee Seo, Janira Tarquini, TES Stage Photos, VAM, April Wexelman
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