NEWS FROM YAGP - NOVEMBER 2024

N E W S L E T T E R

November 2024

Dear Friends,

As we prepare to give thanks - for family, friends, and our incredible global YAGP community - we also take a moment to reflect on an incredible start to the YAGP 2025 Season this fall.

YAGP kicked off its International Tour in August, with 14 events across the globe including new, first-time auditions held in Shanghai, China; Vicenza, Italy; and Faro, Portugal still to come in January. In the meantime, we look forward to returning once again to Barcelona, Spain next week - and of course, to our 32-location U.S./North American Tour continuing in January!

As America’s National Youth Dance Competition and the world’s largest global dance network, we look forward to another season of inspiration and incredible talent - and to helping young dancers everywhere, from all backgrounds, achieve their dreams.

With heartfelt gratitude and thanks,

Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev

Founders, Youth America Grand Prix

YAGP 2025 SEASON

International Tour

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA 🇰🇷

The YAGP 2025 Season international audition tour began in South Korea, headed by YAGP Alumna Hee Seo, Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theatre and YGP Korea Ambassador. The remarkable talent of the Korean participants was memorable as always, with numerous scholarships presented by YAGP partner schools around the world.

The in-person jury panel included Hee Seo along with Aram Manukyan (Director of Trainee Program, Alberta Ballet, CANADA), Lauren Richter (School Principal, Tulsa Ballet, USA), and Misa Kuranaga (Principal Dancer of San Francisco Ballet, USA).

Soomin Cho

Sunhwa Arts High School, KOREA

Hyunjun Cho

Korea National Institute for the Gifted in Arts, KOREA

Haeun So

Korea National University of Arts, KOREA

MANILA, PHILLIPPINES 🇵🇭

YAGP’s second event on the international audition tour was a return to Manila, Philippines, which welcomed participants from across the country as well as Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Taiwan, and the UAE.

More than 100 scholarship opportunities were presented from YAGP scholarship-presenting schools including the ABT JKO School (USA), Dutch National Ballet Academy (NETHERLANDS), John Cranko School of The Stuttgart Ballet (GERMANY), and many others.

Yu-Chieh Kao

Taipei Junior Ballet, TAIWAN

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺

YAGP was thrilled to return to Australia for its second annual semi-final competition in Sydney - following years of successful workshops and master classes - and as usual, the event was filled with spectacular talent from all over Australia, New Zealand, and even China!

The jury panel included directors and faculty members from San Francisco Ballet School (USA), the Australian Ballet School (AUSTRALIA), Houston Ballet (USA), John Cranko School of The Stuttgart Ballet (GERMANY), and Elmhurst Ballet School (UK), among others — and hundreds of scholarships were awarded from YAGP scholarship presenters around the world.

Ellie Liao

Mount Eden Ballet Academy, NEW ZEALAND

Zoe Wijemanne

Classical Coaching with Claire Campbell (Mahon), AUSTRALIA

SINGAPORE 🇸🇬

YAGP was also delighted to return for the second time to Singapore, where dancers from across the Asia Pacific region gathered for a series of workshops and auditions.

The event offered young dancers the unique opportunity to take part in several master classes with YAGP Founders Larissa & Gennadi Saveliev, Assistant Artistic Director Natalia Bashkatova, and other esteemed individuals.

Master Class with Natalia Bashkatova, YAGP Assistant Artistic Director

JAKARTA, INDONESIA 🇮🇩

A country filled incredible talent, YAGP was pleased to continue its Asian segment of the international tour in Jakarta, Indonesia, with participants from across Indonesia as well as Thailand, Taiwan, Malaysia, Taipei, Vietnam, Brunei, and even Australia. The jury panel included Marco Laudani (Artistic Director, Ocram Dance movement, ITALY), Marek Rozycki (Director of the Dance Department, Berlin State Ballet School, GERMANY), and Christopher Powney (Former Artistic Director & CEO, The Royal Ballet School).

Tiffany Emmanuela Tanugraha

Marlupi Dance Academy, INDONESIA

Christopher Powney - Former Artistic Director & CEO, The Royal Ballet School (UK); International Master Teacher

OSAKA, JAPAN 🇯🇵

The largest and longest-running event of YAGP’s annual international audition tour, this year’s Japan Semi-Final was once again an exhilarating week of performances and master classes with over 1,000 talented participants from all over the country.

With an impressive jury panel comprised of more than 15 esteemed directors and representatives from leading dance academies worldwide - an incredible "dream team!" - Japanese participants were presented hundreds of scholarship offers to YAGP partner schools such as the Australian Ballet School (AUSTRALIA), European School of Ballet (NETHERLANDS), Princess Grace Academy (MONACO), Royal Ballet School (UK), and Zurich Dance Academy (SWITZERLAND), among others.

Anne Takahashi, Sota Teranishi, and Yuto Terashini from Minato City Ballet School/Panda Ballet School (Takako Mori Ballet School), JAPAN

Pascal Molat - Trainee Program Associate Director, San Francisco Ballet School (USA)

Luca Masala - Artistic Director, Princess Grace Academy (MONACO)

Peter Stark - President and Director, The Rock School for Dance Education (USA)

YGP Japan Jury Members

Jason Beechey (Head of Dance, Zurich University of Arts, SWITZERLAND) 🇨🇭
Paola Cantalupo (Artistic Director, Rosella Hightower’s National Center of Higher Education in Dance Cannes-Mougins, FRANCE) 🇫🇷
José Carayol (Director of Artistic Programs, The Royal Ballet School, UK) 🇬🇧
Megan Connelly (Artistic Director & Head of School, The Australian Ballet School, AUSTRALIA) 🇦🇺
Kevin Durwael (Associate Artistic Director, Royal Ballet School of Antwerp, BELGIUM) 🇧🇪
Kenta Kura (Director, K-BALLET ACADEMY / K-BALLET SCHOOL, JAPAN) 🇯🇵
Marco Laudani (Artistic Director, Ocram Dance Movement, ITALY) 🇮🇹
Aram Manukyan (Director of the Trainee Program, Alberta Ballet School, CANADA) 🇨🇦
Luca Masala (Artistic Director, Princess Grace Academy, MONACO) 🇲🇨
Tadeusz Matacz (Director, John Cranko School of The Stuttgart Ballet, GERMANY) 🇩🇪
Pascal Molat (Associate Director of Trainee Program, San Francisco Ballet School, USA) 🇺🇸
Karine Plantadit (Tony Award-nominated Dancer & Actress; Former Dance, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, USA) 🇺🇸
Marek Rozycki (Director of the Dance Department, Berlin State Ballet School, GERMANY) 🇩🇪
Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev (Founders of YAGP) 🇺🇸
Peter Stark (President and Director, The Rock School for Dance Education, USA) 🇺🇸
Olivier Wecxsteen (Artistic Director, European School of Ballet, NETHERLANDS) 🇳🇱

SHANGHAI, CHINA 🇨🇳

YAGP’s first in-person event in the country of China in five years was held in Shanghai, where we were honored to be hosted at the magnificent Shanghai International Dance Centre and Shanghai Waigaoqiao Cultural & Art Centre. The incredible energy and inspiration among the Chinese participants was palpable throughout the entirety of the event, and the dancers gave magnificent performances throughout the semi-final. YAGP jury members included YAGP Founder & Artistic Director Larissa Saveliev, Vladimir Malakhov (Professor, Beijing Dance Academy, CHINA), Runqiao Du (International Master Teacher), and Peter Quanz (Artistic Director, Q Dance, CANADA; Resident Choreographer, Harbin Ballet, P.R. of CHINA).

Vladimir Malakhov - Professor, Beijing Dance Academy (CHINA)

BARUERI, BRAZIL 🇧🇷

Following the success of last year’s format in YGP Brazil, where smaller regional events were held in multiple locations around the country in the summer, culminating in a Final Round audition - this year’s Brazil Final Round, the last and largest Brazilian Semi-Final, was held in the vibrant city of Barueri for the first time. The event was filled with tremendous excitement, passion, and stunning performances for which the Brazilian participants are known, with several days of master classes and scholarship opportunities presented to hundreds of talented young dancers from all over the country.

Martina Sanchez & Marcus Rufino

Balé do Teatro Escola Basileu França, BRAZIL

Luisa Lisboa

Balé Jovem de São Vicente, BRAZIL

Sophia Marcolino

Ballet Vortice, BRAZIL

CORDOBA, MEXICO 🇲🇽

Having celebrated 20 years of YGP Mexico last season, where YAGP has opened the door for thousands of Mexican dancers into the international world of dance, this year we were thrilled to return to the historic town of Cordoba for a lively week of performances and master classes.

In a country where celebration is an integral part of the culture, the spirit of this year’s festival was no exception! The Semi-Final event culminated in a spectacular Gala performance, with participants performing a specially-choreographed “pièce d’occasion”. Other special performances included YAGP alumnus and guest artist Nnamdi Nwagwu, international contemporary artist, who also taught master classes to the talented participants during the festival.

YAGP alumnus Nnamdi Nwagwu leading the celebratory grand finale of the YGP Mexico Festival

BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA 🇦🇷

YAGP concluded the South American leg of its international tour in the beautiful city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, where dancers from across the region shared beautiful performances and auditioned for scholarships from leading dance schools worldwide. The esteemed jury panel included Paloma Herrera (Artistic Director, Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive, USA); Maria Konrad (Director, Nashville Ballet II, USA), Joseph Morrisey (Director of Dance, Interlochen Center for the Arts, USA), and Roland Vogel (Teacher, Princess Grace Academy, MONACO).

Paloma Herrera - Artistic Director, Kaatsbaan Ballet Intensive, USA; Former Principal Dancer, ABT

PARIS, FRANCE 🇫🇷

YAGP is always honored to return to its “French home” of the last twelve years, the Paris Opera Ballet School, where it became the first outside organization in the POB’s 300-year history to be welcomed into its historic building back in 2012.

Today, the annual Paris auditions welcome dancers from 30 countries around the world for an incredible and unique educational experience of being able to take master classes inside the School's storied building and studios.

The preeminent jury panel, Chaired by Paris Opera Ballet School Director, Élisabeth Platel, included 15 directors and leading faculty members of some of the most esteemed dance institutions across Europe.

Pauline Warren

Adn Danse : Académie de Danse Noblet, FRANCE

José Carayol - Head of Artistic Programs, The Royal Ballet School (UNITED KINGDOM)

Élisabeth Platel - Director, Paris Opera Ballet School (FRANCE)

Jason Beechey - Head of Dance, Zurich University of Arts (SWITZERLAND)

YGP Paris Jury Members

Élisabeth Platel (Chair of the Jury; Director, Paris Opera Ballet School, FRANCE) 🇫🇷
Claire Baulieu (Head of the Contemporary Division, Paris Opera Ballet School, FRANCE) 🇫🇷
Jason Beechey (Head of Dance, Zurich University of Arts, SWITZERLAND) 🇨🇭
Paola Cantalupo (Artistic Director, Rosella Hightower’s National Center of Higher Education in Dance Cannes-Mougins, FRANCE) 🇫🇷
José Carayol (Director of Artistic Programs, The Royal Ballet School, UK) 🇬🇧
Gigi Hyatt (Pedagogical Principal and Deputy Director, The School of The Hamburg Ballet, GERMANY) 🇩🇪
Andrey Klemm (Ballet Master, Paris Opera Ballet, FRANCE) 🇫🇷
Iain MacKay (Artistic Director, The Royal Ballet School, UK) 🇬🇧
Frederic Olivieri (Director, Accademia Teatro alla Scala, ITALY) 🇮🇹
Lauren Richter (School Principal, Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education, USA) 🇺🇸
Eric Underwood (Actor; Former Soloist, The Royal Ballet, UK) 🇬🇧
Paola Vismara (Leading Faculty Member, Accademia Teatro alla Scala, ITALY) 🇮🇹

VICENZA, ITALY 🇮🇹

This season, YGP was proud to conduct its first-ever semi-final in the historic city of Vicenza, a vibrant Italian town considered to be North Italy’s hidden gem. The auditions welcomed 350 participants from more than 20 countries across Europe and even as far as Singapore and the United States for a lively four days of classes and performances.

The esteemed jury panel welcomed Susan Jaffe (Artistic Director, American Ballet Theatre, USA), Béatrice Martel (Ballet Master, Paris Opera Ballet, FRANCE), Francesco Ventrigilia (Artistic Director, Alberta Ballet, CANADA), and other esteemed directors and representatives from YAGP partner schools around the world - a “dream team” if there ever was one!

Susan Jaffe - Artistic Director, American Ballet Theatre (USA)

Fati Ouchane & Riccardo Rotundu

Scuola della Fondazione Fordance, ITALY

Lorenzo Brunello

FIFTH, ITALY

YGP Italy Jury Members

Claire Baulieu (Head of the Contemporary Division, Paris Opera Ballet School, FRANCE) 🇫🇷
José Carayol (Director of Artistic Programs, The Royal Ballet School, UK) 🇬🇧
Kevin Durwael (Associate Artistic Director, Royal Ballet School of Antwerp, BELGIUM) 🇧🇪
Davidson Farias (Choreographer; Former Soloist, Lucerne Ballet; YAGP Alumnus, GERMANY/BRAZIL) 🇩🇪🇧🇷
Lucia Geppi (Representative, Princess Grace Academy, MONACO) 🇲🇨
Susan Jaffe (Artistic Director, American Ballet Theatre, USA) 🇺🇸
Jan Linkens (Director, Royal Conservatoire The Hague, NETHERLANDS) 🇳🇱
Béatrice Martel (Ballet Master, Paris Opera Ballet Junior Company, FRANCE) 🇫🇷
Tadeusz Matacz (Director, John Cranko School of The Stuttgart Ballet, GERMANY) 🇩🇪
Ernst Meisner (Associate Director of Talent Development and Artistic Director of the Junior Company, Dutch National Ballet, NETHERLANDS) 🇳🇱
Rafi Sady (Stager, Mats Ek, SWEDEN) 🇸🇪
Cristina Sasso (Ballet Mistress, European School of Ballet, NETHERLANDS) 🇳🇱
Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev (Founders of YAGP) 🇺🇸
Francesco Ventriglia (Artistic Director, Alberta Ballet, CANADA) 🇨🇦

✨ SAVE THE DATE ✨

YAGP 2025 Season Finals

Tampa, FL

April 22-27, 2025

Season Finals Gala: Saturday, April 26, 2025

Straz Center for the Performing Arts

YAGP 2025 New York Gala

Lincoln Center, NYC

Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Alice Tully Hall

THE YAGP 2025 JOB FAIR IS BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND!

A one-stop audition for 30+ U.S. and International dance companies, open to dancers ages 17-24, the YAGP 2025 Job Fair will be held in two locations.

Last year, the YAGP Job Fair returned for the second consecutive year as a standalone event with two auditions in Europe and the United States, which welcomed over 300 dancers from all over the world. 60 job offers were presented to talented young artists on the cusp of their professional careers. Click HERE to see some of the success stories!

We are proud to offer two Job Fair auditions once again in 2025:

- USA | Nashville, TN; Hosted by Nashville Ballet

January 11-12, 2025

- EUROPE | Stuttgart, GERMANY; Hosted by the John Cranko School & Stuttgart Ballet

February 15-16, 2025

The YAGP 2025 JOB FAIR at both locations will feature an impressive in-person line-up of companies and their representatives - and will also be filmed and observed virtually by Artistic Directors of YAGP-affiliated partner companies around the globe.