NEWS FROM YAGP - SUMMER 2023

N E W S L E T T E R

Summer 2023

YAGP at Nervi International Dance Festival | Genoa, ITALY

This summer, YAGP was proud to present its 3rd annual program at the Nervi International Dance Festival in Genoa, Italy. This unique experience offers talented young artists ages 9-19 a glimpse into company life as a professional dancer, complete with daily classes, casting, repertoire, and rehearsals - all in a truly magical setting.

This year’s program welcomed 200 dancers from 5 continents and 32 countries around the world, from as far away as Australia, South Africa, Singapore, Japan, Israel, China, Hong Kong, Thailand, the United States, and of course, Italy and all over Europe.

Six days of master classes were taught by directors and artists from some of the world’s leading dance institutions. The week culminated in two spectacular Gala performances on the famed Nervi stage overlooking the Ligurian Sea, where numerous ballet legends have performed, including Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rudolf Nureyev, Margot Fonteyn, beloved Italian prima ballerina Carla Fracci, and many others.

Tadeusz Matacz, Director of the John Cranko School of Stuttgart Ballet (GERMANY) posing for a photo after class with participant Mabda Darius Valentin (ROMANIA)

Adji Cissoko, Alonzo King LINES Ballet (USA)

Sascha Radetsky, Artistic Director of ABT Studio Company (USA)

Students from OAEC (TX, USA)

Maura Moggi (12, Professione Danza Pescara, ITALY)

Tiffany Emmanuela Tanugraha (11, Marlupi Dance Academy, INDONESIA)

One of the many highlights of this year’s program was having esteemed choreographer Mauro Bigonzetti’s iconic work “Rossini Cards” staged by Vincenzo Capezzuto, a collaboration featuring participants from around the world and members of the YAGP International Contemporary Ensemble (ICE). The process from studio to stage offered an incredible experience for these young artists to adapt to a new and challenging style by one of the foremost choreographers of Italian ballet.

Dancers also had the opportunity to be cast in two new world premieres by YAGP judge and incoming Director of Nashville Ballet II, Maria Konrad, and rising choreographer Julieta Martínez, representing YGP Mexico.

Rossini Cards by Mauro Bigonzetti

Morgan Ligon (12, Elite Classical Coaching, TX/USA) in "AIRE" by Julieta Martínez

The YAGP Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala at Nervi Festival welcomed numerous international ballet stars including Maria Khoreva (Mariinsky Ballet), Natalia Osipova and Reece Clark (Royal Ballet), and many others - a truly thrilling and memorable evening of dance for audience members and our young participants alike!

The star-studded cast included:

Adji Cissoko - Alonzo King LINES Ballet
Reece Clarke - The Royal Ballet
Anne Jung - Former Dancer, Nederlands Dans Theater; International Guest Artist
Maria Khoreva - Mariinsky Ballet
Vsevolod Maievskyi* - English national Ballet
Natalia Osipova - The Royal Ballet
Roxane Stojanov - Paris Opera Ballet
Thomas Docquir - Paris Opera Ballet
Emma Von Enck* - New York City Ballet
Kyra Coco* - ABT Studio Company
Brady Farrar* - ABT Studio Company
Takumi Miyake* - ABT Studio Company

*YAGP Alumni

Natalia Osipova and Reece Clark (The Royal Ballet)

Maria Khoreva (Mariinsky Ballet) and Vsevolod Maievskyi (English National Ballet)

Emma Von Enck (New York City Ballet)

Adji Cissoko (Alonzo King LINES Ballet)

YAGP 25th Anniversary Season

NEW International Venues

This season, YAGP is thrilled to offer four new semi-final locations as part of the 25th Anniversary Season International Tour.

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA 🇦🇺

September 22-24, 2023

Befitting the 25th Anniversary Season, YAGP is also thrilled to be hosting the first-ever official semi-final competition in Australia, following several years of successful workshops, master classes, and scholarship auditions in the country.

With numerous Australian YAGP alumni performing today in leading companies around the world, YAGP has long championed its Australian participants - and this event is sure to see the next rising stars from the region.

YAGP Alumna Bianca Scudamore (Australia), now a Soloist of Paris Opera Ballet, at the YAGP 2014 Finals

SINGAPORE 🇸🇬

September 26-28, 2023

Having welcomed many talented participants from Singapore at YAGP events around the world, including the annual YAGP Finals, this year will mark the inaugural YGP Singapore Workshop, in partnership with Masterpiece International Ballet Competition.

Talented young dancers will have the opportunity to receive further educational opportunities and scholarships to some of the world’s leading dance academies, as well as invitations to the YAGP 25th Anniversary Finals in New York City for eligible participants.

Hana Takahashi (12, Cheng Ballet Academy, SINGAPORE) at the YAGP 2023 Finals

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL 🇧🇷

October 26-29, 2023

As one of the original YAGP international locations for more than 15 years, Brazil has long been a source of tremendous talent, excitement, and passion - with numerous Brazilian YAGP alumni among the ranks of leading dance companies around the world.

This year, in keeping with YAGP’s mission to provide the very best educational opportunities and unique experiences for young dancers around the world, we are honored to be the very first youth organization to conduct an event at the beautiful and historic Theatro Municipal do Rio de Janeiro, which will play host to the Brazil Final Round.

Ana Luisa Arantes Negrão (18, Balé do Teatro Escola Basileu França, BRAZIL), Senior Women's 1st Place Winner at the YAGP 2023 Finals

This thrilling occasion for young dancers to perform at such an iconic theater follows three preliminary auditions in Brazil with record attendance in Porto Alegre, Fortaleza, and most significantly, Joinville. With a long history of collaborating with esteemed festivals around the world, including the Spoleto Festival, Nervi Festival, and more, YAGP was honored this year to be invited to partner with the Festival de Dança Joinville for its 40th Anniversary - known as the largest festival in the world.

VERONA, ITALY 🇮🇹

November 25-28, 2023

Although YAGP has conducted auditions in Italy for several years, this will be the first time a semi-final is held in Verona, one of the most beautiful cities in Italy with a rich cultural heritage. As our global dance community continues to expand, we are also excited to announce that we will be collaborating this year with our Italian Ambassadors Ilenia Montagnoli and Tommaso Renda - and our Italian Artistic Adviser Luna Ronchi.

This event will welcome participants from Italy and all over Europe and will take place in two locations: the beautiful and historic Teatro Filarmonico and the contemporary Auditorium Palazzo della Gran Guardia, both in the heart of Verona, with master classes conveniently located onsite. With easy train and airport access from all major European cities, participants and families can combine sightseeing with a rich educational experience - all in an enchanting atmosphere.

Streaming Online | THIS WEEK @ YAGP

SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA 🇰🇷

August 4-5, 2023

Kicking off YAGP’s globally-broadcast schedule of live-streaming for the 25th Anniversary Season is the Korea Semi-Final, taking place this weekend in Seoul. Headed by YAGP Alumna and Trustee Hee Seo, Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theatre and YGP Korea Ambassador, and filled with incredible talent - this is one of YAGP’s most anticipated annual events of the International Audition Tour.

Don’t miss the livestream on YAGP platforms this Friday, August 4 and Saturday, August 5th. Videos will remain posted afterwards for audience members around the world to enjoy!

Chae Eun Lee (14, Yewon School, SOUTH KOREA), Junior Women's 1st Place Winner at the YAGP 2023 Finals

YAGP 25th Anniversary Season U.S. and International Semi-Final Locations

This season marks 25 years of Youth America Grand Prix ensuring the future of dance as the world's largest dance network, and we could not be more excited for what is sure to be a truly epic season ahead.

With 15 international semi-final auditions and 32 in the US. & Canada, this year promises to be the biggest yet - culminating in a spectacular 25th Anniversary Celebration at Lincoln Center in April.

We hope you will join us in the year to come - wherever that might be in the world - and stay tuned to the YAGP platforms online so you don’t miss a single moment of the journey!

INTERNATIONAL