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N E W S L E T T E R
Summer 2025
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Dear Friends,
What a busy but exciting summer it was for the YAGP community!
At its core, YAGP's primary mission is one of education: providing young dancers from all backgrounds with scholarships to the leading dance schools worldwide, performances on some of the world's most prestigious stages, and opportunities to grow in their art form and learn from masters of classical ballet and contemporary dance.
This summer, YAGP was proud to offer hundreds of young dancers from around the world the unique opportunity to participate in international summer workshops across Europe along with other YAGP-affiliated programs - and to continue our 5th annual International Summer Workshop and Gala, which took place this year for the first time in Milan.
As we head into an exciting new season ahead, we invite to join us in taking a look back at some of the incredible venues and projects in which our participants took part over the summer months, in collaboration with YAGP. The end of summer also marks a time of transition, and we are excited to share news of some of the talented YAGP alumni around the world who have taken new leaps of faith across borders - or even oceans - in the pursuit of continued artistic growth and creative fulfillment. Scroll down to read more.
The 2025-2026 Semi-Final tour is already underway, and we can't wait to share a full recap of our international semi-final events later this fall as the season continues. We cannot wait to see you all this year - wherever that might be in the world!
With excitement,
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Larissa Saveliev
Artistic Director, Founder
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Gennadi Saveliev
Co-Founder
| | | YAGP INTERNATIONAL SUMMER WORKSHOPS & GALAS | | |
MILAN, ITALY 🇮🇹
YGP International Summer Workshop and Gala
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To close the summer tour, YAGP was thrilled to present its annual International Summer Workshop and Gala for the first time in Milan, welcoming 160+ dancers from 31 countries on 5 continents around the world.
This year’s program faculty included a distinguished lineup of directors and teachers from the world’s leading dance academies, including Luca Masala (Princess Grace Academy), Tadeusz Matacz (John Cranko School of The Stuttgart Ballet), Pascal Molat (San Francisco Ballet School), Paola Cantalupo (Rosella Hightower’s National Center of Higher Education in Dance, Cannes-Mougins), and José Carayol (The Royal Ballet School), to name a few.
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The week in Milan closed with YAGP’s signature STARS OF TODAY MEET THE STARS OF TOMORROW Gala at the historic Castello Sforzesco (photo below), with a star-studded cast of guest artists from leading dance companies worldwide: Emma Von Enck* and Andres Zuniga* (New York City Ballet), Maria Khoreva (Mariinsky Ballet), Rocío Alemán* (Stuttgart Ballet), Constantine Allen* (Dutch National Ballet), and more.
The Gala also featured a WORLD PREMIERE work from YAGP alumnus William Dugan, performed by artists of the Royal Swedish Ballet, made possible by the YAGP 2025 Marcella Hymowitz Creative Fellowship.
*YAGP Alumni
| | | | YAGP International Workshop Participants in the Grand Défilé | | |
Emma Von Enck and Andres Zuniga
New York City Ballet
| | Hector Jain, new Artist of Paris Opera Ballet, with singer/songwriter Paloma Dineli Chesky | | |
Aurea Gómiz and Nico Borrero
Yerakhavets Ballet Academy (SPAIN)
| | YAGP International Workshop Participants in Maestro by Maria Konrad, Director of Nashville Ballet II | | |
COMO, ITALY 🇮🇹
YGP Gala at Teatro Sociale di Como
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YAGP was thrilled to present its first Gala in Como, Italy at the beautiful Teatro Sociale, with performances by stars of the world’s leading dance companies, talented young YAGP dancers from around the world, and the YAGP International Contemporary Ensemble.
Guest Artists included Maria Khoreva (Mariinsky Ballet), Friedemann Vogel and Rocío Alemán* (Stuttgart Ballet), Constantine Allen* and Maia Makhateli (Dutch National Ballet), Vsevolod Maievskyi* (English National Ballet), Giulio Diligente* (Finnish National Ballet), and newly-announced Soloists of the Mariinsky Ballet, Yana Peneva* and Alexei Orohovsky*.
*YAGP Alumni
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Maria Khoreva
Mariinsky Ballet
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Yana Peneva
Mariinsky Ballet
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Rocío Alemán and Friedemann Vogel
The Stuttgart Ballet
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LUGANO, SWITZERLAND 🇨🇭
YAGP International Contemporary Ensemble
As part of its LUGANO PROJECT at the prestigious Palazzo dei Congressi in Lugano, Switzerland, the YAGP International Contemporary Ensemble presented a week-long repertoire workshop and series of Gala performances featuring Ohad Naharin’s iconic “Echad Mi Yodea” and Shahar Binyamini’s acclaimed “Bolero X.” This year's cohort in Lugano was comprised of 68 talented young dancers from 15 countries worldwide. The next YAGP International Contemporary Ensemble workshop will take place in NYC this November - click here for more information.
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LONDON, ENGLAND 🇬🇧
Gala de Danza
50 talented young dancers selected from YAGP semi-finals worldwide and representing 5 countries gathered for a week of incredible master classes with leading ballet masters, as well as repertoire workshops with world-renowned choreographer Juliano Nunes, as part of the first London edition of Gala de Danza, a longtime partner of YAGP.
The event culminated in three Gala performances at the striking Central Hall Westminster, featuring a roster of guest artists from The Royal Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, and other leading companies around the world - most of whom are YAGP Alumni.
| | YAGP FRIENDS AND AFFILIATED SUMMER PROGRAMS | | | |
BARCELONA, SPAIN 🇪🇸
DanceLab
In collaboration with YAGP, the first DanceLab summer program was conducted in Barcelona, with a world-class lineup of teachers including José Carayol (The Royal Ballet School, UK), Cristina Sasso (European School of Ballet, NETHERLANDS), Nicola Biasutti (John Cranko School, GERMANY), Davidson Farias (Choreographer; YAGP Alumnus); David Yudes (Former Soloist, The Royal Ballet; YAGP Alumnus), and Mari Kawanishi (Staatsballett Berlin; YAGP Alumna).
MALTA 🇲🇹
International Summer School
YAGP’s summer offerings for young dancers continued in the vibrant island of Malta for a new, two-week program in the heart of the Mediterranean. This special series of master classes brought together students from across Europe for an unforgettable training experience, led by leading directors and teachers including Alexei Moskalenko (YAGP Associate Artistic Director), Marek Rózycki (Berlin State Ballet School, GERMANY), Robert Parker (Elmhurst Ballet School, UK), and Maria Eichwald (John Cranko School, GERMANY).
BUCHAREST, ROMANIA 🇷🇴
Revolve Dance Festival
YAGP’s longtime partner, Revolve Dance Festival, welcomed dancers to Romania for its annual summer program, concluding in a Gala at the historic Bucharest National Theatre. This 15th edition brought together young artists from around the world, guest artists including several YAGP alumni, and a six-day intensive workshop with international masters that included acclaimed choreographer and director Nacho Duato, current Artistic Director of Berlin State Ballet. Other honored guests included Nikolay Tsiskaridze, Rector of Vaganova Ballet Academy, who shared an informative Q&A session with teachers from across Romania and beyond.
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José Carayol, Head of Artistic Programs (The Royal Ballet School, UK) teaching at DanceLab Barcelona | Alexei Moskalenko, Associate Artistic Director (YAGP), teaching in Malta | YAGP Alumni Alecsia Lazarescu (ROMANIA) & Fabrizzio Ulloa (MEXICO), current students of The Royal Ballet School, performing at Revolve Dance Festival | | | |
YAGP ALUMNI NEWS
Today, more than 500 YAGP alumni are dancing professionally in over 100 leading dance companies worldwide, and the number continues to grow each season. This season, we are thrilled share just a few of the latest company “moves” around the world - those dancers who have made the leap from one company to another, in the pursuit of continued artistic discovery. These brilliant artists continue to provide inspiration for the next generation of young dancers as they carve their own unique paths in the ballet world. Stay tuned for a full roundup of new YAGP alumni promotions in our 2025 highlights later this year.
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BOSTON BALLET
WanTing Zao joins as a Principal Dancer
BIRMINGHAM ROYAL BALLET
Katherina Ochoa joins as a First Soloist
FINNISH NATIONAL BALLET
Nayara Lopes joins as a First Soloist
MARIINSKY BALLET
Yana Peneva joins as a Soloist
MIAMI CITY BALLET
Anabel Katnelsen joins as a Soloist
NATIONAL BALLET OF CANADA
Beckanne Sisk and Agnes Su join as Principal Dancers
SAN FRANCISCO BALLET
Madeline Woo joins as Principal Dancer
VIENNA STATE BALLET
António Casalinho and Victor Caixeta join as Principal Dancers
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Nayara Lopes
Finnish National Ballet
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António Casalinho
Vienna State Ballet
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Beckanne Sisk
The National Ballet of Canada
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Katherine Ochoa
Birmingham Royal Ballet
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Madeline Woo
San Francisco Ballet
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WanTing Zhao
Boston Ballet
| | YAGP 2025-2026 DATES & LOCATIONS | | |
Registration for the YAGP 2026 Season is ongoing, with many locations already at wait-list capacity. Visit us online for additional venue details and guides, as well as complete registration information and the 2026 Season Rules & Regulations.
We look forward to seeing YOU in the coming season at YAGP:
America's National Youth Dance Competition!
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INTERNATIONAL
- Seoul, SOUTH KOREA | August 4-9, 2025
- Sydney, AUSTRALIA | September 12-17, 2025
- Sao Paolo, BRAZIL | September 16-20, 2025
- SINGAPORE | September 19-21, 2025
- Manila, PHILIPPINES | September 27-29, 2025
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*NEW* Tokyo, JAPAN | October 3-12, 2025
- Cordoba, MEXICO | October 28-November 1, 2025
- Paris, FRANCE | October 30-November 2, 2025
- Buenos Aires, ARGENTINA | November 5-8, 2025
- Vicenza, ITALY | November 20-23, 2025
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*NEW* Bangkok, THAILAND | November 22-25, 2025
- Jakarta, INDONESIA | November 28-30, 2025
- Barcelona, SPAIN | December 3-7, 2025
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*NEW* Lagoa, PORTUGAL | February 18-22, 2026
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Virtual Competition | February 27-March 1, 2026
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Zoe Wijemanne
Classical Coaching with Claire Campbell Mahon (AUSTRALIA)
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Venus Sarabia Oquendo
Venus Villa Dance Academy (HONG KONG)
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U.S. & CANADA
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*NEW* Minneapolis, MN | October 3-4, 2025
- Los Angeles, CA | October 17-19, 2025
- Philadelphia, PA | October 24-26, 2025
- Austin, TX | October 31-Nov 2, 2025
- San Diego, CA | November 7-9, 2025
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*NEW* Oklahoma City, OK | November 21-23, 2025
- Seattle, TX | January 8-11, 2026
- Tampa, FL | January 8-11, 2026
- Kansas City, MO | January 15-18, 2026
- Pittsburgh, PA | January 16-18, 2026
- Atlanta, GA | January 16-18, 2026
- Las Vegas, NV | January 22-25, 2026
- Dallas, TX | January 23-25, 2026
- Los Angeles (Huntington Beach), CA | January 30-February 1, 2026
- Washington, D.C. | January 30-February 1, 2026
- Chicago, IL | February 5-8, 2026
- Winston-Salem, NC | February 5-8, 2026
- San Francisco, CA | February 6-8, 2026
- Nashville, TN | February 12-15, 2026
- Phoenix, AZ | February 13-15, 2025
- San Diego, CA | February 19-22, 2026
- Denver, CO | February 20-22, 2026
- Philadelphia, PA | February 20-22, 2026
- Los Angeles, CA | February 26-March 1, 2026
- New York, NY | February 26-March 1, 2026
- Toronto, CANADA | March 6-8, 2026
- Salt Lake City, UT | March 7-8, 2026
- Chicago, IL | March 12-15, 2026
- Houston, TX | March 12-15, 2026
- San Diego, CA | March 12-15, 2026
- Indianapolis, IN | March 19-22, 2026
- Boca Raton, FL | March 19-22, 2026
- Boston (Worcester, MA) | March 26-29, 2026
- San Francisco, CA | March 27-29, 2026
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Chloe Helimets
Bayer Ballet Academy (CA, USA)
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Eric Poor
Cary Ballet Conservatory (NC, USA)
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Kaia Erby
The Ballet Club (AZ, USA)
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YAGP 2026 SEASON FINALS
Houston, TX | May 10-18, 2026
YAGP Season Finals Gala | May 17, 2026
YAGP is thrilled to present its 2026 Season Finals for the first time in Houston, TX, hosted by Houston Ballet!
As the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition and one of the leading producers of dance Galas and events worldwide, YAGP is proud to have produced events at many of the world’s most prestigious stages, including Lincoln Center and New York City Center, Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico, as well as prominent stages in Tokyo, Osaka, Sao Paulo, and many others.
This season, we look forward to welcoming the YAGP 2026 Finalists to the magnificent, state-of-the-art Wortham Theater Center, home of Houston Ballet, for a week of thrilling performances, master classes with directors of the leading dance academies worldwide, and other special events offered only at the YAGP Finals.
The YAGP 2026 Finals will conclude in a spectacular Gala, YAGP’s signature STARS OF TODAY MEET THE STARS OF TOMORROW, featuring some of the most exciting artists performing today alongside the next generation of future ballet stars.
We look forward to welcoming the global ballet community to Houston next May!
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✨ SAVE THE DATE ✨
YAGP 2026 New York Gala and International Dance School Festival
Week of April 13th, 2026
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YAGP is thrilled to return to its longtime artistic home, the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center, this season for the annual YAGP NYC Gala - and the long-anticipated return of the YAGP International Dance School Festival.
- YAGP’s signature STARS OF TODAY MEET THE STARS OF TOMORROW will bring together stars of the world's leading dance companies as they share the stage with some of the world's most exciting young dance talent in a spectacular Gala evening, followed by dinner and dancing with the stars in the Promenade.
- The YAGP INTERNATIONAL DANCE SCHOOL FESTIVAL (IDSF) also returns to the Lincoln Center stage in 2026. This highly-anticipated event will feature talented students from YAGP’s partner schools and companies in one unforgettable performance. The program will feature dancers from the ABT JKO School, Royal Ballet School, John Cranko School, Princess Grace Academy, San Francisco Ballet School, and more.
Different casts, different programs - each an UNFORGETTABLE EVENING OF DANCE.
Stay tuned for more information coming this fall.
| | YAGP photography credits: LK Studio, Sandra Bencicova, Pierluigi Abbondanza, André Azevedo | | | | |
