GREETINGS FROM THE FOUNDERS
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 con nents to see their long me 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 s ll happening – online – and not just for NYC finalists, but for the en re YAGP dance community worldwide. Judges and ballet stars are s ll connec ng to students and audiences via online classes, discussions and expert advice. And scholarships will find their recipients.
Coordina ng scholarship offers and acceptances between dozens of preeminent dance schools and hundreds of talented students across the globe is no small task – but our ar s c 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. Star ng in August 2019 and finishing this spring, we traveled the world in search of promising young dancers represen ng 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 incep on 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 interna onal 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, Larissa Saveliev Gennadi Saveliev Artistic Director, Founder Founder
YAGP 2020 SEMI-FINAL SEASON HIGHLIGHTS
Our season began at the end of August 2019 and took us across 14 countries and 27 loca ons in the United States, finishing in Canada at the beginning of March. Dancers from all over the world performed their varia ons, par cipated in master classes with the world's leading educators, and made lifelong friendships with fellow artists.
More than 12,000 dance students worldwide par cipated in YAGP 2020 U.S. and international audition tour.
We hope you enjoy this virtual scrapbook of highlights from this season.
2 020 International Semi-Finals
August
Seoul, KOREA
Our 2020 Season opened in Korea, headed by YAGP alumna and Board member, Hee Seo. As YAGP Korea Ambassador, Hee does not only facilitate opportuni es for talented dancers from her home country, but also serves as an example and inspira on to the next genera on of dancers around the globe. Enjoying a candid moment with Claudio Muñoz, Ballet Hee Seo, YAGP alumna, Board member, and YAGP Korea Master of Houston Ballet II Ambassador, teaching Korean students
September
Sao Paulo, BRAZIL
This season's Brazil Semi-Final was held for the first me at the Theatro Municipal of São Paulo. It was a historic moment for Brazilian dancers, as it marked the first me a ballet compe on was held at this majestic theater, regarded as one of the most beautiful landmarks of the city. Alexei Moskalenko, Assistant Artistic Director of YAGP, teaching men's class
Rachel Quintao & Arthur Willie ( ATM Centro Cultural da Inside the Theatro Municipal Dança)
João Vitor Santana (Itego Basileu França) Vitor Augusto Vaz (Itego Basileu França)
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Melbourne & Brisbane, AUSTRALIA
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.
Jean-Yves Esquerre, Director of European School of Ballet, Oliver Matz, Director of Zurich Dance Academy, teaching teaching men's class junior women
Gioia Masala, Leading Faculty Member of Princess Grace Yan Chen, Ballet Mistress of American Ballet Theatre Studio Academy, with Australian participants Company, teaching senior women
Jakarta, INDONESIA
This season marks the 2nd me YAGP held its Semi-Finals in Indonesia - and we are encouraged by the outpouring of grateful feedback from Indonesian dance students for all the opportuni es brought to them by the world's leading dance professionals.
Karine Plandatit, TONY-nominated Broadway performer & former dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, joins Indonesian participants in celebrating the joy of dance
Ilona Jahja (Marlupi Dance Academy), Rebecca Alexandria Hadibroto (Marlupi Dance Academy), J unior 1st Place Winner Junior Women's Gold Medalist, Y AGP 2019 NY Finals
Beijing, CHINA
The YAGP China Semi-Final was held at the Beijing Dance Academy - home to the biggest dance facility in the world. Pengxiang Sun (Beijing Dance Academy), Lin Zhang (Beijing Dance Academy), Senior 1st Place Winner S enior 2nd Place Winner
Tai Tsz Ching (Suzhou Chang Yi Ballet School), Ting Tsz Ho (Hong Kong Camy Academy of Dancing), P re-Competitive 3rd Place Winner P re-Competitive 1st Place Winner
Shanghai Jincai Experimental School, 1st Place Ensemble Winner
O saka, JAPAN Japan was home to YAGP's first interna onal semi-final, da ng all the way back to 2002. It is s ll one of the biggest and most exciting dance events in YAGP's international tour schedule. Tadeusz Matacz, Director of the John Cranko School of The Stuttgart Ballet, teaching junior women
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Orizaba, MEXICO
This year we celebrated 15 years of bringing the YAGP experience to Mexico. The dis nc ve format of the Mexico Semi-Final is a never-ending fiesta - a fes val of dance, as part of which students take master classes, audi on for scholarships, and perform alongside past winners, YAGP Alumni, and guest artists.
Paulo Gonzalez (The Cuban National Ballet School, CUBA) Madison Brown (Lents Dance Company, FL) Mexico Festival de Danza Gala
One of the unique features of YAGP is providing young dancers with performance opportuni es before live audiences on world stages. The 2019 Fes val de Danza in Orizaba, Mexico, included a Gala with an interna onal 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
Lucia Lacarra and Matthew Golding, YAGP Alumnus Rocio Aleman, YAGP Alumna International Principal Guest Artists Stuttgart Ballet Lil Buck, International Guest Artist Jeffrey Cirio, YAGP Alumnus English National Ballet
Marco Masciari, YAGP Alumnus Mackenzie Brown, YAGP Alumna Student of Princess Grace Academy (MONACO) Student of Princess Grace Academy (MONACO)
November
Paris, FRANCE
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 organiza on POBS welcomed at its facilities in its 300 year-history.
Élisabeth Platel, Director of the Paris Opera Ballet School, teaching junior women Eva Hrytsak (Kiev State Choreography School, UKRAINE), Milda Luckute (The National M.K.Ciurlionis School of Art, Junior 1st Place Winner LITHUANIA), Senior 1st Place Winner
Matthis Laevans (Ballet School Raymonda, BELGIUM), Junior Uliana Efimova & Maksim Apatonov (Armida Ballet School, 2nd Place Winner RUSSIA), 1st Place Pas de Deux Winner
Bishkek, KYRGYZSTAN
This season marked the first me YAGP held its semi-final in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan - becoming the first ballet competition ever to be held in the country. Cattolica, ITALY
Located in the Northern part of Italy, Ca olica is a small town with a big heart, welcoming YAGP participants from all over Europe and beyond at this year's semi-final.
Alfonso Ferreira (Ent'Artes - Escola De Dança, PORTUGAL), Ela Kaner (Istanbul University State Conservatory, TURKEY), Junior 3rd Place Winner Junior 1st Place Winner
Michela Caprarulo & Riccardo Bruttomesso (Il Balletto, ITALY), 1st Place Pas de Deux Winners
December Barcelona, SPAIN
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.
António Casalinho (Conservatório Internacional De Ballet E Martha Savin (Dance Planet, ROMANIA), Dança Annarella Sanchez, PORTUGAL), Grand Prix Winner J unior 1st Place Winner
Nina Miro Verger & Asier Bautista (Escola de Dansa d'Alaro Eric Soler (Escuela de Danza Marisa Yudes, SPAIN), and Jove Ballet de Catalunya, SPAIN), Junior 1st Place Winner 2nd Place Pas de Deux Winner
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2020 U.S. and Canada Semi-Finals
November
While part of our team was s ll finishing interna onal 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. Philadelphia, PA
Ryo Yatogo (Aika Ballet School, NY), Lacey Park (Hudson Conservatory of Ballet, OH), Senior 1st S enior 1st Place Winner Place Winner
San Diego, CA
Eva Shinn (The Premier Ballet School of Orange County, CA), Madeleine Lee (V&T Classical Ballet Academy, CA), Junior Pre-Competitive 1st Place Winner 2nd Place Winner
January
Seattle, WA McKenzie Wilson (Emerald Ballet Academy, WA), Kristian Arciaga (The Dance Conservatory West Vancouver, Senior 2nd Place Winner CANADA), Senior 1st Place Winner
Katelyn Yang & Philipp Mergener (Independent, WA), 1st Place Pas de Deux Winner
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Philadelphia, PA Elene Gaganidze (International Ballet Theater Academy, PA), Ellie Iannotti & Angel Ramirez Castellano (The Rock School Grand Prix Winner for Dance Education, PA), 1 st Place Ensemble Winner
Tampa, FL
Ella Justi (Florida School for Dance Education, FL), Hope Brady Farrar (The Art of Classical Ballet/Stars Dance Studio, Award Winner FL), Youth Grand Prix Winner
Next Generation Ballet at the Straz Center, FL
Click here YAGP 2020 Tampa Gala "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow"
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 tradi on, at the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts. This exciting event was created in partnership with the Straz Center and in artistic collabora on with Philip Neal and Daniel Ulbricht. Audiences were treated to an incredible cast, nearly all of whom are YAGP Alumni*:
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
Skylar Brandt (American Ballet Theatre) Nayara Lopes & Sterling Baca (Pennsylvania Ballet)
Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet) Anna Tsygankova & Constantine Allen (Dutch National Ballet) Daniel Ulbricht, Constantine Allen, Anna Tsygankova, Skylar Brandt, G abe Stone Shayer, Nayara Lopes, Sterling Baca, Juliet Doherty
Chicago, IL
Odasz Dance Theatre, NY, Arabela Alvarado (Dance Center of San Antonio, TX), 1st 1 st Place Ensemble Winner Place Pre-Competitive Winner
San Francisco, CA Alina Taratorin (Bayer Ballet Academy, CA), Anthony Juo (Dance Collective, CANADA), G rand Prix Winner H ope Award Winner
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Pittsburgh, PA
Corbin Holloway (CityDance School and Conservatory, MD), Anais Diaz Fuentes (West Point Ballet, PA), Youth Grand Prix Winner S enior 1st Place Winner
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Winston-Salem, NC Catherine Rowland (International Ballet Academy, NC), Felipe Valentini (Cary Ballet Conservatory, NC), Grand Prix Winner S enior 3rd Place Winner
Los Angeles, CA
Lucca Ionazzi (Amirian Ballet Academy, CA), Keara Nichols (Academy of Ballet Arts, CA), J unior 1st Place Winner G rand Prix Winner Classical Dance Academy (CA), 1st Place Ensemble Winner
Dallas, TX
Allison Whitley (The Dallas Conservatory), Amir Dodarkhojayev (The Harid Conservatory, FL), Senior 1st J unior 1st Place Winner Place Winner
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Atlanta, GA
MorningStar Dance Academy, GA, Judges' Choice Ensemble Award
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, celebra ng the mul tude of diversity and talent in the ensemble category, is given by the discre on of the Jury to the ensemble piece demonstra ng excep onal ar stry, impressive technique, and memorable choreography.
As part of the prize, the dancers of "Water Lily" received an invita on 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.
Calen Babaz (Orlando Molina Ballet Training Center, GA), Julie Joyner (International City School of Ballet, GA), Youth Senior 3rd Place Winner Grand Prix Winner
Phoenix, AZ
Chase Vining (Master Ballet Academy, AZ), Emerson Plourde (Youth American Ballet Company, AZ), Pre- Senior 1st Place Winner Competitive 3rd Place Winner
February
San Diego, CA Ashley Lew (Southland Ballet Academy, CA), Marcus Taylor (Golden State Ballet, CA), G rand Prix Winner Y outh Grand Prix Winner
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Chicago, IL
Morgan Johnson (Summit Dance Shoppe, MN), Lauren Alving (The Academy of Dance Arts, IL), P re-Competitive 1st Place Winner S enior 1st Place Winner A&A Ballet, IL, 1st Place Large Ensemble Winner
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Las Vegas, NV
Crystal Huang (The Rock Center for Dance, NV), Carson Wiley (Alliance Academy of Dance, ID), H ope Award Winner Junior 1st Place Winner
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San Francisco, CA Kyawzwa Lwin (City Ballet - San Francisco, CA), Senior 1st Mahalaya Tintiangco-Cubales (Westlake School for the Place Winner Performing Arts, CA), Grand Prix Winner
Houston, TX
Tyrone Reese (Mobile Ballet, AL), Camille Dowling (Cibolo City Ballet, TX), G rand Prix Winner Pre-Competitive 1st Place Winner Lily Porier (Quenedit Ballet School, TX), Junior 1st Place Winner
New York, NY
Reed Henry (BalletCNJ, NJ), Senior 1st Place Winner Ha Nhi Tran (Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, DC, D.C), Grand Prix Winner
Los Angeles, CA Ava Louise Winer (Marat Daukayev School of Ballet,CA), Jacob Jovanni Alvarado (Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Junior 1st Place Winner Academy, CA), Senior 1st Place Winner
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Salt Lake City, UT
Sylvie Squires (Jacqueline's School of Ballet, UT), Grand Prix Lexi McCloud (Moga Conservatory of Dance, UT), Senior 1st Winner Place Winner Ballet West Academy, UT, 1st Place Large Ensemble Winner
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YAGP & Ballet West Present: "Night of Shining Stars"
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) :
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)
Read more about this special evening, which the Utah Arts Review described as "an exciting accelerated course in dance history." YAGP Alumna Mayara Magri and Matthew Ball (The Royal Robbie Fairchild & Allison Walsh in Christopher Wheeldon's Ballet) with YAGP Founder & Artistic Director, Larissa "An American in Paris" Saveliev, after the performance
Isabella Kulmer Sarah Lane (American Ballet Theatre) b efore the performance
The cast of YAGP and Ballet West present: "Night of Shining Stars" in Salt Lake City, UT
Denver, CO Lucy Stewart (Colorado Ballet Academy, CO), Samuel Portillo (Rocky Mountain Ballet Academy, CO), Senior S enior Women's 1st Place Winner 1st Place Winner
Kansas City, MO
Kennedy Newell (Kansas School of Classical Ballet, KS), Senior Cypress Schaff (Denver Academy of Ballet, CO), 1st Place Winner P re-Competitive 1st Place Winner
Kansas City Ballet School, MO, 1st Place Ensemble Winner
March
Boston, MA Sean Quinn (The Hanover Conservatory, MA), Paris Mills (Koltun Ballet Boston, MA), S enior 2nd Place Winner S enior 3rd Place Winner
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Indianapolis, IN
Abigail Schroeder (Classical Ballet Academy, OR), Paris Svigos (Illinois Classical Ballet, IL), J unior 1st Place Winner J unior 2nd Place Winner
Indiana Ballet Conservatory, IN, 1st Place Ensemble Winner
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Toronto, ON Tiffany Efimov (Academy of Ballet and Jazz, CANADA), Youth Sean Miller (The Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, FL) Grand Grand Prix Winner Prix Winner
YAGP'S NEW ONLINE S CHOLARSHIP PLACEMENT PROGRAM
Throughout YAGP's 2020 interna onal audi on tour to 34 ci es in 14 countries, hundreds of scholarships and acceptances were offered on the spot to the leading dance schools worldwide.
In lieu of conduc ng scholarship placement at the Finals, we are now facilita ng this process online. We have created the world’s largest database of dancers, whom we'll con nuously match with existing scholarship opportunities.
Please join us in wholeheartedly congratulating all of our participants and scholarship recipients of the 2020 season. Tadeusz Matacz, Director of the John Cranko School of The Élisabeth Platel, Director of the Paris Opera Ballet School, Stuttgart Ballet, with scholarship recipients in Osaka, Japan with scholarship recipients in Paris, France
Luca Masala, Artistic Director of Princess Grace Academy, with scholarship recipients in Cattolica, Italy
Scholarship recipients in Beijing, China
YAGP LAUNCHES ONLINE DANCE CLASSES BY JUDGES, GUEST ARTISTS, AND OUTSTANDING TEACHERS & SCHOOLS
As YAGP has been se ng high standards of excellence in dance educa on 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 mo vated and inspired during this time.
The series, profiled in Pointe a n d Cri cal Dance, features an array of videos from YAGP Scholarship Presenters, Jury Members, Partner Schools, Alumni, & Gala Ar sts, all of which will be permanently available to the global YAGP community through our social media channels. Click to view YAGP's complete Online Class Video Library
ASK THE EXPERT - an educational video series
YAGP con nues to broadcast its highly successful educa onal video series, ASK THE EXPERT, featuring leading professionals in the field of dance as they share their ps, 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.
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)
Click to view YAGP's complete Ask The Expert Video Library
THANK YOU FOR BEING A PART OF THE YAGP FAMILY 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
Grand Defilé, YAGP 2019 Gala, "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow" D avid H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center
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Photography credits: Alceu Be , 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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