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 connents to see their longme 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 sll happening – online – and not just for NYC finalists, but for the enre YAGP dance community worldwide. Judges and ballet stars are sll connecng to students and audiences via online classes, discussions and expert advice. And scholarships will find their recipients. Coordinang scholarship offers and acceptances between dozens of preeminent dance schools and hundreds of talented students across the globe is no small task – but our arsc 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. Starng in August 2019 and finishing this spring, we traveled the world in search of promising young dancers represenng 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 incepon 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 internaonal 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 locaons in the United States, finishing in Canada at the beginning of March. Dancers from all over the world performed their variaons, parcipated in master classes with the world's leading educators, and made lifelong friendships with fellow artists. More than 12,000 dance students worldwide parcipated 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 opportunies for talented dancers from her home country, but also serves as an example and inspiraon to the next generaon 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 compeon 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) Click Here Click Here October 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 opportunies 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 internaonal semi-final, dang all the way back to 2002. It is sll 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 Click Here Click Here Orizaba, MEXICO This year we celebrated 15 years of bringing the YAGP experience to Mexico. The disncve format of the Mexico Semi-Final is a never-ending fiesta - a fesval of dance, as part of which students take master classes, audion 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 opportunies before live audiences on world stages. The 2019 Fesval de Danza in Orizaba, Mexico, included a Gala with an internaonal 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 organizaon 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, Caolica 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