For a better experience on Facebook, switch to our basic site or update your browser.Security CheckCan't read the text above?Try another text or an audio CAPTCHAText in the box:What's this?Be a part of the whirl of excitement as over 1,200 dancers compete and demonstrate their best moves. Seattle is the place to be to watch a new wave of professional dancers make their mark. Check out this event to get a glimpse of this slice of culture, and to enjoy one of the most unique things to do in Seattle in January. The world’s largest network for young dancers from ages 9-19, the Youth America Grand Prix Organization reaches thousands of students every year from all backgrounds through workshops, master classes, educational outreach, scholarship auditions, and performances. Every season, all of this hard work and learning culminates in the New York Finals. Luckily, a semi-final competition leading up to New York will be held in Seattle, so those in the area can experience this exciting dancing event.
Over 1,200 dancers will receive performance opportunities as well as mentoring, scholarship, and professional prospects. January 6-8, 2017, head to the Meydenbauer Center, just 1.5 miles from downtown Bellevue, to see the YAGP semi-finals in action. This event is open to the general public, with tickets free for anyone 21 and under. Pay just $5 dollars for adults over age 21. Even better, Hilton Bellevue Hotel is offering a discounted room rate for anyone attending the event. We’re in a convenient location, about a mile away from Meydenbauer Center, perfect for this competition that spans 3 days. We invite you to come and stay with us in Bellevue, Washington and submerge yourself in the world of dance.Hundreds of young dancers attended the Youth America Grand Prix ballet scholarship competition in the June Swaner Gates concert hall on March 5, 2017 in Denver. The four day competition was held at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts on the University of Denver campus.
This is the semi-final competition with winners getting the chance to compete in New York at the finals. The event included competitions and workshops with dancers from 55 schools, hailing from 10 US states and three countries. The YAGP is the world’s largest student ballet competition. Youth America Grand Prix is the world's largest international student dance competition, which awards more than $300,000 in scholarships each year, to dance schools within the United States and around the world. It is held internationally each year, with final competitions taking place in New York City.[1] It includes ballet and contemporary dance styles of performance. It is open to dance students 9–19 years old. Youth America Grand Prix[2] (YAGP)[3] is the world’s largest and one of the most prestigious international ballet competitions. It is also a New York-based 501(c)(3) non-profit educational organization. The mission of YAGP is to provide educational and professional opportunities to young dancers, acting as a stepping stone to a professional dance career by offering scholarships or job opportunities to young dancers ages 9 to 19.
Each year, over 8,000 participants audition to receive elite scholarships. The regional competitions are conducted in 18 cities in the US and in 6 international locations. Selected students from these competitions are invited to New York City to participate at the YAGP Finals in New York City. YAGP offers dance students the unique opportunity to be seen, taught and professionally guided by the directors and faculty of the world’s foremost companies and schools, including: Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre, Australian Ballet School, Canada’s National Ballet School and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The Harid Conservatory, John Cranko School of Stuttgart Ballet (Germany), La Scala Ballet Academy (Italy), Paris Opera Ballet, and The Royal Ballet School (England), and the Rock School for Dance Education among many others. YAGP Alumni go on to professional careers in dance, joining world-renowned dance companies including YAGP was founded in 1999 by two former dancers of the Bolshoi Ballet, Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev (who was a soloist at American Ballet Theatre and now teaches at the Studio Company for the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School).
The competition quickly became the largest in the United States, and is internationally recognized. "Youth America Grand Prix has grown to become the largest and one of the most influential youth ballet competitions in the world"[5] and has become “a game changer in the dance world” – Laura Bleiberg, Los Angeles Times. The number of participating students, teachers, dance schools and companies exceeds all others with great cultural and ethnic diversity. “Almost overnight, Youth America Grand Prix created a central ballet marketplace.” – Laura Bleiberg, Los Angeles Times. YAGP’s annual gala “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” Gala is an event presenting current dancers, as well as younger pre-professional dancers. Many ballet stars have had their New York Debut in the “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” Gala. In previous years, Guest Artists have included: YAGP also presented a number of dancers' last appearances in New York, including international ballet star Vladimir Malakhov, Paris Opera Ballet's Etoile dancer Manuel Legris, Bolshoi Ballet’s Nikolai Tsiskaridze and The Royal Ballet's Darcey Bussell.
The program of the Gala ranges from the well-known ballet classics to cutting-edge contemporary choreography. Its main objective is linked to the YAGP mission which is to educate not only the next generation of ballet artists, but also the next generation of ballet audiences. YAGP also introduced its now widely acclaimed educational Gala series, “Legends In Dance”, which in 2012 featured Ballerina Assoluta, Natalia Makarova. The YAGP Gala is “the highlight of the season!”[] – Clive Barnes, NY Post The YAGP Gala performers are “a truly impressive parade of artists.” - Jocelyn Noveck, The Moscow Times (AP)[8] “The evening was full of high spirits - Jocelyn Noveck, The Moscow Times (AP) “…. the bows naturally brought the audience to its feet” – Brian Seibert, The New York Times “We were already cheering at the top of our lungs during the standing ovation, when Kevin McKenzie gestured to Marcelo Gomes and David Hallberg to lift her up high.
Then we really went crazy”” Wendy Perron, Dance Magazine “The sheer number of ballet greats inside … was enough to leave me completely star struck.” – Rachel Zar, Dance Spirit “There was artistry in abundance of today's most celebrated ballerinas from around the globe … The men were the world's best as well. The sold-out house was filled with grown-ups who knew how to appreciate what they were watching” – Sondra Forsyth, Dance Art “The Makarova gala crowned three, remarkable evenings of performances by international artists and by Youth America Grand Prix hopefuls.” – Robert Johnson, The Star-Ledger[9] YAGP participants are evaluated by the representatives of the many ballet institutions from around the world. YAGP Jury members have included: To be selected for Final competitions in New York City, solo participants must receive a total score of 95 or higher in their Classical Ballet variation during regional competitions, or by submitting video.
In Junior and Senior Divisions there are Grand Prix Awards. Where men and women are awarded separately with Gold, Silver and Bronze medals. The Hope Award is presented for Pre-competitive Division. As well, First, Second and Third places are awarded in Pre-competitive and Ensembles categories. Total value of all scholarship awards exceeds $250,000. The scholarships include The Royal Ballet School (UK), Hamburg Ballet School (Germany), The John Cranko School of Stuttgart Ballet (Germany), Zurich Dance Academy (Switzerland), The Ailey School (USA), American Ballet Theater (USA), Bolshoi Ballet Academy (USA), Joffrey Ballet's Academy of Dance (USA) among many others. Youth America Grand Prix has numerous alumni who have gone on to successful careers in the field. Seven young dancers participating in the Youth America Grand Prix competition were filmed for the documentary First Position[10] by director Bess Kargman. The film earned praise from critics and audiences during several screenings on the United States 2012 film festival circuit.
It was given a wider theatre release in May 2012, distributed by Sundance Selects.[11] The documentary has won several awards. Built on the young dancers’ talent, tenacity and passion, First Position gives audiences across the world an "all-access pass" into the backstage world of dance, capturing the process of how dance stars are born.The Judges’ Pet Peeves. /eng/press/images/press_archives_20102015/Pointe%20magazine%20June%20July%202011.pdf[] Retrieved on May 3, 2012In “First Position” young ballet dancers bend and leap to compete. /entertainment/arts/culture/la-ca-first-position-20120429,0,3675881,full.story Retrieved on May 3, 2012The Stars Align at Youth America Grand Prix. /2012/04/the-stars-align-at-youth-america-grand-prix/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=the-stars-align-at-youth-america-grand-prix Retrieved on May 3, 2012Ballet star gazes down and rises up. /2012/04/30/arts/dance/youth-america-grand-prix-honors-natalia-makarova-ballerina.html Retrieved on May 3, 2012