YAGP - The Results Are In

Youth America Grand Prix

 The Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the largest and one of the most elite international ballet scholarship competitions. It’s a non-profit organization based in New York City and established in 1999 to support and develop world-class dancers ages 9 to 19.  The competition is divided in to three Age Divisions.

• Senior Age Division: 15–19 years old
• Junior Age Division: 12– 14 years old
• Pre-Competitive Age Division: 9–11 years old

Their mission as written on their page is “To support and develop world-class dancers, ages 9-19, of all ethnic, economic, and geographic backgrounds by providing scholarship auditions, performance and education opportunities, and serving as the global network of dance, connecting students, teachers, schools, dance companies, dancers, and audiences.”

To date, YAGP has awarded over $2,500,000 in scholarships with over 50,000 dancers participating in its workshops, scholarship auditions and master classes worldwide.

Some of the notable alumni of this elite competition who became successful includes:

Isabella Boylston –  American Ballet Theatre (principal)

Dusty Button – Boston Ballet (principal)

Sarah Mearns – New York City Ballet (principal)

Sergei Polunin –The Royal Ballet (principal)

Michaela DePrince –Dutch National Ballet (soloist)

In 2011, Bess Kargman, a former dancer directed an American documentary film entitled First Position. It followed six young ballet dancers, from different backgrounds as they prepare for the YouthAmerica Grand Prix (YAGP). It all started when Bess Kargman popped into the theatre during the 2009 YAGP finals in NYC just as Miko Fogarty took the stage. This also paved the way to Fogarty’s success as she went on to win tons of medals, including Best Swiss Candidate in Prix de Lausanne, Silver at VARNA international Ballet and 2013 Moscow International Ballet Competition. And until recently she was dancing with the Birmingham Royal Ballet.

Like every other year before the talent on show this year was un-believable.  We thoroughly enjoyed watching classes and performances from the comfort of our loungeroom & office each day and thank the wonders of modern technology for allowing us the opportunity to feel connected to something so far away!

To view the medal winners from the 2018 competition visit - http://yagp.org/?page_id=7088

To watch the highlights video visit - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XC6iu6AFS4Y&feature=youtu.be

Only 11 more months until next years competition… but who’s counting!