Tag: youth america grand prix

Congratulations to the 2019 Youth America Grand Prix Winners

This week, over 1,000 young hopefuls gathered in New York City for the Youth America Grand Prix finals, giving them the chance to compete for scholarships and contracts to some of the world’s top ballet schools and companies. Roughly 85 dancers made it to the final round at Lincoln Center’s David H. Koch Theater on […]

Why You Should Know Rising Star Kiarra Waidelich

When we asked what her proudest accomplishment so far is, Kiarra Waidelich paused for a moment. That’s because she has so many to choose from: In the past two years, Kiarra’s earned Mini and Junior Female Best Dancer at The Dance Awards, snagged Youth America Grand Prix’s Hope Award, and made it to the divisional […]

Nigel Lythgoe's New YAGP Web Series Premieres Today!

It seems like these days, if you wanted to spend all of your free time watching dance on TV, you probably could—not that we recommend it (everything in moderation, right?). But think about it: Just this spring/summer, we’ve welcomed Teen Vogue‘s “Strictly Ballet,” Hulu’s “The Next Step” and Ovation’s “Young Marvels” to the dance TV […]

You Should Know: Avery Gay

Avery Gay’s chameleonlike abilities have earned her comp-world celebrity. In a testament to her versatility, she won the 2015 Hope Award—a prize reserved for the best classical and contemporary dancer in the pre-competitive age bracket—at the Youth America Grand Prix Las Vegas semifinals. Then she won it again at the 2016 Austin, TX semifinals. Considering […]

Celebrate #FouetteFriday with Maria Kochetkova

Happy Friday, ladies and gents! Does it feel like this has been an especially long week? It does, right? I have this theory that the colder it is, the slower time passes. Anyway, here’s a little something to reward you for making it through: a #FouetteFriday video! Our friends over at TenduTV recently posted this […]

The Creation of a Tutu

Every dancer dreams of the day she’ll get her first tutu. Her first real tutu, that is. Not a puffball of pink tulle designed for pre-ballet class—though, hey, when you’re 5, those are pretty great, too—but a big, glorious platter skirt with a corseted bodice. Ballerinas wear many tiaras over the course of their careers, […]

Ballet's Brightest Stars—The Before Videos

NYC is bursting with promising ballet dancers this week, thanks to the Youth America Grand Prix finals held at Lincoln Center’s Koch Theater. To all the competitors (at YAGP and beyond), we’re shouting a big “Merde!!” your way. We can’t wait to see what amazing things these kids will do next. Don’t believe us? Just […]

Jasmine Cruz

In a pair of pointe shoes, she’s effortlessly regal—but take those pointe shoes off, and Jasmine Cruz will show you her spunky side. The 12-year-old’s solid technique and infectious personality helped her snag a gold medal at the World Ballet Competition in 2012, and earn first place in both classical and contemporary for the pre-competitive […]