Dear Friends,

Dance Magazine Awards

A tradition dating back to 1954, the Dance Magazine Awards recognize the outstanding men and women whose contributions have left a lasting impact on the dance world. 

On December 8, Dance Magazine Awards were given to six exceptional dance community members, including YAGP Founder and Artistic Director Larissa Saveliev; American Ballet Theatre soloist, Misty Copeland; celebrated British choreographer, Wayne McGregor; legendary jazz teacher, Luigi; and co-founders of American Tap Dance Foundation, Brenda Bufalino and Tony Waag.   

Each presentation of the award was accompanied by a special live performance. Previously featured in YAGP's "Emerging Choreographer Series," Marcelo Gomes choreographed a special piece on YAGP alumni, Sterling Baca and Sarah Lane, to celebrate Larissa's achievement.

The Finals Week in New York City

After seeing thousands of students worldwide, the YAGP jury panel hand-selected the most promising young dancers for a week-long series of auditions and performances at NYU's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, which culminated in The Final Round at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. Over 300 scholarships totaling more than $550,000 were offered to major dance schools worldwide.

17 year-old Cuban dancer, Cesar Corrales, was awarded the Grand Prix at the YAGP semi-finals in Belgium and at the Finals in New York.  Corrales also received a contract with the ABT Studio Company.

The YAGP 2014 Gala on April 10 at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center truly lived up to what the press has described as "the highlight of the New York ballet season."  YAGP's annual Gala featured world premieres by Derek Hough, the Emmy Award-winning choreographer of Dancing with the Stars, and by American Ballet Theatre's Gemma Bond, with an original score by composer Karen LeFrak and costumes by Ralph Rucci. The evening, chaired by Stephanie Foster, Heather Georges, Kamie Lightburn, and Christina Lyon, was followed by an elegant dinner and dancing on the Promenade at the David H. Koch Theater.

Featured Artists

Linda Sims (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater)

Skylar Brandt* (American Ballet Theatre)

Misty Copeland (American Ballet Theatre)

Sarah Lane* (American Ballet Theatre)

Lauren Post* (American Ballet Theatre)

Calvin Royal III* (American Ballet Theatre)

Daniil Simkin (American Ballet Theatre)

Gabe Stone Shayer* (American Ballet Theatre)

Thomas Forster (American Ballet Theatre)

Katherine Williams* (American Ballet Theatre)

Olga Smirnova (Bolshoi Ballet)

Marlon Dino (Bavarian State Opera Ballet)

Lucia Lacarra (Bavarian State Opera Ballet)

Evan McKie (Stuttgart Ballet/National Ballet of Canada) - NEW YORK DEBUT

Mathias Heymann* (Paris Opera Ballet)

Left to Right: Larissa Saveliev, Stephanie Foster, Kamie Lightburn, Ralph Rucci, Gemma Bond, Christina Lyon, and Heather Georges

Misty Copeland in Ameska

Lucia Lacarra with YAGP participants at our 2014 Gala.

In 15 years of operation, YAGP has helped launch the professional careers of hundreds of talented young dancers who are now performing in companies around the world. On April 11, to celebrate the 15th Anniversary of its founding, YAGP presented a special performance featuring YAGP alumni from leading international dance companies. The program included a special presentation of Alvin Ailey's Pas de Duke and the New York debut by Stuttgart Ballet/National Ballet of Canada's Evan McKie.

Featured Artists

Linda Sims (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater)

Herman Cornejo (American Ballet Theatre)

Daniil Simkin (American Ballet Theatre)

James Whiteside* (American Ballet Theatre)

Beckanne Sisk* (Ballet West)

Olga Smirnova (Bolshoi Ballet)

Seymon Chudin (Bolshoi Ballet)

Fabrice Calmels (Joffrey Ballet)

Marlon Dino (Bavarian State Opera Ballet

Lucia Lacarra (Bavarian State Opera Ballet)

Evan McKie  (National Ballet of Canada/Stuttgart Ballet)

Robert Fairchild (New York City Ballet)

Lauren Lovette* (New York City Ballet)

Joaquin de Luz (New York City Ballet)

Taylor Stanley* (New York City Ballet)

Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet)

Brooklyn Mack* (The Washington Ballet)

*YAGP Alumni

Daniil Simkin and Alicia Graf Mack on the cover of the YAGP 15th Anniversary Season Souvenir Book in Pas de Duke

Semyon Chudin and Olga Smirnova (Bolshoi Ballet) in Diamonds

Acknowledged for his versatility and talent as a rising star of classical ballet, Myles Thatcher, Corps de Ballet dancer with San Francisco Ballet, became a prot�g� in the Rolex Arts Initiative, with Alexei Ratmansky as his mentor. Thatcher trained at the Harid Conservatory, Ellison Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet, which he officially joined as part of the corps de ballet in 2010.  Under the mentorship of Ratmansky, Thatcher will choreograph a piece for the San Francisco Ballet's 2015 repertory season.   

Myles Thatcher

Calvin Royal III, Corps de Ballet dancer at American Ballet Theatre (ABT), was awarded a grant from the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship Fund for the Performing and Visual Arts, which will provide resources to help Royal enhance his classical ballet technique, focus on body conditioning and strength, and continue his college education.  Royal joined ABT's pre-professional school after being discovered at YAGP in New York City in 2006. Recognized for his innate ability and passion for dance, he was soon promoted to the ABT Studio Company and then the ABT main company in 2010. 

Calvin Royal III

New York's Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) has been at the forefront of the international fashion community for decades - and in September The Museum at FIT opened a brand new exhibition, Dance & Fashion.  The exhibition explored the relationship between the two art forms and featured almost 100 dance costumes and dance-inspired fashion designs, ranging from the 19th century to the present, many of which had never been exhibited before. YAGP was honored to be a part of the exhibition - which included a costume by Ralph Rucci designed for the YAGP 2014 Gala.

The Museum at FIT's Dance & Fashion Exhibition

Calvin Royal III rehearsing for the YAGP 2014 Gala in the Ralph Rucci costume featured at the Dance & Fashion Exhibition at FIT.

Calvin pictured with the featured Ralph Rucci design at the Dance & Fashion Exhibition at FIT.

Guests and YAGP Board members tour Dance & Fashion.

This year, YAGP Artistic Director and Founder, Larissa Saveliev, along with YAGP President and co-founder, Gennadi Saveliev, received the prestigious Russian-American Person of the Year Award in the "Educator" category.  The award honors outstanding representatives of the Russian-American community in the United States and recognizes their significant accomplishments. The Awards were attended by NYC Mayor Bill de Blasio, Alec and William Baldwin, and the 2015 recipient of the Miss America title, Kira Kazantsev. 

This year, YAGP welcomed four new Board members: Cheryl Bergenfeld, B Michael, Howard S. Paley, and Joy Sabella. The new members of the YAGP family share a passion for dance and have already begun making a major difference in the work of our organization.

Cheryl Bergenfeld had previously served for 5 years on the YAGP Board of Directors and is excited to return after a 4-year leave.  She has also been involved in other dance projects, including Keigwin & Company's Gala, American Ballet Theatre, and Ballet Pacifico.

Fashion designer and Council of Fashion Designers of America member B Michael designed hats under Oscar de la Renta, Louis Feraud and Nolan Miller before becoming creative director for the Aldo Hat Corporation.  In 1999 he launched his first couture collection. He serves on the advisory boards of Dream Yard Project, the Cicely Tyson School of Performing and Fine Arts, and is a guest lecturer at FIT.

Howard S. Paley is a long-time member of ABT's Chairman's Council and the New Combinations Fund at New York City Ballet. At the New York Philharmonic, Howard is a member of The Leonard Bernstein Circle and is actively involved in the Metropolitan Opera President's Circle.

Joy Sabella comes from the world of technology and finance, creating and developing trading related systems for Goldman Sachs, UBS, Merrill Lynch, Deutsche Bank and presently with JP Morgan Chase.  Joy has been involved with YAGP over the past year, helping to streamline our registration process and to create a comprehensive database.