N E W S L E T T E R
2020 Highlights
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Dear Friends,
2020 has been a challenging year – and dancers worldwide have accepted the challenge: to work harder, to fly higher, and to go further. And so did YAGP.
This year may have looked a little different – but our commitment to support talented young dancers worldwide remains the same. From the world’s first completely virtual scholarship audition (resulting in more than $200,000 in scholarships to the world’s leading dance academies) to a comprehensive online master class series and coaching sessions with the world’s leading dance professionals, YAGP has forged new ways of serving the young artists of tomorrow, remaining at the forefront of global dance education movement.
The soul of innovation is to see challenges as new opportunities. Not being able to travel to see dancers perform in person has allowed more judges to tune in virtually from all over the globe – bringing more scholarships to participants than ever before. With that, YAGP remains the only major ballet competition that offers young dancers a chance to perform LIVE onstage – safely, of course, by following all local health and safety guidelines.
As we continue to innovate and look ahead, we thank you – our supporters, dancers, teachers, schools, and friends worldwide – for joining us in our mission to ensure the future of dance. We invite you to look back on the incredible journey of 2020 and to celebrate our joint successes. They are proof that together we can – and will – overcome any challenges, turning them into opportunities to grow.
With gratitude and appreciation,
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Larissa Saveliev
Artistic Director, Founder
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While many live performances and planned debuts were postponed, many YAGP Alumni across the world were recognized by their companies for their outstanding artistry and talent. Our warmest congratulations to these extraordinary artists on their well-deserved recognition - we cannot wait for their highly-anticipated return to some of the world’s greatest stages. |
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S K Y L A R | B R A N D T
Principal Dancer
American Ballet Theatre
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F R A N C E S C O |
G A B R I E L E | F R O L A
Lead Principal Dancer, English National Ballet
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A N G E L I C A |
G E N E R O S A
Principal Dancer
Pacific Northwest Ballet
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J U L I A N | M A C K A Y
Principal Dancer
San Francisco Ballet
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W O N A | P A R K
Principal Dancer
San Francisco Ballet
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C A L V I N |
R O Y A L | I I I
Principal Dancer
American Ballet Theatre
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American Ballet Theatre
Joo Won Ahn, Aran Bell, Skylar Brandt, and Calvin Royal III promoted to Principal Dancer.
Gabe Stone Shayer promoted to Soloist.
Ballet West
Hadriel Diniz promoted to First Soloist.
Emile Neale promoted to Soloist.
Nicole Fannéy and Vinicius Lima joined the company.
Boston Ballet
Chisako Oga promoted to Soloist.
Soo-bin Lee, Sun Woo Lee, and Haley Schwan promoted to Second Soloist.
Ao Wang and Nations Wilkes-Davis joined the company.
Dresden Semperoper Ballet
Julian Amir Lacey promoted to First Soloist.
Anthony Bachelier promoted to Corpyphée.
Yazmin Verhage joined the company.
English National Ballet
Francesco Gabriele Frola promoted to Lead Principal Dancer.
Daniel McCormick promoted to Soloist.
Precious Adams and Julia Conway promoted to Junior Soloist.
Pacific Northwest Ballet
Angelica Generosa promoted to Principal Dancer.
Pennsylvania Ballet
Jack Thomas promoted to First Soloist.
Thays Golz promoted to Soloist.
Lucia Erickson promoted to Demi Soloist.
Fernanda Oliveira and Sophie Savas-Carstens joined the company.
San Francisco Ballet
Julian MacKay joined the company as Principal Dancer.
Wona Park promoted to Principal Dancer.
Myles Thatcher promoted to Soloist.
Tyla Steinbach and Adrian Zeisel joined the company.
The Stuttgart Ballet
Diana Ionescu promoted to Soloist.
Mackenzie Brown, Riccardo Ferlito, Bridget Lee, and Natalie Thornley-Hall joined the company.
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Dance Europe Magazine’s
“Dancer of the Year”
YAGP Alumna Maia Makhateli, Principal Dancer of Dutch National Ballet, was voted by Dance Europe readers as their choice for “Dancer of the Year” in 2020.
Among the ten nominees, selected by Dance Europe writers as part of the magazine’s annual Critics’ Choice, were two other YAGP Alumni: Sasha De Sola, Principal Dancer of San Francisco Ballet, and Vadim Muntagirov, Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet.
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Maia Makhateli with YAGP Alumnus & Dutch National Ballet Principal Dancer, Young Gyu Choi |
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UK Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards
In February, YAGP Alumnus Marcelino Sambé, Principal Dancer of The Royal Ballet, was named Best Male Dancer at the 20th Anniversary of the UK’s Critics’ Circle National Dance Awards.
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Marcelino Sambe performing at YAGP 2009, where he won the Gold Medal |
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Clive Barnes Awards
In a virtual ceremony earlier this month, YAGP Alumnus Aran Bell, Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theatre, was named the Dance Winner of the 10th annual Clive Barnes Awards, which recognizes excellence in New York City theater and dance.
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Aran Bell performing at YAGP 2009, where he won the Hope Award |
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Pointe Magazine 2020 "Stars of the Corps"
Seven of the ten dancers recognized as Pointe’s 2020 “Stars of the Corps” are YAGP alumni. For the full list, click here.
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M A R I A | C O E L H O
Tulsa Ballet
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N I N A |
F E R N A N D E S
Miami City Ballet
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J O S H U A |
G U I L L E M O T -
R O D G E R S O N
Houston Ballet
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D A R A | H O L M E S
The Joffrey Ballet
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L E A H | R O S E
M C F A D D E N
Colorado Ballet
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A L E X A N D E R |
R E N E F F - O L S O N
San Francisco Ballet
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W A N Y U E | Q I A O
American Ballet Theatre
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YAGP Alumni continued to grace the covers of publications worldwide in 2020, including Pointe, Dance Magazine, and even Forbes Japan, where YAGP Alumna May Nagahisa was named one of this year’s “30 Under 30." As the first Japanese soloist of the Mariinsky Ballet, May became an audience favorite in St. Petersburg as one of the brightest rising stars in the company.
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May Nagahisa performing at YAGP 2013, where she won the Gold Medal |
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M A Y | N A G A H I S A
Second Soloist, Mariinsky Ballet
Forbes Japan, October 2020
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C A L V I N | R O Y A L | I I I
Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre
Dance Magazine, July 2020
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G A B E | S T O N E | S H A Y E R
Soloist, American Ballet Theatre
Pointe, digital cover, Winter 2020
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S Y D N E Y | D O L A N
Soloist, Pennsylvania Ballet
Pointe, Summer 2020
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T A T I A N A | M E L E N D E Z
Artist, Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Pointe, Fall 2020
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YAGP 2020 Tampa Gala
“Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow”
In January, local audiences were treated to the now-traditional "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow" Gala in Tampa, Florida. The event captured the brilliance and excitement for which YAGP Galas are known around the world. The Gala was presented in partnership with the David A. Straz Center for the Performing Arts and in artistic collaboration with Philip Neal and Daniel Ulbricht, featuring an all-star cast consisting almost entirely of YAGP Alumni*:
· Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet)
· Constantine Allen* and Anna Tsygankova (Dutch National Ballet)
· Skylar Brandt* and Gabe Stone Shayer* (American Ballet Theatre)
· Nayara Lopes* and Sterling Baca* (Pennsylvania Ballet)
· Juliet Doherty* (Actress, High Strung)
· And talented participants of the Tampa Semi-Final
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Skylar Brandt (American Ballet Theatre) |
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Daniel Ulbricht, Constantine Allen, Anna Tsygankova, Skylar Brandt, Gabe Stone Shayer, Nayara Lopes, Sterling Baca, Juliet Doherty |
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Anna Tsygankova & Constantine Allen (Dutch National Ballet) |
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Daniel Ulbricht
(New York City Ballet)
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Nayara Lopes & Sterling Baca (Pennsylvania Ballet) |
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YAGP & Ballet West Present
“Night of Shining Stars”
In February, as part of the Salt Lake City, Utah, Semi-Final, YAGP and Ballet West co-presented the “Night of Shining Stars” Gala performance at the historic Capitol Theatre in downtown Salt Lake City. The evening was described as “an exciting course in dance history” by the Utah Arts Review. Audiences were treated to a thrilling showcase of young YAGP participants and electrifying ensembles, alongside a stellar cast of professional dancers:
· Mayara Magri* and Matthew Ball (The Royal Ballet)
· Robbie Fairchild (Broadway star and former New York City Ballet Principal)
· Sarah Lane* (ABT) and Taras Domitro (International Principal Guest Artist)
· Rex Tilton and Sayaka Ohtaki (Ballet West)
· Tyler Gum and Katherine Lawrence (Ballet West)
(* indicates YAGP Alumni)
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Sarah Lane (ABT) getting ready for the performance |
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Mayara Magri & Matthew Ball (The Royal Ballet) with YAGP Founder & Artistic Director, Larissa Saveliev |
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YAGP completed its full 2020 Season of Semi-Finals in March, spanning 14 countries and 27 locations in the United States. The last Semi-Final of the season took place in March in Toronto, Canada. More than 12,000 dance students from all over the world performed their variations, participated in master classes with the world’s leading educators, and made lifelong friendships with fellow artists.
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Cadence Burke and Ian Anderson-Conlon (Indiana Ballet Conservatory, IN) performing in Indianapolis |
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Isobel Rose Lehman (Master Ballet Academy, AZ) warming up in Phoenix |
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Yana Peneva (Skyra Studios, FL) in class with the legendary Bruce Marks in Tampa |
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Pre-Competitive participants taking Master Classes in San Diego |
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The closing of Lincoln Center meant that the YAGP 2020 New York City Finals - the world's largest international scholarship audition - could not happen in person; so YAGP made it happen online. For the first time in dance history, YAGP built the world’s first global platform for virtual scholarship auditions this April, matching young dancers everywhere with education opportunities to the leading dance schools worldwide.
While travel restrictions kept everyone at home, hundreds of young dancers were able to audition by video using YAGP’s platform, resulting in over 100 scholarships awarded to dancers from over 21 countries. Click here to see the full list of scholarships and acceptances from our spring 2020 Virtual Scholarship Audition.
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Alecsia Maria Lazarescu
Currently studying at Balletschule Theater Basel (SWITZERLAND)
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Aviva Gelfer-Mündl
Currently a member of Boston Ballet II (USA)
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Martha Savin
Currently studying at Princess Grace Academy (MONACO)
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YAGP has established the highest standards of excellence in dance education since its inception in 1999 - and in 2020, it continued serving the global dance community with an extensive virtual master class and coaching series offered to dancers in the comfort of their home. A series of free daily online classes taught by YAGP jury members, guest artists, and YAGP Outstanding Teacher/Outstanding School Award winners was accompanied by live coaching sessions via Zoom with some of the most exciting ballet artists performing today, including Maria Khoreva (First Soloist, Mariinsky Ballet), YAGP Alumna Skylar Brandt (Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre), YAGP Alumna Mayara Magri (Principal Dancer, The Royal Ballet), and esteemed school & company directors from around the world.
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Luca Masala, Artistic Director of Princess Grace Academy (MONACO), teaching Ballet Technique |
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Maria Khoreva, First Soloist of the Mariinsky Ballet, teaching Variations class |
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Oliver Matz, Director of Zurich Dance Academy (SWITZERLAND), teaching Ballet Technique |
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Innovation and determination are the theme of YAGP's 2021 Season, as it remains the only major ballet competition offering young dancers a chance to dance LIVE ON STAGE. With social distancing, increased safety protocols, and strict adherence to the latest health and safety guidelines, these live events give dancers continued access to scholarships at the world's leading dance academies at a time when it matters most. |
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YAGP 2021 Season Semi-Final in Seoul, Korea
YAGP’s first international semi-final of the 2021 Season took place in July 2020 in Seoul, Korea. Headed by YAGP Alumna and Board member Hee Seo, Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theatre, it marked the world’s first live ballet competition since global stay-at-home restrictions began to ease.
Scholarships were offered to many preeminent dance academies, with a jury panel including Yuri Fateev (Acting Director, Mariinsky Ballet), Christopher Powney (Artistic Director, The Royal Ballet School), Gennadi Saveliev (Co-Founder, YAGP), Alexei Moskalenko (Assistant Artistic Director, YAGP), and Ms. Seo herself.
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Tae Ryeong Kim was awarded a full-year scholarship to The Royal Ballet School and began her studies in the UK in September |
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YAGP 2021 Season Semi-Final in Osaka, Japan
The YAGP 2021 Osaka, Japan Semi-Final took place in October 2020. The travel restrictions actually worked to dancers' benefit, allowing an unprecedented number of international dance institutions to participate. 30 judges and scholarship presenters from 12 countries on 4 continents tuned in online to adjudicate a digitally streamed LIVE competition. Hundreds of dancers performed onstage, attended live master classes, received personalized feedback - and even scholarship invitations. Click here to see the full list of scholarships that have been accepted at this time.
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YAGP 2021 Season Asia Pacific Virtual Semi-Final
The first ever YAGP Asia Pacific Virtual Semi-Final took place this December. The virtual competition was not just an opportunity for YAGP to engage many more preeminent dance institutions than ever before; it was also an opportunity for dancers to participate from a much wider geographic area – and in ways that were never before possible: some dancers tuned in from their living rooms! They came from Tawain, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Indonesia, China and, of course, New Zealand and Australia.
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YAGP 2021 Season North American Semi-Finals
YAGP kicked off its North American season of semi-finals in November with live events in Philadelphia, PA, and San Diego, CA. Dancers performed live onstage in a safe, socially distanced environment – the first time they had a chance to do so in over eight months. The joy and excitement was palpable and clearly communicated how much dance means to each of the young artists who participated.
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Happy New Year from all of us at YAGP! |
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Dance has the power to inspire, uplift and transform – but when it comes to young minds, its power to elevate goes far beyond the stage.
Sharing the stage at YAGP with fellow dancers from around the globe creates an environment where diversity and inclusion are not just aspirational goals, but a shared reality – helping students become not only better artists, but better global citizens.
HELP ENSURE THE FUTURE OF DANCE
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Photography Credits: Erin Baiano, Taylor Brandt, Jordan Brown, Jack Devant, Myesha Evon, Guillermo Galindo, Hailey Kolker, Nicholas MacKay, Hideaki Tanioka, Janira Tarquini, Lindsay Thomas, Jayme Thornton, Erik Tomasson, Staff TES, VAM Productions, Jade Young |
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