Alexander Holms - Sleeping Beauty, Bluebird - YAGP 2018

2018 Youth America Grand Prix Junior Classical Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world’s largest dance network and dance education organization that fulfills its mission through scholarship auditions, master classes, alumni services, educational and outreach activities, performances, and films. Mission Statement: 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. Some of Youth America Grand Prix’s significant achievements are: YAGP has awarded over $2,500,000 in scholarships to the world’s leading dance schools. Over 50,000 dancers have participated in YAGP’s workshops, scholarship auditions and master classes worldwide. Over 300 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 80 companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Paris Opera Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Washington Ballet, Stuttgart Ballet, Royal Ballet, and Dutch National Ballet, among others. To identify promising young dance talent, YAGP conducts auditions in 15 cities in the United States and in Belgium, France, Italy, Mexico, Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, and Japan. YAGP’s Job Fair is a special audition program giving YAGP participants and alumni a chance to be seen and hired by the directors of the world’s leading dance companies. YAGP’s Emerging Choreographer Series provides an opportunity for upcoming choreographers to present their work to the international dance community. The series has featured Camille A. Brown, Marcelo Gomes, Adam Hougland, Susan Jaffe, and Justin Peck, among others. YAGP’s educational Gala series, Legends In Dance, celebrates artists who have helped shape dance history. Honorees have included Peter Pestov, Vladimir Vasiliev, and Ballerina Assoluta, Natalia Makarova. In 2005, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) recognized YAGP’s contribution to international dance education with a membership in UNESCO’s prestigious Conseil International de la Danse (CID). In 2007, YAGP became the first organization in the 50-year history of Italy’s prestigious Spoleto Dance Festival to present performances by dance students. YAGP has been featured in the Guggenheim Museum’s Works & Process series. YAGP’s presentation, “How Judges Judge,” gave audiences a rare insight into professional evaluation of dance artists. YAGP aims to develop new audiences by bringing dance into mainstream culture. In 2010, it became the subject of First Position - an award-winning documentary which followed six YAGP participants on their journey to YAGP’s New York City Finals. In 2013, YAGP produced “Ballet’s Greatest Hits” – a filmed Gala performance showcasing six of the most beloved classical ballets. Narrated by Nigel Lythgoe, the film combines live performances with exclusive behind-the-scenes interviews with the dancers and dance legends, historical background and rare archival footage. Youth America Grand Prix will celebrate its 15th Anniversary in the 2014-2015 Season, culminating in the 15th Anniversary Gala: “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” (April 10, 2014) and the YAGP 15th Anniversary Celebration (April 11, 2014) at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center in New York City. YAGP Board of Directors: Linda K. Morse, Board Chair Barbara Brandt, Chair Emeritus Larissa Saveliev, Ex Officio, Artistic Director and Founder Gary Brandt Jose Manuel Carreno Patrick S. Cole Arlene C. Cooper Linda Fell Sergey Gordeev Diane Hipkins Judith M. Hoffman Susan Jaffe Karla Johnson Margot London Irene Minkoff Linda Morse Kathleen M. Murtha Richard Osterweil Elizabeth Papadopoulos Robert A. Schulman Irene Shen John L. Sills, Esq. Alexa Isbell Wolman, Esq. Terry Zucker