ABOUT YAGP
Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world’s largest student ballet
scholarship competition that awards over $200,000 annually in
scholarships to leading dance schools worldwide. The competition is held
annually around the world and in New York City, and is open to dance students
of all nationalities 9-19 years old.
Launched in 1999 by two former dancers of the world-renowned Bolshoi
Ballet, Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, YAGP is also a 501(C)(3) non-profit
organization created with a mission to provide extraordinary
educational and professional opportunities to young dancers, acting as a
stepping stone to a professional dance career. It aims to fulfill its mission
by offering:
• Educational opportunities for dance students around the world
• Opportunity to receive contracts to dance companies worldwide
• Scholarships to leading dance schools in the U.S. and abroad
• Invaluable professional exposure to world-renowned dance
professionals
• Performance opportunities on some of the world’s most prestigious
stages and at dance festivals around the world
• Workshops with the renowned master teachers and judges of the
competition
Now in its 9th season, YAGP has awarded over 1 million in scholarships
to the leading dance schools worldwide. Over 20,000 dancers worldwide
have participated in YAGP’s international workshops, competitions, and
audition classes. Over 150 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 50
companies around the world, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City
Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet and San Francisco Ballet, among others.
YAGP’s contributions to international dance education were recognized by
the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(UNESCO) with a membership in UNESCO’s prestigious Conseil International
de la Danse (CID).
Since inception, Youth America Grand Prix has become an internationally
known meeting place for dance students and teachers, where they can
exchange ideas, share their experience and learn the most up-to-date
information on a variety of issues in ballet and contemporary dance. YAGP's
level of reputation as a showcase for dance students from America and
abroad is such that even passing the preliminary round to be selected
to participate in the New York City Finals gives a participant an
important distinction and a boost to their professional dance career.
The annually sold-out Youth America Grand Prix Closing Night Gala
featuring YAGP finalists on the same program as the stars of the world’s
leading dance companies, ”Stars of Today Meet the Stars of
Tomorrow,” will take place at New York City Center on Monday, April 21, 2008.
