Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) is the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition that awards over $250,000 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 a501(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 studentsaround the world

• Opportunity to receive contracts to dancecompanies worldwide

• Scholarships to leading dance schools in theU.S. and abroad

• Invaluable professional exposure toworld-renowned dance professionals

• Performance opportunities on some of theworld’s most prestigious stages and at dance festivals around the world

• Workshops with the renowned master teachersand judges of the competition

Now in its 10th Anniversary season, YAGP has awarded over $2 million in scholarships to the leading dance schools worldwide. Over 25,000 dancers worldwide have participated in YAGP’s international workshops, competitions, and audition classes. Over 250 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 recognizedby 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 hasbecome 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 ofTomorrow,” will take place at New York City Center on Wednesday, April 22,2009.