For 25 years, the ballet stars of tomorrow have taken center-stage with Youth America Grand Prix, the world renowned international ballet competition and scholarship program that serves as a launching pad for young dancers.
On Thursday, the monuments occasion was celebrated at Lincoln Center with its signature Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala.
The performance began with hundreds of young ballet stars performing a Grand Défilé, a YAGP traditional pièce d’occasion, to open the evening. The evening was a treat from start to finish, with an opening by the hilarious Richard Kind, and interludes from dance world icons throughout the evening, which included Misty Copeland (Principal, ABT), Susan Jaffe (Artistic Director, ABT), Julie Kent (Co-AD, Houston Ballet), Natalia Makarova (Former Principal Dancer of ABT, Royal Ballet, and Bolshoi Ballet), Tate McRae, Kevin O’Hare (Director, Royal Ballet), Sascha Radetsky (AD, ABT Studio Company), Rob Schneider, Sasha de Sola (Principal, San Francisco Ballet), Stanton Welch (Co-AD, Houston Ballet), and many more.
Throughout the night, the audience was treated to two world premieres by choreographers James Whiteside and Maria Konrad, featuring performances by Isabella Boylston, Catherine Hurlin, and Aran Bell. These performances served as a beautiful reminder of how so many ballet stars of today are YAGP alumni.
Guests at the black-tie dinner included Maria Christina Anzola, Brian Atwood, Hallie Batchelder, Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky, Ashley Bouder, Barbara Brandt, Candace Bushnell, Todd Cohen, Rachel Weisz and Daniel Craig, Ashlee Rose Hartley, Carolina Herrera, Judith M. Hoffman, Kamie Lightburn, Christina Lyon, Linda and Ed Morse, Juliano Nunes, Cynthia Rowley, Carlos Dos Santos, Gabe Stone Shayer, and Rob Vecsler. Gala Committee chairs included Paul Arnhold and Wes Gordon, Julia Arnhold, Michael and Dennis Basso, Elissa Brenner, Chelsea Clinton, Rebecca Hessel Cohen, Courtney Davis, Aly Gradone, Melanie Hamrick, Sarah Hoover, Lilli Hymowitz, Lindsay Kraus, Candice Miller, Colby Mugrabi, Grace Pomeranc, Lilah Ramzi, Emily Reifel, Indre Rockefeller, Priya Shukla, Daniela W. Tisch, Barbara Tober, Virginia Wettlaufer Tomenson, Lesley Thompson Vecsler, and Lila Wallach.
A highlight of the evening was the announcement of a $1 million endowment, the Marcella Hymowitz Creative Fellowship, gifted by Gregg Hymowitz and the Hymowitz Family Foundation. This transformative initiative will support young dancers from around the world in creating groundbreaking and innovative works that push the boundaries of dance. The announcement was made by Julie Kent, Co-Artistic Director of the Houston Ballet and former American Ballet Theatre principal ballerina. In addition, YAGP received further recognition as the United States Senate passed a resolution officially designating it as the national youth dance competition of the country. This is a testament to YAGP’s unparalleled contributions to dance education and scholarship over the past 25 years.
In its 25 years, YAGP has awarded over $5 million in scholarships to aspiring dancers and has provided invaluable opportunities for thousands of young performers to pursue their dreams. From its pioneering virtual initiatives during the pandemic to its recent efforts in supporting Ukrainian dancers displaced by conflict, YAGP remains committed to its commitment to fostering excellence and inclusivity in the world of dance.
Hear more about YAGP here!
