On Tuesday, Youth America Grand Prix, the world’s largest Ballet Scholarship Organization, made it’s return to the gorgeous Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center to celebrate its annual Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala, for the first time since before the pandemic. Supporters were welcomed back by YAGP Founder Larissa Saveliev and Board Chair Richard Osterweil as well as hosts Paul Arnhold, Elissa Brenner, Lili Buffett, Grace Fuller Marroquin, Wes Gordon, Alyson Gradone, Rebecca Hessel Cohen, Sarah Hoover, Lilli Hymowitz, Marcella Hymowitz, Eve Jobs, Lindsay Kraus, Candice Miller, Colby Mugrabi, Grace Pomeranc, Indre Rockefeller, Daniela Tisch, Virginia W. Tomenson, Lesley Vecsler, and Lina Wallach.
Shale Wagman
Founded in 1999 , Youth America Grand Prix , commonly known as YAGP, is a non-profit organization with the goal of providing opportunities and support for young dancers to pursue a career in ballet. YAGP’s mission is to identify and develop young talent, help dancers achieve their full potential, and create pathways to professional careers in dance.
YAGP achieves its mission through a variety of programs and initiatives. The organization hosts regional and international ballet competitions, which provide dancers with the opportunity to showcase their skills and compete for scholarships to prestigious dance schools and companies. YAGP also offers workshops, master classes, and coaching sessions led by world-renowned dance professionals.
Chloe Misseldine
In addition to its competitions and training programs, YAGP provides resources and support for dancers throughout their careers. The organization has a network of alumni who have gone on to become professional dancers, choreographers, and artistic directors, and who serve as mentors and role models for young dancers.
The annual Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow gala features performances by the winners of YAGP’s annual ballet competition, as well as guest appearances by world-renowned dancers from major ballet companies. The event is also a fundraiser for YAGP’s scholarship programs, which provide financial assistance to young dancers pursuing a career in ballet. It’s a brilliant opportunity for young dancers to showcase their talent and to network with industry professionals. It also provides a platform for established dancers to share their experiences and to encourage the next generation of ballet dancers.
Chloe Misseldine
“Sometimes dance can LITERALLY save lives,” YAGP Board Member and Gala Host Marcella Hymowitz said. “Since February 2021, Youth America Grand Prix has worked tirelessly to find new dance homes for Ukrainian students displaced by war. One of them – 16-year-old Nikita Malaki – performed here at Lincoln Center tonight. Nikita is one of 200 Ukrainian dancers whom YAGP placed on scholarship at leading dance schools in Europe and the United States – giving them a chance to continue living and practicing their art in safety. YAGP wishes a heartfelt ‘thank you’ to the Howard G. Buffett Foundation, whose generous support has made it possible for YAGP to continue doing this important work.”
Guests include YAGP Board Members John Beukelman, Barbara Brandt, Sergey Gordeev, Gabriel Hoffman, Carrie and Jonathan Kaufman, Kamie Lightburn, as well as Kara Acker, Maria Cristina Anzola, Sarah Arison, Mollie Acquavella, Ashley Bouder, J Alex Brinson, Linda and Martin Fell, Amy Fine Collins, Luiza and Steve Gold, Judith Hoffman, Breanna Khoury, Molly Knauer, Allie and Will Kopelman, Beejan Land, Dylan Lauren, Allie Meixner, Andrew Martin-Weber, Michaela Moinian, Alberto Mugrabi, Wendi Murdoch, Taylor Olson, Samantha Pariente, Karine Plantadit, Jason Pomeranc, Scott Sartiano, Mariel Sholem, Gabe Stone Shayer, Allyson Tang, Barbara Tober, Tal Waksal, Yael and Oded Weiss, Hal Witt, and Christian Zimmermann.
Jacopo Tissi
The Gala kicked off YAGP’s 25th Anniversary season, with a program that featured the World Premiere of Reflective Response #1, danced by Michaela Mabinty DePrince*, choreographed by My’Kal Stromile, both from Boston Ballet. Accompanying the piece was 15-year-old prodigy singer Paloma Dineli Chesky and Grammy Award-nominated pianist David Chesky, performing live.
Jacopo Tissi (La Scala Ballet) danced the U.S. Premiere of a solo excerpt from the ballet, The Ninth Wave, choreographed by Bryan Arias. Tissi also danced Le Corsaire Act II pas de deux with Christine Shevchenko* (American Ballet Theatre). Jun Masuda* (Tulsa Ballet) and Shale Wagman* (Bavarian State Ballet, New York debut), danced the U.S. Premiere of Hungarian Dances, and Wagman joined Evelina Godunova (Berlin State Ballet, New York debut) for a pas de deux from Flames of Paris. Tiler Peck (New York City Ballet) and Roman Mejia (New York City Ballet) performed a pas de deux from George Balanchine’s Tarantella, Constantine Allen* (Dutch National Ballet) performed 5 Tango’s choreographed by the legendary Hans van Manen, and Chloe Misseldine* (American Ballet Theatre) performed William Tell. Claudia Mota and Allen performed the iconic pas de deux from Le Parc by Angelin Prejlocaj.
Christine Shevchenko
Israeli choreographers, Ohad Naharin and Sharon Eyal, presented rarely seen works performed by YAGP International Contemporary Dance Ensemble (ICE), made up of 35 dancers, spanning 15 countries. Dancers from around the world auditioned for ICE, then flew to Israel in December 2022 to rehearse with the ballet masters. 18 dancers from the ensemble performed excerpts from OCD Love and Decadance at the Gala.
Hear more about Youth America Grand Prix here!
