The 2026 Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala took center stage in New York City last night.
Out to support Youth America Grand Prix, a bevy of dance royalty and celebrity guests came together in perfect formation at Lincoln Center to celebrate the world’s largest ballet scholarship competition.
The night kicked off at David H. Koch theater with performances by the youthful dancers who leaped into the hearts of the audience with a phenomenal display of talent. Act after after was well-deserved in the impressive spotlight that they stood in. The mesmerizing magic of the night sparkled bright by the dazzling dancers.
(Courtesy LK Studio)
Hosts Misty Copeland and Tamar Greene acknowledged them and all who came out to support with sweet admiration.
“I have been a part of the YAGP family for so many years,” said host Misty Copeland, former American Ballet Theater principal, “From being on this very stage, performing at the galas, serving as a judge in the competition–but what’s been most meaningful is supporting their incredible mission of expanding access, diversity, and opportunity in dance.”
(Courtesy LK Studio)
YAGP Founder and Artistic Director Larissa Saveliev presented the star-studded program to a packed theater. In the spirit of YAGP’s mission, 1,000 tickets were donated to local students from Harlem School for the Arts, Casita Maria Center for Arts and Education, The Misty Copeland Foundation, and more, to promote accessibility to ballet.
(Courtesy LK Studio)
The performance featured New York debuts of Nicoletta Manni and Timofej Adrijashenko (La Scala Ballet), performing a pas de deux from Mauro Bigonzetti’s Caravaggio, its New York premiere, as well as the classical showstopper Grand Pas Classique; Polina Semionova (Berlin State Ballet), making her much anticipated return to the YAGP stage with a pas de deux from Manon by Sir Kenneth MacMillan with partner Martin ten Kortenaar (Berlin State Ballet), as well as a work set to The Dying Swan with Braylon Browner (So You Think You Can Dance); Christine Shevchenko (ABT), Reece Clarke (Royal Ballet), and Roman Mejia (New York City Ballet) shared the stage for the classic Le Corsaire. Finally, Shevchenko, along with Calvin Royal III (ABT), performed an original choreography by Hamrick, Rainbow, set to music Like a Rainbow by The Rolling Stones, a special arrangement by her partner Mick Jagger.
The dancers dressed in all-black outfits designed by LoveShackFancy, featuring a diaphanous chiffon adorned with lace and a tiered skirt, intended to make the dancer stand out against the rainbow backdrop. The program included New York premieres of works by choreographers Sharon Eyal and Itzik Galili.
As is tradition, 120 YAGP finalists from this year’s international competition were brought on stage for a Piece d’Occasion to cap the performance.
(Courtesy BFA)
After the stunning show guests experienced a whimsical dinner that brought dazzling moments to the grand hall at Lincoln Center. Pink clouds of glitter filled the night air as attendees marveled at ballerinas dancing from balconies as they dined on steak and sipped bubbly pink champagne.
Dinner was led by Gala Creative Chair Marcella Guarino Hymowitz, and co-chaired by Jordana Blitz, Isaac Boots, Natasha Caronna, Colleen Crivello, Courtney Davis, Dotty Giordano, Aly Gradone, Sarah Hoover, Lindsay Kraus, Jennifer Lipschultz, Josephine Lee, Kamie Lightburn, Jeffrey O’Brecht, Samantha Pariente, Amanda Perrin, Grace Brea Pomeranc, Emily Reifel, Priya Shukla, Eliza Stein, Daniela W. Tisch, Barbara Tober, Virginia W. Tomenson, Lesley Thompson Vecsler, Rachel Wexler, and Board Chair Lina Wallach.
For the third year, Gala guests had the opportunity to view and bid on custom designer pointe shoes, with all proceeds supporting young dancers pursuing professional careers. This year’s Pointe Project designers include A-Morir, Alice + Olivia, All III, Ally Boggard and Mara Hoffman, Amir Taghi, Carolina Herrera, Herve Leger by Michelle Ochs, Hope Gangloff, JK5, Lapointe, Libby Klein Art, LoveShackFancy, Michael Kors, Monse, and Renna Jewels
Attending that evening were YAGP Co-Founder Gennadi Saveliev, and Board Members Richard Osterweil, Joanna Fisher, Gabriel Hoffmann, Susan Jaffe, B Michael, and Yael Weiss. Guests included F. Murray Abraham, Stella Abrera, Brooke Adams, Maria Cristina Anzola, Harrison Ball, Maxim Beloserkovsky, Ashley Bouder, Barbara and Gary Brandt, Skylar Brandt and her fiancée Vladimir Rumyantsev, Chelsea Clinton, Todd Cohen, Nieve Corrigan, Irina Dvorovenko, Luiza and Steve Gold, Mara Hoffman, Lucas Jagger, Dylan Lauren, Laura Lobdell, Holt McCallany, Chris Noth, Michelle Ochs, Brynn Putnam, Tony Shalhoub, Demi Singleton, Sutton Stracke, Katya Tolstova, Shannon Zhao, and Christian Zimmerman.
