2024 YAGP winners announced, 25th anniversary celebration concluded successfully

Last week, the streets of downtown New York City were filled with goofballs—it seemed like everywhere you looked, you could see a horde of young dancers with slicked hair and costume bags in tow, rushing to studios or Lincoln Center’s Koch Theater for the Youth A performance at the American Theater. It’s a nostalgic moment; the finals of YAGP, the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition in its 25th year, are held in New York City. YAGP founder and artistic director Larissa Saveliev said it moved the finals to Tampa during the pandemic, making it more convenient and affordable for dancers and their families. But with this year marking the event’s 25th anniversary season, returning to New York City was a priority.

“For us, it really makes sense,” Saveliev said in a phone interview earlier this month. “That’s where we start.” (The finals will alternate between New York City and Tampa and will be announced annually.)

To further celebrate the anniversary, this year’s festivities include a panel discussion with more than 20 company directors, co-hosted by Dutch National Ballet Artistic Director Ted Brandsen and American Ballet Theater’s incoming Executive Director Barry Hewson seminar. On April 17, 353 YAGP competitors gathered at the Plaza Hotel in New York to break the Guinness World Record for the most dancers balancing on pointe for one minute.

The week also featured two star-studded events, including the Best of 25 event featuring 36 artists from 15 companies around the world. Each production includes YAGP alumni such as ABT’s Chloe Misseldine, Paris Opera Ballet’s Bianca Scudamore, Dutch National Ballet’s Constantine Allen, Stuttgart Ballet’s Mackenzie Brown, Bavarian State Ballet’s António Casalinho, and many more. “There are so many dancers we want to showcase that we can’t do it in one night,” Saveliev said. “Most of them are young principals and soloists because we want to showcase the next generation of superstars.”

Initially, the cast also included Maria Horeva and Kimin Kim from Russia’s state-run Mariinsky Ballet, but the show faced opposition from local leaders and the Ukrainian consulate due to the war in Ukraine. After learning of possible protests on Thursday, YAGP leaders consulted with the New York City Ballet, which manages Lincoln Center’s Koch Theater, and decided to cancel the dancers’ performance shortly before the performance. (Protests by pro-Ukrainian activists went ahead as planned.) “This decision causes us great pain,” YAGP said in a statement. “Art should unite us, not divide us.”

“We are very sorry that our reunion did not take place, but art will always find its way to the human soul,” Koleva posted on Instagram.

Awards

During the competition, 120 finalists were selected from 2,000 dancers to compete in Wednesday night’s finals. The winners were announced at Saturday’s ceremony, and many other dancers also received summer intensive scholarships, pre-professional training program invitations and company contracts.

Going forward, Saveliev said, YAGP plans to create more opportunities for dancers outside of competitions and will include its Nervi Festival summer workshops, a week-long “corporate experience” program held in Italy each summer. Expanding to more cities in Europe. “We want to give young dancers the opportunity to perform, not just compete,” she said.

If you missed the awards show live, you’re in luck – we’ve compiled a list below. Congratulations to everyone who competed in this year’s finals and a special thank you to all the teachers and parents who work so hard to make these dancers’ dreams possible.

Advanced group

grand prix

GeonHee Park, 18, Korea National University of Arts, South Korea

high class women

First place: Ivana Radan, 15 years old, Allison Ballet Professional Training Program, United States

Second place: Crystal Huang, 15 years old, Bayer Ballet Academy and Rock Dance Center, United States

Third place: MinJi Son, 18 years old, Korea National University of the Arts

Senior men

1st place: Martinho Lima Santos, 18 years old, Princess Grace Academy, Monaco/Portugal

Second Place: Joao Pedro Silva, 15, Lefranca Teatro Ballet, Brazil

Third place (tied): Li Hang, 20 years old, Beijing Dance Academy, China

Third place (tie): Carson Willey, 17, The Rock School for Dance, United States

Junior group

teen woman

First place: Tamison Soppet, 13 years old, Convergence Dance Studios, New Zealand

Second place: Annie Webb, 13 years old, Moga Dance Academy in the United States

Third place: Jolie Lavaux, 13 years old, Boca Ballet Theatre, United States

young man

First Place: Keenan Mentzos, 14, Bloch Ballet Canada, Canada

Second place: Eric Poor, 14 years old, Cary Ballet Academy, USA

Third place: Eita Akita, 14 years old, Wakui Ballet School, Japan

Preliminary group

Hope Award

Owen Simmons, 11, Rhythm Ballet School, Canada

ladies, classic

First place: Yuna Yamada, 11 years old, Kinue Kobayashi Ballet Studio, Japan

Second place: SaRang Jang, 11 years old, Maeen Ballet, South Korea

Third place: Anne Takahashi, 11 years old, Flora Ballet, Japan

men, classic

First place: Spencer Collins, 10 years old, American West Side Ballet School

Second place: Victor Rega Mas, 11 years old, Synopsis Danse, France

Third place: Yuto Teranishi, 10 years old, Panda Ballet School (Takako Mori Ballet School), Japan

contemporary women

1st place: Lior Wieder, 11 years old, DanceWorks, Israel

Second place: Ellary Day Szyndlar, 11 years old, Ballet Masters Academy, United States

Third place: Anne Takahashi, 11 years old, Flora Ballet, Japan

contemporary men

First place: Spencer Collins, 10 years old, American West Side Ballet School

Second place: Kohaku Kihara, 11 years old, Skhole Ballet Art, Japan

3rd place: Bogdan Eduard, 10 years old, Dancing Planet, Romania

Ensemble

Classical pas de deux

First place: Minji Son (18 years old) and Seungmin Lee (19 years old), Korea National University of the Arts

Second place (tie): Núria Fernandes, 16, and Darius-Oriol Tamosi, 17, Annarela Sánchez International Ballet and Dance Academy, Portugal

Second place (tie): Yasmin Sabag (15) and Joao Pedro Silva (15), Bale do teatro Basileu Franca, Brazil

Third place: Sophia Jones (17 years old) and Colton Heath (16 years old), Feijóo Ballet School, USA

contemporary pas de deux

1st place: Núria Fernandes, 16 years old and Darius-Oriol Tamosi, 17 years old, Annareira Sánchez International Ballet Academy, Portugal

Second place: Sachi Oza (13 years old) and Eric Poor (14 years old), Cary Ballet Academy, USA

Third place: Yasmin Sabag, 15, and Marcus Rufino, 15, Bale do teatro Basileu Franca, Brazil

classical orchestra

First place: Bayer Ballet Academy of America

Second place: The Rock School for Dance, USA

Third place: Colorado Ballet Academy

contemporary orchestra

First place: Professione Danza Pescara, Italy

Second place: Cary Ballet Academy of America

Third place (tie): Jun Lu Performing Arts, United States

Third place (tied): Cadence Ballet School in Canada

role combination