Ms Jocelyn with the Half Day dancers after performing “Point(e) Made”
We are thrilled to announce that Caulfield School of Dance ensemble “Ghost Lights” and soloist Kaia Neal are invited to compete at the 2019 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Finals in April in New York City after competing at the Semi-Final in Seattle, Washington from January 3-6.
“Ghost Lights” choreographed by Amber Funk Barton, performed by the dancers of the Half Day program, placed 2nd in the field of 35 ensembles.
Ms Cori with Kaia Neal after receiving her awards for the Classical and Contemporary solos she will compete with at YAGP Finals in NYC
Kaia Neal, age 14, placed 3rd for Junior Contemporary and in the Top 12 for both her Classical variation, prepared by Cori Caulfield, Princess Florine from The Sleeping Beauty (in a field of 156 solos) and her Contemporary solo (in a field of 82 solos). Kaia’s Contemporary solo, “Requiem,” was choreographed by Hailley Caulfield Postle with Cori Caulfield and prepared by Cori Caulfield. Based on her performance of her Contemporary solo, Kaia has been offered scholarship consideration for the Colorado Ballet School Summer and Full Year programs. Based on her performance of her Classical solo, she has been offered scholarship consideration for the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer program.
Carter Hayes, age 15, placed 3rd for Senior Men’s Classical with his variation from La Esmeralda, prepared by Jocelyn Wozencroft. Based on his performance of his Contemporary solo “Biology” choreographed and prepared by Cori Caulfield, Carter has been offered 100% tuition scholarship to the Pacific Northwest Ballet School’s 2019 Summer course. Based on his Classical performance, he has been offered scholarship consideration for Colorado Ballet School programs.
Fifteen of our students represented themselves and Caulfield School of Dance beautifully in Seattle. Special congratulations to Conrad Cahoon, age 16, and Madison Coulter, age 16. Based on his performance of his Contemporary solo, which he choreographed himself (prepared by Cori Caulfield), Conrad has been offered scholarship consideration for the Colorado Ballet School programs. Based on her performance in the large ensemble “Point(e) Made” choreographed and prepared by Half Day Training Program Department Head, Jocelyn Wozencroft, Madison has been offered scholarship consideration for the Colorado Ballet School programs.
Ms Jocelyn with Victoria Russo, age 9, after performing her first ever ballet solo
Ms Jocelyn and Ms Cori with the dancers after YAGP 2019 Seattle Semi-Final awards
The Youth American Grand Prix is the world’s largest ballet competition. You may know it from the award winning documentary “First Position”. The honour of the invitation to the Y.A.G.P. finals is unparalleled. Y.A.G.P. places aspiring dancers in front of representatives of some of the world’s most esteemed schools, companies, teachers, and choreographers. Thousands of dollars of scholarships will be awarded at Finals. The administration of scholarships and the training opportunities it facilitates for young people is the driving force behind Youth American Grand Prix.
It is so exciting that all of our Half Day program dancers including Sarena Dudley who was injured and unable to compete in Seattle, are invited to Finals to participate in Master Classes and perform their piece(s).
The expense to their families is significant and includes the cost of getting to New York and staying there for the duration of the weeklong event. Please support the fundraising we will be doing to make participating in the Finals possible for these families!
YAGP reaches over 12,000 dance students annually by holding workshops, scholarship auditions, and master classes in over 25 US cities and 8 international locations. This, the largest ballet competition in the world, aims to develop and support world-class dancers of all backgrounds and develop new audiences by bringing dance into mainstream culture.
Even just to be in the audience for the “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” the annually sold-out, spectacular Gala performance featuring the top winners of the Y.A.G.P. international student ballet competition and guest stars from the world’s leading dance companies, could be life-changing. Featuring The stars of American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, and other companies, and a World Premiere by Garrett Smith, the Gala is hailed by the late Clive Barnes of The New York Post as “the highlight of the New York ballet season.” The Gala performance gives audiences a unique chance to see some the best of the ballet professionals performing today (“stars of today”) and the most promising international young dance artists (“stars of tomorrow”). Proceeds from the Gala will go directly toward scholarships for gifted young dance students who wish to pursue a professional career in dance. Y.A.G.P. is first and foremost a scholarship program for the development of young dance talent.
Congratulations dancers!!!!