Caulfield School of Dance is thrilled to announce that after competing in the Las Vegas Y.A.G.P. Semi-Final, our Half Day Program, has been invited to compete in the Youth American Grand Prix Finals 2018 in New York this April 13 to 20.
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.
One of our soloists, a duo (“small ensemble”), and one of our large ensembles have been invited to the Final, which is the culmination of the Semi-Finals held in countries around the world.
The large ensemble is “Pair Bonds” choreographed by Cori Caulfield and danced by:
Claire Aidouni
Nathalie Brown
Abriel Da Silva
Robynn Danielski
Serena Dudley
Kaia Goddard
Megan Greenbank
Carter Hayes
Sue Lee
Lorena Morissette
Kaia Neal
Sabina Nelson
Natalie Phang
Hailey Rekunyk
Caitlyn Woo
Caulfield School of Dance students at the Las Vegas Y.A.G.P. Semi-Final awards ceremony, including Mena Spasova, far right, unable to dance due to injury. Missing from our group was Madison Coulter, recovering from surgery at home, live streaming the competition and cheering on the CSD team
The small ensemble is “In the Wind”, choreographed by Crystal Wills and danced by Carter Hayes and Lorena Morissette, both age 14.
The soloist, is 13 year-old Kaia Neal, who performed her fist solo in a competition ever (her Classical variation prepared by Cori Caulfield) at the Y.A.G.P. Semi-Final in Las Vegas.
At the Semi-Finals, 12 year old Sabina Nelson was also honoured with a Top 12 placement for her Junior Women’s (ages 12 to 14) Classical variation, prepared by Jocelyn Wozencroft, in a field of over 90 solos. And our large ensemble “Ballet Baroque“, choreographed by Jocelyn Wozencroft, was honoured with a Top 12 placement in a field of over 30 ensembles.
It is so exciting that all of our Half Day program dancers who danced in the Semi-Final in Las Vegas are invited to Finals to participate in Master Classes and perform their piece(s) at no expense to their families – except for the cost of getting to New York and staying there for the duration of the weeklong event!
The silent auction of the Beautiful Pointe Shoes on display at the school continues with an extended conclusion date of April 15, 2018, and we will be launching several fund raising initiatives in hopes that we can attract wide and deep support so our young dancers can take advantage of this incredible opportunity.
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!!!!