Youth America Grand Prix – ANNUAL GALA

“STARS OF TODAY MEET THE STARS OF TOMORROW” international ballet stars meet rising young dancers.

April 27, 2012 – David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center

New York, NY—Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) presents “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” on Friday, April 27 at 7:00 PM at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. This annual event has become synonymous with the discovery of new dancers, choreographers, and companies, featuring the performances of international ballet stars and introducing the world’s brightest young dance talent — finalists from the 2012 competition.

New York, NY—Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) presents “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow” on Friday, April 27 at 7:00 PM at David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center. This annual event has become synonymous with the discovery of new dancers, choreographers, and companies, featuring the performances of international ballet stars and introducing the world’s brightest young dance talent — finalists from the 2012 competition. The evening’s program includes world premieres choreographed by Jiří Bubenĺček, Marcelo Gomes, and Justin Peck, and NYC debuts by Yonah Acosta and Friedemann Vogel, and performances by a select group of 2012 YAGP finalists, plus celebrity masters of ceremonies Ana Gasteyer (SNL) and Brian d’Arcy James (Shrek the Musical, Next to Normal, Smash).

The evening will begin with 20-25 solos, pas de deuxs, and ensembles by the finalists from the 2012 competition, chosen that morning by the judges (the full performance roster will be available on April 27). The pieces chosen represent the best overall performers, including some scholarship winners. The First Act’s finale includes 250 YAGP finalists performing Carlos dos Santos, Jr.’s Grand Defile set to music by Tchaikovsky.

The program’s Second Act is devoted to performances by “Stars of Today” and includes three world premieres; Marcelo Gomes’ Untitled danced by Misty Copeland, Justin Peck’s Untitled performed by Teresa Reichlen and Matthew Golding (YAGP Alumnus), and Jiří Bubenĺček’s Gentle Memories performed by Ekaterina Kondaurova, Islom Baimuradov, Otto Bubenĺček, and Jon Vallejo to original music by Karen LeFrak.

YAGP alumnus and past recipient of the prestigious Grand Prix Award, Sergei Polunin will perform with Tamara Rojo. Their performance marks Rojo’s first in New York in over 8 years, and Polunin’s first since his sudden decision to leave The Royal Ballet. Rojo and Polunin’s partnership has often been compared to that of Fonteyn and Nureyev.

Also performing are noted Cuban dancers, Yolanda Correa Frias, Yoel Carreño, and Yonah Acosta in his New York debut. Yonah Acosta is the nephew of ballet great Carlos Acosta, and Yoel Carreño is the half-brother of Jose Manuel Carreño.

Thank you so much for posting about the events! However, we discovered there was a mistake in the press release. The prices for the gala are: 500, 1000, 1,500, and NYC debuts by Yonah Acosta and Friedemann Vogel, and performances by a select group of 2012 YAGP finalists, plus celebrity masters of ceremonies Ana Gasteyer (SNL) and Brian d’Arcy James (Shrek the Musical, Next to Normal, Smash). A three-course dinner will follow the performances in the David H. Koch Theater Promenade. Gala tickets are $500, $1,000, $1,500, $2,500 for individual tickets, and $10,000, $15,000, $25,000, $50,000 for tables of ten.

Performance only tickets are $45, 75, 100 and 150.

Youth America Grand Prix – ANNUAL GALA

Hosted By 
Brian d’Arcy James – Ana Gasteyer

World Premieres of Choreography 
By Jiří Bubenĺček – Marcelo Gomes – Justin Peck  

New York Debuts of
Yonah Acosta – Friedemann Vogel

Performances By
Misty Copeland – Herman Cornejo – Matthew Golding – Sergei Polunin – Teresa Reichlen  – Tamara Rojo

Youth America Grand Prix
“Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow”

ACT I: Stars of Tomorrow

Various Acts
2012 YAGP Finalists chosen by the Judges the morning of April 27

Grand Defile
Choreography: Carlos dos Santos, Jr.
Music: Peter Tchaikovsky
Performed by: Self-selected YAGP 2012 Finalists

ACT II: Stars of Today

Pas de Deux from Romeo and Juliet
Choreography: John Cranko          
Music: Sergei Prokofiev
Performed by: Friedemann Vogel (NY Debut, Stuttgart Ballet) and Alicia Amatriain (Stuttgart Ballet)

Life as a Dream (New York Premiere)
Choreography: Fei Bo         
Music: Wu Na
Performed by: Tamara Rojo (Royal Ballet)

Untitled (World Premiere)
Choreography: Marcelo Gomes        
Music: Ian Ng
Performed by: Misty Copeland (American Ballet Theatre)
Note: The piece will be performed to live piano and violin performances by students from The Julliard School and Tisch School of the Arts as part of the “Musical Protégé Series.”

Tango Y Yo
Choreography: Herman Cornejo       
Music: Astor Piazzolla
Performed by: Herman Cornejo (American Ballet Theatre)

Pas de Trois from Le Corsaire
Choreography: Marius Petipa       
Performed by: Yolanda Correa Frias (Norwegian National Ballet), Yoel Carreño (Norwegian National Ballet) and Yonah Acosta (NY Debut, English National Ballet)

Untitled (World Premiere)
Choreography: Justin Peck
Music: Third Movement from Antonin Dvořák’s Piano Quintet No. 2
Performed by: Teresa Reichlen (New York City Ballet) and Matthew Golding (YAGP Alumnus, Dutch National Ballet)
Note: This piece is presented as part of the annual “Emerging Choreographer Series” and will be performed to a live string quartet and piano.

Gentle Memories  (World Premiere)
Choreography: Jiří Bubenĺček       
Music: Karen LeFrak (World Premiere)
Performed by: Ekaterina Kondaurova (The Mariinsky Ballet), Islom Baimuradov (The Mariinsky Ballet), Otto Bubenĺček (The Hamburg Ballet) and Jon Vallejo (Dresden Ballet)
Note: The piece will be performed to live piano played by Simon Mulligan. This performance marks the first time YAGP has presented works by Jiří Bubenĺček and Karen LeFrak.

Fanfare LX
Choreography: Douglas Lee        
Music: Michael Nyman
Performed by: Friedemann Vogel (NY Debut, Stuttgart Ballet) and Alicia Amatriain (Stuttgart Ballet)

Pas de Deux from Diana and Acteon
Choreography: Agrippina Vaganova      
Music: Cesare Pugni
Performed by: Sergei Polunin (YAGP Alumnus, Royal Ballet) and Tamara Rojo (Royal Ballet)

*Program subject to change

YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX (YAGP) is America’s first and the world’s largest student ballet scholarship competition. Conducted through annual regional competitions throughout the U.S and abroad, YAGP is a global network of opportunity connecting dancers, teachers, schools, and companies all over the globe. Each year, YAGP culminates with a Final Round in New York City and a Gala performance. Founded in 1999 by former Bolshoi Ballet Dancers, Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, 25,000 young dancers have participated in YAGP worldwide competitions and workshops, over 2 million dollars have been awarded in scholarships to leading dance schools, and over 250 YAGP alumni are now dancing with 50 companies, including American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Paris Opera Ballet, Eifman Ballet of St. Petersburg, and many others. For more information, visit www.YAGP.org.

Youth America Grand Prix
Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow
Friday, April 27, 2012 at 7pm
David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center

© 2012 Danza Ballet 

00018