YOUTH AMERICA GRAND PRIX

To see a slide show of our participants, click on the dancer.

Every year, selected students are given the opportunity to participate in the Youth America Grand Prix. This prestigious, nation-wide event is the only student ballet competition in America that awards scholarships to leading dance schools in the U.S. and abroad.

The Southern California preliminary event gives our performers exposure to world-renowned dance professionals as well as intimate workshops with master teachers and judges of the competition. Winners of the various classes will then be invited to New York City for the national finals.

YAGP's reputation as a showcase for dance students is such that even passing the preliminary round to be selected to participate in the New York City Finals gives a participant an important distinction and a boost to their professional dance career.

In 2007 the Marat Daukayev School sent ten dancers to the Southern California Youth America Grand Prix. Ashley Guillem, Destini Hollis, Jessica Taylor and Katherine Zee were competitors in the Senior Division (ages 15-18), Hannah Cook, Samantha Grad, Eva Levy and Natalie McCall were competitors in the Junior Division (ages 12-14), and Regina Montgomery and Maine Kawashima were contestants in the Pre-Competitive Division (ages 9-11).

It was an exciting and invaluable experience for all of the competitors. Katherine Zee was awarded the event’s top prize, the Grand Prix. Regina Montgomery was awarded Second Place in the classical division. Two other dancers, Destini Hollis and Jessica Taylor, were highly rated and invited to the national finals in New York City.

All of our students danced well and were a great credit to the school. We are so proud of them.

For more information on this competition go to the YAGP organizations web site by clicking here.