The Youth America Grand Prix is the world’s largest global network of dance. Over the years, many Southland Ballet Academy students have participated and won at YAGP competitions, which are held all over the world. This year SBA students competed in Los Angeles, Las Vegas, San Diego, as well as upcoming San Francisco and Phoenix Regionals.  These students participated/will participate in categories including: Classical and Contemporary.

According to Tara Ghassemieh, Southland Ballet Academy contemporary instructor/choreographer and previous YAGP participant, “A lot of dancers may not shine brightly in class but on stage they are extraordinary.  Participating in YAGP gives them an incredible opportunity to perform and tell a story.”  These performances are held in front of a panel of world-class judges who provide decisions that can shape a dancer’s professional life, through detailed feedback and possible scholarship offers.

We’d like to congratulate all the students, who participated in YAGP Regionals thus far.  They were all amazing and danced beautifully!

New York Finals:

SENIOR DIVISION
Cassidy Doan, Scholarship to Houston Ballet

JUNIOR DIVISION
Lily Turner, Top 12 & Natalia Makarova Special Award for Artistry

PRE-COMPETITVE DIVISION
Elise Cho, Top 12

Los Angeles Regionals (Huntington Beach):
SENIOR DIVISION
Cassidy Doan, 2nd Place, Classical

JUNIOR DIVISION
Lily Turner, Youth America Grand Prix Winner

PRE-COMPETITIVE DIVISION
Elise Cho, Pre-Competitive Hope Award Winner
Halle Chan, Top 12, Classical
Yuma Kainuma, Top 12, Classical

ENSEMBLE DIVISION
Rivale, 3rd Place

Salwa Rizkalla, Outstanding Teacher

SBA students at Los Angeles Awards Ceremony. Photo courtesy of Cassidy Doan.

Las Vegas Regionals:

JUNIOR DIVISION
Bella Do, Top 12, Classical and Contemporary

PRE-COMPETITIVE DIVISION
Calista Do, 3rd Place, Classical and Top 12, Contemporary

San Diego Regionals:
JUNIOR DIVISION
Ashley Do, Top 12, Classical
Amanda Luyks, Top 24, Classical

PRE-COMPETITIVE DIVISION
Sophia Koo, 1st Place, Classical and Top 12, Contemporary
Kaili Corsten, 3rd Place, Classical

ENSEMBLE DIVISION
E. Grig Norwegian Dance, 2nd Place

Los Angeles Regionals (USC):
SENIOR DIVISION
Sage Bolar, Top 12, Classical

JUNIOR DIVISION
Samantha Santos, 3rd Place, Classical
Natalia Burns, Top 12, Classical
Natalie Burkley, Top 24, Classical

PRE-COMPETITIVE DIVISION
Sophia Koo, Pre-Competitive Hope Award Winner
Haruna Shirai, 3rd Place, Classical
Natalie Ho, Top 12, Classical

Renee Kester, Outstanding Choreographer