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 and San Diego as well as upcoming Salt Lake City 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!

Los Angeles Regionals (Huntington Beach):
SENIOR DIVISION
Eila Neuroth, 1st Place, Classical
Maile Campagna, Top 12, Classical
Renee Castonguay, Top 12, Classical
Tatum Backer, Top 24, Classical
Emily Eckert, Top 12, Contemporary

JUNIOR DIVISION
Lily Turner, 1st Place, Classical
Cassidy Doan, Top 12, Classical
Silvi Lybbert, Top 12, Classical
Elisabeth Feng, Top 24, Classical
Samantha Santos, Top 24, Classical
Lily Turner, Top 12, Contemporary
Silvi Lybbert, Top 12, Contemporary

PRE-COMPETITIVE DIVISION
Elise Cho, Pre-Competitive Hope Award Winner
Sophia Koo, 3rd Place, Contemporary
Sophia Koo, Top 12, Classical

Salwa Rizkalla, Outstanding Teacher

Elise Cho with Southland Ballet Academy Artistic Director, Salwa Rizkalla, who was awarded Outstanding Teacher at YAGP, Los Angeles. Elise won the pre-competitive Hope Award at YAGP LA

Las Vegas Regionals:
SENIOR DIVISION
Tamara Alfaro, Top 12, Contemporary

Tamara Alfaro (third from the right) is honored with Top 12 in Contemporary, Senior Division

San Diego Regionals:
SENIOR DIVISION
Moorea Pike, 1st Place, Classical
Moorea Pike, 2nd Place, Contemporary

JUNIOR DIVISION
Gavin Pike, 1st Place, Classical
Gavin Pike, 2nd Place, Contemporary
Anjoulie Kempton, Top 24, Classical

PRE-COMPETITIVE DIVISION
Lucas Matzkin, 3rd Place, Classical
Haruna Shirai, Top 12, Classical

Brother and sister Gavin and Moorea Pike won at YAGP San Diego