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About the Author:
Youth America Grand Prix 2006 Gala IYouth America Grand Prix Galas 2006 www.yagp.org
City Center www.citycenter.org
(See YAGP Gala 2005)
Larissa Saveliev: Artistic Director Gennadi Saveliev: President and Executive Director Susan Jaffe: Artistic Coordinator Sergey Gordeev: Director of Public Relations and External Affairs
Featuring Renowned Guest Artists and Winners of YAGP Ballet and Contemporary Dance Scholarship Competition for Students (See YAGP 2006 Winners)
Dr. Roberta E. Zlokower April 22, 2006 (See April 23, 2006 YAGP Gala)
Act I: The Stars of Tomorrow Hosted by Christopher Wheeldon (Notes by Sergey Gordeev)
Ryosuke Morimoto, 11 (Tanaka Ballet Art School, Japan) Variation from Satanella (Choreographer: Marius Petipa)
Mallory Clark, 14 (Yuri Grigoriev School of Ballet, CA/USA) By George! (Choreographer: Charles Maple)
Mariana Layn Prado, 11, Alberto Rodriguez Velazquez, 15 (Somento Artistico Cordobas, Cuba/Mexico) Pas De Deux from Harlequinade (Choreographer: Marius Petipa)
Hannah Schiller, 13 (Pacific Coast Academy of Dance, California/USA) Le Corsaire (Choreographer: Marius Petipa)
Steven Loch,14 (The Ballet Conservatory, Texas/USA) Lacrimosa (Choreographer: Kelly Lanin)
Shiori Kase, 14 (Hirose Kato Ballet Studio, Japan) Black Swan Variation (Marius Petipa)
Students of Orlando Ballet School, Florida/USA Drigo Divertissements (Choreographer: Laurie Jones)
Jeffrey Cirio, 14 (Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pennsylvania/USA) Variation from Giselle (Choreographer: Marius Petipa)
Isabella Maylart ,13 (Pavilihao d Centro De Artes, Brazil) Variation from Harlequinade (Choreographer: Marius Petipa)
Jun Tanabe, 17 (The Rock School for Dance Education, Pennsylvania/USA) Variation from Diana and Acteon (Choreographer: A. Vaganova)
Students of Southland Ballet Academy, California/USA Oops (Choreographer: Viktor Plotnikov) Winners of Youth America Grand Prix 2006 International Student Ballet and Contemporary Dance Scholarship Competition.
Mathias Dingman,17 (Universal Ballet Academy, Washington, D.C./USA) Rhythm Foot (Choreographer: Viktor Plotnikov)
Ayano Tsuchiya,18 (Setsuko Ichikawa Ballet, Japan) Variation from Grand Pas Classique (Choreographer: V. Gsovsky)
Joseph Gorak, 16 (Orlando Ballet School, Florida/USA) Coming of Age (Choreographer: Salim Gauwloos)
Sergei Polunin, 16 (Royal Ballet School, United Kingdom) Variation from Nutcracker (Choreographer: M. Petipa)
Grand Defilé (pièce d'occasion featuring all YAGP participants) Choreography: Carlos dos Santos, Jr., Music: Anatol Liadov.
Act II: The Stars of Today
YAGP Alumni currently with ABT: Isabella Boylston, Melanie Hamrick, Hee Seo, Gray Davis, Matthew Golding, Bo Busby Pièce d'Occasion Choreography: Carlos dos Santos, Jr. Music: Emmanuel Chabrier
Julie Kent (ABT), Artem Shpilevsky (Berlin State Opera) Giselle Choreography: Pierrot/Coralli Music: Adolphe Adam
Karine Plantadit (Movin' Out), Ian Carney (Movin' Out) Moving Out: the musical (excerpt) (See a Review of Movin' Out) Choreography: Twyla Tharp Music: Billy Joel
Wendy Whelan, Sebastien Marcovici (NYCB) Flight of Angels (See NYC Ballet Reviews) Choreography: Edwaard Liang Music: John Tavener
Jason Hartley (The Washington Ballet) Blue Until June (excerpt) Choreography: Trey McIntyre Music: Songs recorded by Etta James
Denis and Anastasia Matvyenko (Ukrainian National Opera/Bolshoi Ballet) Grand Pas Classique (See Bolshoi Reviews) Choreography: Victor Gsovsky Music: Daniel-Francois-Esprit Auber
Yasmine Lee (MOMIX) The Last Vaudevillian (See MOMIX Reviews) Choreography: Brian Sanders Music: Traditional
Yana Serebriakova, Igor Zelensky (Maryinsky Theatre) Sheherezade Choreography: Mikhail Fokine Music: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Gennadi Saveliev (ABT) Gopak Choreography: Rostislav Zakharov Music: Vasily Solovyov-Sedoi
Darcey Bussell, David Makhateli (Royal Ballet) Manon (See Royal Ballet Reviews) Choreography: Sir Kenneth MacMillan Music: Jules Massenet
Sofiane Sylve (NYCB), Marcelo Gomes (ABT) Esmeralda (See ABT Reviews) Choreography: Marius Petipa Music: Riccardo Drigo
It is re-assuring each year to see the fresh young dance talent that flocks to New York for the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) competitions, finals, and Stars of Tomorrow portion of the YAGP Gala. It is also thrilling each year to be treated to virtuosic performances by some of the most renowned ballet principals from around the globe in the Stars of Today portion of these Galas. In fact, the YAGP Galas have become so popular over the years that, this year, Founders Larissa and Gennadi Saveliev, in addition to Sergey Gordeev, created two almost completely different Galas, accommodating more competition finalists, more international ballet principals, and twice the audience at City Center. This was no small feat, as the extensive program above exemplifies.
Among notable Stars of Tomorrow performances, it was obvious that the ballet youth in Japan are thriving, as Ayano Tsuchiya and Shiori Kase, two of the numerous finalists from Japan, were exceptionally poised in their respective presentations of Gsovsky's and Petipa's choreography. Mariana Layn Prado and Alberto Rodriguez Velazquez, from Cuba and Mexico, danced a charming and charismatic Pas de Deux from Harlequinade, and the students from Orlando Florida were well prepared for the Drigo Divertissements. Carlos Dos Santos, Jr. is a master at choreographing the Grand Defilé, with hundreds of YAGP participants on stage in black leotards in carefully orchestrated motion and figurative friezes.
In Stars of Today, Julie Kent of ABT danced an ethereal Giselle, expertly partnered by Artem Shpilevsky of Berlin State Opera. These Galas are an opportunity for serious modern and ballet students to see the finest dancers from the crème de la crème dance companies. The vocal adoration from the audience, in hoots and yelps has youthful fervor that drives the onstage energy over the top. In one such instance, Karine Plantadit and Ian Carney of Movin' Out, a former Broadway hit, defied gravity and human hormones in athletic prowess and power. In contrast, Wendy Whelan and Sébastien Marcovici of NYC Ballet were quintessentially elegant in Edwaard Liang's Flight of Angels. Yasmine Lee, of MOMIX, lying on the floor and then bouncing on her "head", was featured in extraordinary gyrations to Kletzmer music.
High points continued to catapult onstage with Gennadi Saveliev's signature Gopak, with his lightning leaps and spins, some almost unimaginable. Sheherezade was repeated at both Galas, as the daring duo from Mariinsky Theatre were mesmerizing and magical in their dance. Sofiane Sylve and Marcelo Gomes, both quite familiar to New York balletomanes, and from opposite sides of "The Plaza", are quite a partnership and should be seen together often. In tonight's Gala, their Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux had joy and chemistry. A rare treat at both Galas was the appearance of Darcey Bussell, partnered by David Makhateli, both of Royal Ballet, in two performances of Manon, a ballet which is included in this season's ABT repertoire. Ms. Bussell repeatedly clung and lunged with passion into her partner's arms and onto his torso in this poignant piece. This is ballet captured for memory.
Another Star of Today is Christopher Wheeldon, renowned Choreographer in Residence at NYC Ballet, who is an entertaining raconteur and resilient host. To read about Mr. Wheeldon's choreography, See NYC Ballet Reviews. Kudos to YAGP's Larissa Saveliev, Gennadi Saveliev, Susan Jaffe, and Sergey Gordeev, kudos to Christopher Wheeldon, and kudos to all the Stars of Tomorrow and Stars of Today.
Ayano Tsuchiya (Setsuko Ichikawa Ballet, Japan) Photo courtesy of Gene Schiavone
See more photos from YAGP 2006
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