Top student dancers compete in nation's largest scholarship Youth America Grand Prix in Boca

Palm Beach Post
Updated ·1 min read

Hundreds of dancers ages 9 to 19 gathered earlier this month in Boca Raton to compete in a semi-final event for the nation's largest student ballet scholarship audition program. The Youth America Grand Prix, a nonprofit dedicated to develop world class dancers, is celebrating its 25th anniversary.

The competition ran from Wednesday, March 13, through Sunday, March 17, in the Spanish River High School theater. The dancers, both young men and women, performed individually and in ensembles by ages and could compete in both classical technique and contemporary. Palm Beach Post photographer Thomas Cordy was on hand to capture day one of the competition.

The event was one of dozens that have taken place to date across the country. The winners of these events move onto to the final competition in New York April 11-20.

Youth American Grand Prix reports that it reaches about 15,000 students each year through workshops, scholarship auditions and master classes.

Alexa De Mena, 9, right in turquoise, prepares to warm-up with other dancers at the Youth America Grand Prix event held at the Countess de Hoernle Theatre at Spanish River High. The competition stretched for four days and is the precursor to the national finals to be held in April in New York.
Alexa De Mena, 9, right in turquoise, prepares to warm-up with other dancers at the Youth America Grand Prix event held at the Countess de Hoernle Theatre at Spanish River High. The competition stretched for four days and is the precursor to the national finals to be held in April in New York.
lexa De Mena, 9, performs "Ave Maria."
lexa De Mena, 9, performs "Ave Maria."
Ophelia Thiem, 10, performs "Bird In Captivity."
Ophelia Thiem, 10, performs "Bird In Captivity."
Kavni Gupta, 9, performs "Beauty in Light."
Kavni Gupta, 9, performs "Beauty in Light."
Kavni Gupta, 9, performs "Pocahontas."
Kavni Gupta, 9, performs "Pocahontas."
Maeve Olsen, 9, center, stretches with other dancers during open stage before the Pre-Competitive Competition Women & Men Ages 9-10 round of dancing at the Youth America Grand Prix at Countess de Hoernle Theatre at Spanish River High School.
Maeve Olsen, 9, center, stretches with other dancers during open stage before the Pre-Competitive Competition Women & Men Ages 9-10 round of dancing at the Youth America Grand Prix at Countess de Hoernle Theatre at Spanish River High School.
Stella Babus, 9, performs "Clair De Lune."
Stella Babus, 9, performs "Clair De Lune."

This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Ballet dancers compete in Boca Raton at Youth American Grand Prix