The Youth America Grand Prix: ‘It was amazing to be on the stage’
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PURCHASE, N.Y. (PIX11) — Some call it the American idol of the classical ballet world.
The World’s largest ballet competition is going on in our area this weekend. It’s the Youth America Grand Prix at SUNY Purchase in Westchester. Keenan Mentzos,14, clearly looks like a winner.
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The ninth grader from Vancouver, Canada dances five to six hours a day for most of the past 10 years to make it to the finals of the Youth America Grand Prix, hoping to win a scholarship to a top dance school.
“It was fun. It was amazing to be on the stage, and to give it your all,” Mentzos told PIX11 News.
There are More than 2,000 dancers selected from all over the world. More than 35 countries on five continents are represented here at this dance competition. So, what are the judges and the founder of Youth America Grand Prix looking for?
“Ballet is very subjective,” Larissa Saveliev YAGP founder and artistic director, told PIX11 News. “That’s why we have so many different directors. They are all looking for something different. The more directors we have the more scholarships will be awarded,” she added.
“When you are looking to award scholarships, you’re looking for a somebody who is willing to move,” Peter Stark, the director of the Rock School of Ballet and a YAGP judge, told PIX11 News. “They have to have a combination of flexibility and strength in their muscle, just like an Olympic athlete,” he added.
One of the success stories is Thays Golz of Brazil. Because of her talent, hard work, and scholarship from Youth America Grand Prix, she is now a soloist with Philadelphia Ballet and an inspiration to many of the young dancers here.
“Without the scholarships, I don’t know where I would be,” Golz told PIX11 News. Corinne Strabo, 10 years old, has had big dreams, too.
“I just love being able to perform and be artistic,” Strabo told PIX11 News. “I want to be a professional dancer,” she added.
The finals of the Youth America Grand Prix are held at Lincoln Center on April 17th.
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